Last updated on July 31st, 2024 at 08:39 pm
This easy lemon blueberry bread recipe is a harmonious blend of zesty lemon and sweet, bursting blueberries nestled in a moist bread, offering a texture and taste that feels like a warm hug from the inside. The lemon not only adds a refreshing burst of flavor but also keeps the bread incredibly moist, ensuring each slice is better than the last. I chose to add poppy seeds for a bit of added texture and crunch (because why not include poppy seeds with lemon?). However, you could easily leave those out of this recipe, too.
What truly sets this lemon poppy seed bread with blueberries apart is its simplicity in preparation. Whether you’re someone who enjoys homemade bread regularly or you’re dabbling in quick bread recipes for the first time, this recipe promises a no-fail route to deliciousness. It’s an ideal addition to your repertoire of lemon recipes and blueberry recipes, especially during the summer baking season when you crave something light yet indulgent.
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Ingredients
Whipping up this Lemon Blueberry Bread is a delightful way to welcome the summer season, and it couldn’t be easier with just a few ingredients!
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons
- ½ cup (120ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup (180ml) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- ¼ cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1-2 lemons)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (150g) fresh or frozen blueberries (if using frozen, do not thaw)
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
I know that looks like a long list of ingredients! However, they come together really easily and quickly. It’ll all be worth it in the end. Just imagine yourself sitting in the garden, a slice of this heavenly Lemon Blueberry Bread on your plate, the scent of lemon in the air and a feeling of peace as you bite into your homemade lemon bread with blueberries. 🙂
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Video: How to Make Lemon Blueberry Bread
How to Make Lemon Blueberry Bread
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
Prepare lemons: Zest and juice lemons
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
Prepare Lemon Sugar: In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is fragrant and slightly moist. This is kind of optional, but I think it adds a nice touch!
Prepare Wet Ingredients: Add the melted butter to the lemon sugar and whisk until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the Greek yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
Gently fold in the blueberries.
Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
If the top starts to brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil.
Cool the Bread: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Allow the bread to cool completely before adding glaze.
Prepare the Lemon Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a thick but pourable glaze.
Glaze the Bread: Once the bread is completely cool, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy your Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Blueberries! It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful snack.
Pro Tips
Ah, the joys of baking something as delightful as Lemon Blueberry Bread! It’s hard to believe, but a few tweaks here and there can transform a good loaf into a great one. I’ve made many “meh” loaves in my lifetime and some great ones, so this is what I thought out of help your baking turn out great:
- Ensuring Moisture: For that perfectly moist bread you want, it’s all about not overmixing the batter. Once you’ve combined your wet and dry ingredients, mix just until they’re incorporated. Overmixing can lead to a dry, tough loaf. It’s okay if there are a few small lumps of flour in your batter. You don’t have to mix until everything is completely smooth.
- Evenly Distributed Blueberries: Tired of all your blueberries sinking to the bottom? Toss them lightly in flour before folding them into the batter. This little trick helps them to evenly distribute and remain suspended in your Lemon Blueberry Bread, ensuring you get that lovely burst of berry in every bite.
- Balanced Flavors: Lemon zest is your best friend for achieving that vibrant lemon flavor without adding extra liquid. I really like rubbing the lemon zest into my sugar, giving everything a citrusy kick that balances beautifully with the sweetness of the blueberries. Rubbing the zest into the sugar helps get out that lemon zest flavor a bit more to give you more bang for your buck in terms of lemon flavor.
- Storing Your Bread: To keep your Lemon Blueberry Bread fresh and moist, wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil after it’s completely cooled. It can stay at room temperature for a few days, but for longer storage, pop it in the fridge. If you love your bread as much on day three as you did on day one, this tip is a game-changer.
FAQs
- Can I use frozen blueberries instead of fresh? Absolutely! If fresh blueberries aren’t in season, frozen ones work just fine. Frozen blueberries may give your batter a bit of a gray-ish tinge, as the blueberries will bleed their color. However, this won’t affect the taste of your bread at all! If you have to use frozen blueberries, I recommend keeping them frozen and not thawing them. Before you add your blueberries to your batter, pat them dry with a paper towel to get off any ice. Then, coat them in a bit of flour before adding them to your batter. Finally, gently fold them in the batter and try to pop that batter in the oven as soon as possible.
- What if I don’t have a lemon left for the glaze? No lemon, no problem. While a fresh lemon zest provides that tangy kick, you can substitute a quarter teaspoon of lemon extract in a pinch. Your lemon glaze will still sing with citrusy sweetness. You might be able to go up to a half teaspoon of lemon extract, depending on your personal tastes. I would start with a quarter, though. Also, you could use a teaspoon of vanilla extract and have a vanilla glaze instead!
- How do I ensure my bread doesn’t come out dry? The key to moist Lemon Blueberry Bread lies in not overmixing the batter and baking it to be just right. When mixing, mix until just combined to keep it light and tender. When baking, check the bread a few minutes before the timer goes off; ovens vary, and yours might bake faster.
If you have any other questions that I did not answer here, please leave them in the comments and I will happily answer!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! This lemon blueberry bread barely lasted a day in my house. Happy baking!
If You Liked This Lemon Blueberry Bread, Check Out:
Lemon Blueberry Cookies
Vegan Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze
Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting
Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
Lemon Blueberry Bread
Ingredients
Lemon Blueberry Bread
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons see note below
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice Can use the same lemons you got the zest from. See note below
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup fresh blueberries frozen works too, but please see note below
Lemon Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Make Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Zest and juice lemons. You need the zest of just 2 lemons, but you might need 3 lemons to get enough juice, depending on the size of your lemons.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is fragrant and slightly moist. This is kind of optional, but I think it adds a nice touch!
- Add the melted butter to the lemon sugar and whisk until well combined.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
- Stir in the Greek yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Gently fold in the blueberries.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil.
- Allow bread to cool completely before adding glaze. Carefully turn your bread out of the pan and set on a flat plate to add glaze. If you greased your pan well at the beginning, it should slide out easily. If it resists, you can gently run a butter knife around the edge of your loaf pan to coax it out.
Make Lemon Glaze
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a thick but pourable glaze. This is entirely based on your preferences, but usually 2 or 3 tablespoons is plenty.
- Once the bread is completely cool, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top. Let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
