Once I say “lemon loaf cake,” my guess is {that a} very particular slice of cake involves thoughts. In my expertise, when requested in regards to the Starbucks lemon loaf, most individuals look each methods earlier than admitting in a hushed tone that it’s one in every of their favourite treats. I get it—it feels just a little scandalous to confess how scrumptious that loaf slice is. Deliciously moist, delicate and fluffy, the lemon glaze including the proper mouth-puckering taste. It’s an all-round dessert.

However for all of my lemon loaf girlies on the market, take coronary heart: you don’t need to make a Starbucks run each time the craving strikes. On this version of our Bake-Off sequence, I examined seven recipes to search out the perfect lemon loaf cake recipe on the market. As to be anticipated, some had been higher than others. And whereas my style testers agreed that none of those held a candle to the deliciousness that’s the Starbucks holy grail (although one got here very shut), we did discover a number of choices so that you can whip up at house to fulfill that sweet-and-tangy tooth.

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Guidelines of the Highway

As all the time, all recipes are adopted precisely as written with none changes for private style or taste preferences. Loaf truffles had been all baked and glazed the identical evening and tasted the next day.

Rating Tips

Taste: Lemon is the secret, so we wished a lemon-forward taste. The cake itself ought to have a lemony really feel that will get enhanced by a lemony glaze. The flavour shouldn’t be too candy however ought to style like a dessert. Texture: When evaluating to the Starbucks lemon loaf cake, we had been on the lookout for a moist cake that was just a little fluffy, just a little bouncy, and undoubtedly not dry in texture.

Whereas we did rank these so as, every cake additionally stood by itself, so we’ve supplied tasting notes so you can also make the loaf cake most aligned together with your preferences. Hold studying for the outcomes of our lemon loaf cake bake-off!

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The Finest Lemon Loaf Cake, Ranked

7. Barefoot Contessa: Lemon Yogurt Cake

Recipe Notes: Yogurt was used so as to add moisture. Directions didn’t ask to rub the lemon zest into the sugar, not like different recipes. Recipe makes use of each cooked lemon syrup and lemon glaze on high

I do know, we had been all shocked at this recipe rating so low. Whereas the feel of the loaf itself was a bit bouncy, it did lean barely on the drier aspect in comparison with the others (despite the fact that it used lemon syrup and glaze). The flavour was additionally just a little too delicate for a lemon cake. Some tasters talked about it was extra like a yellow cake than a lemon cake, and others mentioned it was simply bland. Total, a effective cake—simply not what we had been on the lookout for from a lemon loaf.

6. The Kitchn: Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Recipe Notes: Makes use of bitter cream and vegetable oil as a substitute of butter. The recipe additionally makes use of lemon extract within the cake along with lemon juice and zest

Given the identify of this recipe, you possibly can guess my hopes had been excessive. And whereas I did suppose when it comes to texture that this was about as shut as we may get to the Starbucks loaf, that’s the place it ended. Some tasters nevertheless, thought the feel was too spongey, and never fluffy sufficient. The flavour was not solely bland to some, however nearly synthetic to others. (This was seemingly attributable to the usage of lemon extract.) Subsequent time, I’d strive baking this with out the extract and simply utilizing further zest to assist the flavour a bit. However the glaze on high? Wonderful.

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5. Benjamina Ebuehi: Basic Lemon Drizzle Cake

Recipe Notes: This recipe used essentially the most eggs of all of the loaves (4). It used the creaming technique of butter and sugar to create a light-weight texture and rise from aeration. This model mixes all of the dry substances with the moist and requires the milk to be added in any case is mixed.

Total, our tasters ranked this loaf in the course of the pack. The feel itself was a bit on the denser aspect. It nearly jogged my memory of an olive oil or almond flour cake, and most testers discovered this cake to be moist. The cake does use a heavy serving to of lemon syrup for when the cake comes out of the oven. The flavour, nevertheless, was a bit delicate for us and we simply wished to punch up the lemon. I might bake it once more, however use an additional lemon or two.

4. Cloudy Kitchen: Lemon and Bitter Cream Loaf Cake with Lemon Glaze

Recipe Notes: Makes use of bitter cream for moisture and tang. This was the one loaf cake to make use of almond flour within the dry substances.

I might describe this recipe as yielding a delicate lemon loaf. By way of texture, it was undoubtedly on the denser aspect, and baked up as a reasonably hefty loaf. The feel itself was moist and had a little bit of a crumb due to the usage of almond flour. And whereas I didn’t thoughts the almond flour and will style it within the loaf, others who may additionally style the almond flour didn’t like that they might style it. Total, this may be a pleasant slice of cake to have with tea.

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3. Ravneet Gill: Lemon Loaf Cake

Recipe Notes: The recipe makes use of double cream within the batter. It’s topped with lemon syrup and a glaze.

When it got here to our high three recipes, they had been all prettyclose. All in all, these rankings got here right down to minute particulars. This recipe used double cream (heavy cream) within the batter, giving it a really wealthy texture. Testers thought the feel was good for the standard dense loaf, however very moist as nicely. By way of taste, it was a very good lemon loaf with loads of tang and simply sufficient sweetness. We’ll be making this one once more.

Recipe Notes: The recipe makes use of bitter cream and milk within the batter. It referred to as for the least quantity of eggs (2). Recipe boasted a wealthy glaze with cream and butter.

Relating to a Starbucks Copycat, we actually preferred this one. Whereas texturally it wasn’t a precise match to Starbucks, it was lighter and fluffier—which we nearly most well-liked. The flavour was additionally good, with lemon closing out every chew, and was solely made higher with the wealthy lemon glaze that was candy and tangy on the similar time. This was an in depth second for the perfect lemon loaf cake.

1. Butternut Bakery: Iced Lemon Loaf Cake

Recipe Notes: The recipe makes use of a reverse creaming technique for texture. Requires each vegetable oil and butter.

Our winner simply edged out the others due to its texture. This recipe makes use of the reverse creaming technique, during which you cream the butter into all the dry substances with the sugar as a substitute of simply creaming the butter and sugar collectively first. This was certainly voted general greatest and had the closest texture to the Starbucks loaf. It was dense however mild on the similar time. (Paradoxical, I do know, however you’ll perceive while you strive it.) And the flavour was completely lemony due to the glaze, reminding individuals of a pound cake with lemon. I’d add some further zest subsequent time simply to actually go all the best way with the citrus. However general, we actually loved this one.

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Did we strive your favourite? What recipes ought to we strive in our subsequent bake-off? Pontificate within the feedback!