Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

bursting with lemon flavor

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 45m
Total Time: 55m
Temp.: 350 °F
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (9 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For loaf cake batter:

For lemon icing:

Nutritional Information

357
calories
16.2g
fat
48.9g
carbohydrates
5.3g
protein
66mg
cholesterol
254mg
sodium
Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Recipe Description

Have extra lemons in your pantry? With minimal prep time, you can be on your way to making the Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf. This tender dessert loaf is bursting with a sweet and tart lemon flavor that is sure to please. Top it off with bright lemon icing for a beautiful presentation and added flavor.

First, make lemon sugar. Rub the sugar and lemon zest between your fingers to extract the most flavor from the lemon. Then add in the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the melted butter, oil, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract and mix to combine. In a medium bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add in two additions to the wet ingredients. Stop mixing when the batter is just combined. Transfer the batter to a parchment-lined loaf pan. For a lovely straight split across the center of the loaf, run an offset spatula lengthwise down the center of the batter before baking. Bake until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. While the loaf cools, make the lemon icing. Pour the icing over the loaf and let it set before slicing. Enjoy! 

To make the Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat oven and prepare loaf pan

    Step 1 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Preheat the oven to 350 °F and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.

  2. 2

    Make lemon sugar

    1 min
    Step 2 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    To a large bowl, add 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon zest and rub them together between your fingers to extract the most flavor from the lemon.

  3. 3

    Add eggs

    2 min
    Step 3 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Add in 2 large eggs and whisk to combine.

  4. 4

    Add wet ingredients

    2 min
    Step 4 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Add ¼ cup melted butter, ¼ cup sunflower oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ⅓ cup sour cream, and ⅓ cup milk and whisk to combine well.

  5. 5

    Sift dry ingredients

    2 min
    Step 5 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    In a medium bowl, sift together 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt.

  6. 6

    Combine dry and wet ingredients

    2 min
    Step 6 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon LoafStep 6 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Add half of the sifted flour mix to the wet ingredients and mix until almost incorporated. Then mix in the remaining flour until evenly combined. Do not overmix.

  7. 7

    Transfer to loaf pan

    1 min
    Step 7 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. For a straight split across the center of the loaf, use an offset spatula to make a shallow cut lengthwise down the center of the batter before baking.

  8. 8

    Bake

    45 min
    Step 8 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. In the last 10 minutes, tent the pan with foil to prevent the top from over-browning.

  9. 9

    Cool

    Step 9 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Turn the loaf out of the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before topping with the lemon icing.

  10. 10

    Make lemon icing

    2 min
    Step 10 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup icing sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon milk, and a pinch of salt and whisk until smooth. The icing should be thick and opaque white but still flowing.

  11. 11

    Cover with icing

    min
    Step 11 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Pour the icing over the cooled loaf, spreading it out to drip over the edges. Let the icing set.

  12. 12

    Serve

    Step 12 - Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

    Slice and serve!

Craving the lemon loaf from Starbucks? Here’s the Best Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf recipe that you could make at home. It’s tender, moist, and bursting with lemon flavor. You will love it! Made it? Let us know! Tag @cookmerecipes on Instagram and hashtag it #cookmerecipes

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (9 reviews)
Tina
May 8, 2025
Verified

Wow! This Lemon Loaf is absolutely amazing! I made it for my friends, and they couldn't believe how much it tasted like Starbucks. It made my brunch so special. Very proud of this recipe, will make again for sure!

Chuck
March 16, 2025
Verified

This Lemon Loaf is legit! Made it for a family picnic, and everyone went wild over it. Super easy with all the lemony goodness! Def gonna make it again for sure.

Clara Johnson
October 5, 2024
Verified

Simple and delicious

Wendy Smith
September 6, 2024
Verified

I made this for a picnic with friends. Everyone adored it! The lemon flavour is so fresh and zingy. Super easy to follow, loved how it turned out!

Rebecca Hawkins
July 28, 2024
Verified

Delicious! This recipe reminded me of baking with my mum on rainy afternoons. The lemon flavour is perfect, and it brought back such lovely memories. It's simple to make and turned out beautifully. My family loved it for tea time!

Nina
June 5, 2024
Verified

This lemon loaf is simply great! I had extra lemons from a recent baking spree and decided to try this recipe. The flavor is spot on, just like Starbucks, and it's so easy to make. Perfect for my afternoon tea.

Oliver Johnson
May 26, 2024
Verified

Delicious! Made this loaf for a picnic, and everyone loved it. Perfectly tangy and sweet, just like Starbucks.

William Hart
May 5, 2024
Verified

This lemon loaf was epic! Made it for my mates, and they went nuts over it. Super easy and delish, defo recommend.

Athina
June 20, 2023
Verified

I’ve had so many requests for an easy lemon loaf cake, and this one is my fav! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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