Here’s a bright, zingy quick bread that will make friends and family come running: this Lemon Blueberry Bread! This one is beautifully moist and lemon-scented, thanks to a secret ingredient. Drizzle it with a cream cheese glaze, which makes a festive look and another pop of sweet to each bite. We’ve made a lot of quick breads but this one is a family favorite: it’s so refreshing and delicately soft! This one’s a must try, in our opinion: perfect for spring and summer baking.
Ingredients in lemon blueberry bread
This lemon blueberry bread has the best zingy flavor and moist texture. In fact, it turned out even better than we were expecting! The lemon extract and lemon zest really make magic here (more on that below). Aside from those and blueberries, most of the ingredients you may already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. Here’s what you’ll need:
All-purpose flour Granulated sugar Baking powder Eggs Neutral oil Greek yogurt or sour cream Milk Lemon juice and lemon zest Lemon extract Blueberries
The secret ingredient: lemon extract
One ingredient you can’t leave out in this blueberry lemon bread? Lemon extract. Here’s why:
Lemon extract adds a citrusy lemon flavor to the bread without adding too much acid or sour flavor, which happens with lemon juice. It’s easy to find lemon extract in the baking aisle near the vanilla. A bottle lasts for up to 4 years in the pantry, so it’s a worthwhile purchase. Using extract eliminates the need for buying another fresh lemon: so you only need one for this recipe! This cuts down on cost in the long term.
Can you use frozen blueberries?
Got frozen blueberries on hand? Frozen blueberries can bleed into the batter of muffins and breads, making them turn purple in color! If you’d like to use frozen berries, we recommend rinsing them well and patting them dry with paper towels per these instructions from King Arthur Baking.
For the glaze
You can make this lemon blueberry bread without a glaze: it actually simplifies storage! But the glaze adds just the right pop of sweet: it’s like adding a few more pinches of salt to a savory dish to bring out the flavor even more. There are two glaze recipes that are ideal for topping this bread:
Cream cheese glaze: This cream cheese drizzle is just 3 ingredients and adds just the right tangy sweet pop. (This is what is pictured in the photographs.) Lemon glaze: Want even more lemony flavor? Add this zingy lemon glaze to take this bread to new heights. Maple glaze: For an alternative, try this easy Maple Glaze which holds up well during storage and has a cozy maple essence.
Tips for baking blueberry lemon bread
This lemon blueberry bread recipe is easier than many baked goods: since it’s made with oil, you don’t need to use a mixer to cream together butter and sugar. Here are a few tips for baking lemon blueberry bread:
Use an aluminum baking pan for best results. Ceramic and glass pans don’t cook as evenly for quick breads. Use aluminum if you can! We recommend a 9-inch loaf pan, but you can use an 8-inch pan too: just increase the bake time slightly. Don’t overmix. Overmixing a quick bread batter leads to holes in the texture of the crumb. Mix until the batter is combined and there are no dry spots remaining. Cover loosely with aluminum foil at 30 minutes. Add a bit of foil to prevent the top from browning too much. Pull the bread just when a toothpick comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. The internal temperature should be between 200°F and 205°F.
Storage tips
How to store this lemon blueberry bread once you’ve baked up a loaf? The glaze makes storage slightly tricky (but it’s still totally worth it, in our opinion!). Here’s what to know:
Glazed cranberry bread lasts 3 to 4 days at room temperature wrapped in aluminum foil. Store the bread refrigerated for 10 days wrapped in aluminum foil, making sure to bring the slice to room temperature before enjoying. Freeze un-iced bread for up to 3 months. Slice it into pieces and wrap it in plastic wrap then a freezer-safe bag or container.
More blueberry recipes
This lemon blueberry bread is at the top of our favorite blueberry recipes: but there are so many more to choose from! Here are a few more popular recipes:
Try Classic Blueberry Muffins or Lemon Blueberry Muffins Go for Perfect Blueberry Crumble Start the day with Easy Blueberry Baked Oatmeal or Classic Blueberry Pancakes Mix up a batch of Blueberry Ice Cream Bake up Blueberry Banana Bread instead
This lemon blueberry bread recipe is…
Vegetarian. 5 from 2 reviews
