Ultimate Lemon Loaf

Love that Starbucks lemon loaf? This is loaf is ideal! Lemony and rich. With the cooled cake (stone cold) one can make the most delightful frosting. The completed result takes a bit longer than usual breads; worth it!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour 280g

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup butter, softened 113g

• 1 cup granulated sugar 198g

• 3 eggs, (warmed up)

• 1 tsp lemon extract

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/3 cup lemon juice 75g

• 1/4 cup buttermilk 56g

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil 68g

Instructions

Please read Susy’s tips and tricks below, before beginning.

1. Preheat oven and place rack in center at 350F/170C.

2. In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda.

3. With a mixer lightly blend butter for a minute. Then add sugar. Cream well. Add 3 eggs, blend well. Add extracts. Blend well and add lemon juice and buttermilk. (Not the oil.)

4. Add flour. Combine well. Now add the oil. Ensure that it is well combined.

5. Generously grease an 8x4 loaf pan. Place in oven and bake for 45-55 mins. Test with a clean toothpick or cake tester. It should come out clean.

6. Sit on counter in the pan, until the loaf is fully cooled.

7. Remove from the pan and place on a. Wire rack over a rimmed sheet pan.

Prepare the frosting. With a mixer blend together the following:

2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted 227g

1 tbsp soft butter

1 tbsp milk

1 tbsp corn syrup

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp lemon extract

9. Pour over the loaf as evenly as possible. The frosting will harden in 1-2 hours. I like to sprinkle fresh lemon zest on top. Optional of course.

Susy’s Tips and Tricks

Baking powder gets old quickly! As soon as 10 months after opening it loses 1/2 its oomph.

Warming eggs is safer by placing shelled eggs in a bowl of warm tap water. Don’t leave them on the counter.

You can use soured milk if you don’t have buttermilk. Add a glug of vinegar or lemon juice with added milk to measure will give you the flavour. It doesn’t need to sit per ATK.

Sift your icing (confectionery sugar) otherwise, lumps will break through.

This recipe bakes comes together quickly but the wait needs to be considered. A couple hours to cool the loaf and a couple hours for the frosting to set. Totally worth it. It gets rave reviews.

You can use a 9x5 loaf pan. As noted in the photo. This produces a squatter loaf.