Quick Lemon Bread

This lemon bread is a treat for anyone who loves the fresh, bright taste of citrus. It's made doubly moist by the lemon-sugar glaze applied after it comes out of the oven. It's sweet enough to serve for dessert, yet tart enough to go well in a brunch bread basket with other muffins and breads. For even more interest, add whole pistachios for color and crunch, as noted in the bakers' tip below.

Prep
20 mins
Bake
50 mins
Total
1 hr 20 mins
Yield
one 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf
Quick Lemon Bread - select to zoom
Quick Lemon Bread - select to zoom
Quick Lemon Bread - select to zoom

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan.

  2. To make the lemon bread: In a small bowl, mix the buttermilk (or yogurt) with the lemon juice and zest (or lemon oil), and set aside.

  3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

  4. Beat together the butter and sugar until combined. Beat in one egg until absorbed. Scrape the bowl and add 1/4 cup of the dry ingredients.

  5. Beat in the second egg. Scrape the bowl and add the remaining dry ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, until the batter is uniform.

  6. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a paring knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Check after 45 minutes and tent with foil if browning too quickly.

  7. To make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients until the sugar dissolves.

  8. When the bread is done, remove it from the oven and poke it all over with a toothpick or skewer.

  9. While the lemon bread is still hot, drizzle the top with the glaze, letting it sink in before pouring more over. When all the glaze is used, let the bread cool on a rack for 15 minutes.

  10. After that time, tip the lemon bread out of the pan, and return to the rack to finish cooling completely before slicing.

  11. Storage information: The lemon bread will keep for 5 days on the counter, covered. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips from our Bakers

  • For Lemon Pistachio Bread, stir 3/4 cup (90g) shelled salted pistachios to the batter before baking.