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Everybody flipped over this moist, lightly sweet and tender Blueberry Lemon Bread. The bright lemon flavor is front and center in the loaf as well as the icing. The pops of juicy blueberries make this bread practically addictive.
Amazing moist and tender Blueberry Lemon Bread
Our no mixer recipe is about as easy as it gets. The base cake formula has been a favorite of mine for years and has been used in numerous successful recipes for muffins, loaf cakes and our deliciously popular breakfast cakes.
Ingredients Overview
For the Blueberry Lemon Bread:
- granulated sugar
- zest from 1 large lemon
- fresh blueberries
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- baking powder
- baking soda
- sour cream
- unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- vanilla extract
- fresh lemon juice
- large eggs at room temperature
- coarse sugar for topping
For the Lemon Icing:
- powdered sugar
- lemon juice
How to make Blueberry Lemon Bread
1. Preheat the oven and prep your pan
Set your oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a large loaf pan (9×5-inch) with vegetable cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper creating a sling for easy removal. Set aside.
2. Make the lemon sugar
Combine about one-fourth cup of the sugar with the lemon zest in a small food processor. Pulse until the zest is broken down an the sugar is moist and yellow in color. Don’t skip this step! It makes all the difference when the lemon oils are released into the batter. Yum!
If you don’t have a small food processor, smash the zest and sugar together with a spoon or your fingers.
3. Prepare the blueberries
Wash and dry the blueberries discarding any stems or rotten berries. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the flour over the blueberries and toss to combine. Set aside.
4. Combine the dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, lemon sugar and all remaining granulated sugar. Make a well in the center and set aside.
5. Combine the wet ingredients and make the batter
In a small bowl combine the sour cream, melted butter, vanilla, lemon juice and eggs until blended. Pour the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture. Fold the ingredients together with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just moistened.
Gently fold in the blueberries and any remaining flour. Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Allow the unbaked bread to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking. This helps develop a nice rise on the bread.
Generously sprinkle coarse sugar over the top of the loaf. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no wet batter. Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely or serve slightly warm if desired.
6. Make the lemon icing
Whisk together the lemon juice and powdered sugar. Add more sugar or juice as needed until you reach the desired consistency. Drizzle over the Blueberry Bread. Garnish with additional blueberries if desired.
TIPS For Making Great Blueberry Lemon Loaf Cake
- Don’t over-mix the batter!
- Don’t skip making lemon sugar. This simple step creates great lemon flavor in baked goods.
- Let the prepared loaf sit for 15 minutes before baking.
- Be very generous with the coarse sugar topping. The batter is not overly sweet and the crisp crust on the top is absolutely wonderful.
- Use fresh, ripe blueberries. Frozen blueberries will bleed into the batter tinting it a purple color.
How to store and freeze Blueberry Lemon Bread
This little loaf of sunshine won’t last long. However, if you happen to have a slice or two leftover, store the Blueberry Lemon Bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
For longer storage, feel free to refrigerate for up to 5 days. Set the bread out 30 minutes before serving for the best texture.
If you plan to freeze the bread, I recommend waiting to add the icing until ready to serve. Simply wrap the fully cooled bread in plastic wrap and then foil or a zipper bag. Freeze for up to three months.
To thaw, remove the wrappings and place in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Drizzle with lemon icing and enjoy!
Garnishes add a little flare!
It seems like everything tastes better when it’s heavily garnished. I always like to add fresh blueberries to the top along with edible flowers for a pop of color.
Lemon wedges and or lemon zest is also a great garnish. Shoot a photo of your beautifully garnished bread and tag us on Instagram so we can give your post some love. ❤️
What I love about this quick bread
- It’s super easy to make and no mixer is required
- The bread is moist and flavorful.
- Lemon icing adds intense lemon flavor that compliments the blueberries perfectly.
- This loaf is great for gifting to neighbors and friends.
- It freezes very well.
- Served slightly warm, this quick bread is to die for!
Blueberry Lemon Bread
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar divided (170g)
- zest from 1 large lemon
- 2 cups fresh blueberries rinsed and dried (about 10 ounces)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (318g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream (8 ounces)
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly (113g or 8 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (2oz) about 1 large juicy lemon
- 2 large eggs room temperature, lightly beaten
- coarse sugar for sprinkling on top
For the lemon icing:
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (85g)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper creating a sling for easy removal. Set aside.
- Combine one-fourth cup sugar with the lemon zest in a small food processor. Pulse until the zest is broken down and incorporated into the sugar. This releases the lemon oils giving the bread more lemon flavor. If you don’t have a small food processor smash the zest and sugar together with a spoon or use your fingers to combine.
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the flour over the blueberries and toss to combine. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the remaining flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, lemon sugar and remaining granulated sugar. Make a well in the center.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the sour cream, melted butter, vanilla, lemon juice and eggs until blended. Pour the sour cream mixture into the flour mixture. Fold together with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Gently fold in the blueberries and any residual flour. Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Allow the unbaked bread to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking.
- Generously sprinkle coarse sugar over the top of the loaf. Bake at 350F for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no wet batter. Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve slightly warm if desired.
For the lemon icing:
- Whisk together the lemon juice and powdered sugar. Add more sugar or lemon juice as needed until you reach the desired consistency. Drizzle over the blueberry bread. Garnish with additional blueberries if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Store leftover blueberry lemon bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Refrigerate for longer storage.
- This bread is best made with fresh blueberries as frozen may cause the batter to be tinted purple.
Nutrition
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