Description
Bursting with citrusy charm, this Glazed Lemon Loaf delivers sunshine on a plate. Zesty lemon notes dance through tender crumb, promising a delightful slice of pure refreshment that you’ll savor down to the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups (219 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) full-fat sour cream
- 2 large eggs
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) canola or vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry/Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring a uniform texture and eliminating potential lumps.
- Whisk the sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil, lemon juice, zesty citrus shavings, eggs, and vanilla extract in a separate container until the mixture transforms into a smooth, well-integrated liquid.
- Gently fold the liquid ingredients into the dry mixture, using a silicone spatula to create a harmonious batter. Cease stirring the moment no visible flour streaks remain, preventing potential overworking.
- Transfer the batter into a prepared loaf pan, distributing it evenly to ensure consistent baking. Position in a preheated oven and monitor for 45-55 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge with minimal crumbs. If the surface darkens too quickly, drape a lightweight aluminum shield over the pan during the final cooking phase.
- Allow the freshly baked loaf to rest in its pan for approximately 25 minutes, enabling residual heat to complete the internal cooking process. Carefully extract the loaf and position it on a wire cooling rack.
- Craft the lemon glaze by whisking powdered sugar with freshly squeezed lemon juice until achieving a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Embellish the completely cooled loaf by either delicately drizzling the glaze with a fork or utilizing a piped technique through a trimmed sandwich bag corner for precise, elegant coverage.
Notes
- Zest smartly by grating only the yellow part of the lemon, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath for a cleaner, more vibrant citrus flavor.
- Prevent overmixing the batter by folding ingredients gently until just combined, which keeps the loaf tender and prevents a tough, dense texture.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same soft, moist consistency.
- Check doneness accurately by inserting a toothpick at a slight angle near the center, which reveals the true moisture level of the loaf’s interior.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg