This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf is a perfect combination of sweet, tart and crumbly. The batter is so simple to make that you can pull this loaf together in no time at all. Once it’s out of the oven, drizzle some of the homemade lemon glaze on top for an irresistible finish.

 

This homemade version of the coffee shop favorite is a great way to satisfy your craving for this sweet treat without having to spend the extra time and money at the store. Your family and friends will love the lemon flavor in this tender and quick dessert recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, plus it’s super easy to make.
• The lemon glaze is simple to make and really makes this lemon pound cake amazing.
• You only need a few simple ingredients which are all easy to find at your local grocery store.

Ingredients for CopyCat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

For this Starbucks Lemon Loaf recipe, we are going to jazz up a cake mix with some pudding and a few other ingredients. So, head to your pantry and grab these ingredients and get ready to enjoy this delicious copycat Starbucks recipe that will taste amazing.

• Cake Mix – For this recipe you will need a box of your favorite cake mix. I used Betty Crocker Super Moist Lemon Cake Mix. It’s my favorite brand.
• Eggs – Eggs act like the binder in this lemon sweet bread recipe. Make sure that you use large eggs.
• Milk – Using milk for this recipe will add some moisture giving you a very tender loaf.
• Instant Lemon Pudding Mix – Grab a box of your favorite lemon pudding mix, which helps give this lemon loaf cake a tender texture.
• Vegetable Oil – If you don’t have vegetable oil on hand you can use canola oil also.
• Sour Cream – When you add sour cream to a cake it gives a lot of moisture, and also a nice tang flavor.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice works best but you can also use bottled juice if that’s what you have on hand.
• Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar or sometimes called confectioners sugar is the base of the glaze. It adds so much sweetness.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Making this Starbucks Lemon Cake is so simple. It really only requires a few simple steps, so grab your hand mixer and get ready to whip up this tender lemon loaf cake.

1. Mix together all of the ingredients with a hand mixer in a large mixing bowl.
2. Spilt the batter into two prepared loaf pans and bake in 350 degree oven for 50 minutes.
3. Cool the loaf for 15 minutes and transfer to a wire rack, and meanwhile mix together the lemon juice and and powdered.
4. Drizzle glaze on the cake and allow the glaze to hardened before slicing.

Hint: For easy and clean removal of your loaf cake, line your loaf pans with parchment paper or use cooking spray before you add the batter.

Substitutions

If you run out of an ingredient or you want to switch one out for allergies, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few tried and true swaps for this recipe.

• Cake Mix – Instead of lemon cake mix, you can use a yellow or butter cake mix, and add a teaspoon of lemon extract to get the same flavor.
• Greek Yogurt – To add a little extra nutrition to your cake, you can swap the sour cream for greek yogurt. You will still get the creamy texture and tang without as much fat. Make sure to use plain greek yogurt.
• Butter – If you don’t have oil on hand, you can use melted butter as the fat for your cake.

Variations

Looking to add a bit of a different spin of this CopyCat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe? Consider these additions:

Spice it Up – Add a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cardamom or cinnamon to the wet ingredients for a sweet and spicy flavor

Nutty Twist – Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for an added crunch.

Zest – For a little extra flare you can grate a little lemon zest on top of the cake before the glaze hardens.

If you love loaf cake recipes like this one you may also enjoy this Caramel Apple Loaf Cake recipe.

Storage / Freezing

Leftovers – This lemon loaf cake can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature. You can wrap individual slices for a quick grab and go breakfast.

Freezing – To freeze, wrap the cooled cake with plastic wrap and place it in a freezer safe bag or container. To serve, thaw overnight on your kitchen counter.

FAQ

Other Lemon Desserts

Looking for other lemon dessert recipes? Try these:

Other Starbucks CopyCat Recipes

Do you love saving money making Homemade Starbucks recipes? Try these other recipes that I have shared::