This Lemon Blueberry Bread is the perfect combination of sweet, tart, and bursting with flavor. It’s moist, tender, and loaded with juicy blueberries, with a bright lemon glaze that adds a touch of sweetness and enhances the citrusy goodness. I love baking this bread on a sunny afternoon and enjoying a slice with a cup of tea or coffee. It’s the perfect pick-me-up!
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Lemon-licious: This bread is bursting with fresh lemon flavor, thanks to the lemon juice and zest in the batter and the glaze.
- Blueberry Bliss: The juicy blueberries add a burst of sweetness and a lovely texture to the bread.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is incredibly easy to follow, even for beginner bakers.
- Perfect for Sharing: This bread is great for potlucks, bake sales, or just a sweet treat to share with friends and family.
Ingredients for Lemon Blueberry Bread
Here’s what I use to make this delicious bread:
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of our bread batter.
- Baking Powder: Helps the bread rise and become light and fluffy.
- Salt: Enhances the flavors of the bread.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the bread.
- Lemon Zest and Juice: These add a burst of fresh lemon flavor.
- Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a tender crumb.
- Blueberries: I love using fresh blueberries, but frozen blueberries work just as well.
Lemon Glaze:
- Butter: Melted butter adds richness and shine to the glaze.
- Powdered Sugar: Creates a sweet and smooth glaze.
- Lemon Juice: Adds tanginess and thins the glaze to the right consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the glaze.
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Variations
Want to try something different? Here are a few ideas:
- Poppy Seed Lemon Blueberry Bread: Add a tablespoon of poppy seeds to the batter for a crunchy texture and a slightly nutty flavor.
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins: Use the same batter to make muffins instead of a loaf. Just adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze: Mix some softened cream cheese into the glaze for a richer, tangier flavor.
- Citrus Twist: Use a combination of lemon and orange zest and juice for a citrusy variation.
How to Make Lemon Blueberry Bread
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
I start by preheating my oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. You can also lightly grease the pan with butter if you prefer.
Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, I use an electric mixer to cream together the melted butter and sugar. Then, I add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice. I mix until everything is well combined.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
I gradually add the dry ingredients and milk to the wet ingredients, alternating between the two, and mixing until just combined.
Step 5: Add the Blueberries
I rinse the blueberries and toss them with a tablespoon of flour in a small bowl. This helps to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the bread while baking. Then, I gently fold the blueberries into the batter.
Step 6: Bake
I pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake it in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool
I remove the loaf pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 30 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 8: Make the Glaze
While the bread is cooling, I make the glaze by whisking together the melted butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
Step 9: Glaze and Serve
Once the bread has cooled completely, I pour the glaze over the loaf and let it set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can make the bread tough.
- Even Baking: Make sure the oven rack is in the center of the oven for even baking.
- Cooling Time: Allowing the bread to cool completely before adding the glaze will prevent the glaze from melting.
How to Serve
This Lemon Blueberry Bread is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Coffee or Tea: A classic pairing!
- Fresh Fruit: Serve it with fresh berries or sliced fruit for a refreshing touch.
- Whipped Cream or Ice Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream for an extra indulgent treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: You can bake the bread a day ahead of time and store it at room temperature.
- Storing: Store leftover lemon blueberry bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze the unglazed loaf for up to 2 months. Just thaw it at room temperature before glazing and serving.
FAQs
1. Can I use frozen blueberries?
Yes, you can use frozen blueberries. Just add them to the batter frozen.
2. Can I use a different type of milk?
Yes, you can use any type of milk you like, such as almond milk or soy milk.
3. Can I make this bread gluten-free?
Yes, you can use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour.
There you have it! A simple and delicious recipe for Lemon Blueberry Bread. I hope you enjoy it!
PrintLemon Blueberry Bread Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Lemon Blueberry Bread is a moist and delicious quick bread that’s bursting with fresh lemon and blueberry flavors. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat any time of day.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Lemon Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper (or lightly grease with butter).
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.
- Alternate Wet and Dry: While slowly mixing, add the flour mixture and milk in two batches (some flour, then some milk, then the rest of the flour and the rest of the milk). Stop mixing as soon as it’s just combined.
- Coat Blueberries: Rinse the blueberries (if using fresh) so they have a bit of moisture on them, then, in a small bowl, toss the blueberries and 1 tablespoon flour.
- Add Blueberries: Add the flour-coated berries to the batter and gently but quickly stir by hand to combine.
- Bake: Immediately pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Cool: Cool bread in the pan for about 30 minutes, then move to a wire cooling rack with a baking sheet below (to catch the glaze you’re about to add).
- Make Glaze: Prepare the glaze by simply whisking together the melted butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla.
- Glaze and Serve: Pour glaze over the loaf. Allow it to set for a few minutes, then enjoy!
Notes
- Blueberries: You can use fresh or frozen blueberries for this recipe. If using frozen, no need to rinse them.
- Make Ahead: If baking the day before serving, wrap the cooled loaf in plastic wrap and store at room temperature WITHOUT the glaze. Then, mix up and add the glaze the day of serving.
- Storage: Store leftover lemon blueberry bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300kcal
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
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