Today’s Starbucks Lemon Loaf recipe is soft, moist, and full of delicious lemon flavor, just like the one you grab at the coffee shop. We think it’s the perfect cross between a quick bread and a cake and no matter who tries it, they LOVE it.

What we love most about this recipe, is that it’s one of those recipes that’s easy to make at home and always turns out so good. After several attempts of perfecting this recipe, we’ve finally achieved that perfect texture and flavor. It’s sweet, a little tangy, and topped with a smooth lemon frosting that makes it quite addicting.

If you loved this, try Lemon Blueberry Bread, Lemon Bars, or Pound Cake. These are all recipes we make on repeat!

Why you’ll love it + Why it works:

  • Bakery Style at Home. You can make this delicious lemon loaf recipe right at home, and it will taste EVEN BETTER than Starbucks!
  • Perfect Lemon Flavor. Just the right mix of sweet and tangy.
  • Pudding Mix Boost. Adds moisture and enhances the lemon flavor. There is something about that delicious, moist cake that keeps us all coming back for more.
  • Oil and Yogurt Combo. Keeps the loaf soft and rich.
Ingredients for Starbucks lemon loaf cake prepped for baking.

Starbucks Lemon Loaf Ingredients

  • All-Purpose Flour (1 ½ cups): Provides structure for the loaf while keeping it soft.
  • Instant Lemon Pudding Mix (1 box, 3.4-ounce): Adds extra moisture and boosts the lemon flavor.
  • Baking Powder (½ teaspoon): Helps the loaf rise and stay light.
  • Baking Soda (½ teaspoon): Works with the acidic ingredients to create a tender texture.
  • Salt (½ teaspoon): Enhances all the flavors in the loaf.
  • Eggs (3): Adds structure and richness while helping bind everything together.
  • Granulated Sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the loaf and keeps it moist.
  • Butter (2 tablespoons, softened): Adds flavor and a little richness.
  • Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Balances and enhances the lemon flavor.
  • Lemon Extract (2 teaspoons): Gives a strong lemon flavor similar to the coffee shop version.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice (⅓ cup): Adds natural citrus flavor and moisture. Use about 3 medium-sized lemons to produce enough juice to use in this recipe. (A medium-sized lemon can produce 2-3 tablespoons of juice).
  • Vegetable Oil (½ cup): Keeps the loaf extra moist and soft.
  • Plain Greek Yogurt (¾ cup): Adds moisture and helps create a tender crumb.
  • Lemon Zest (from 1 lemon): Adds bright, fresh lemon flavor. The peel of one of the lemons can be used to produce 1 tablespoon of zest. Using a citrus zester is the easiest, but you can also use the small side of a cheese grater. 
  • Butter (3 tablespoons, soft): Forms the base of the frosting and adds richness.
  • Powdered Sugar (1 ½ cup): Sweetens and thickens the glaze.
  • Lemon Juice (3 tablespoons): Adds tangy flavor to the frosting.
  • Lemon Extract (1 teaspoon): Boosts the lemon flavor in the glaze.

How to Make Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Batter for Starbucks lemon loaf cake mixed in a glass bowl.

PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 5 x 9″ loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper. (With a pencil, trace the bottom of the pan on a piece of parchment paper and cut it out with scissors.)

Spray the pan and parchment paper with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.

DRY INGREDIENTS. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

WET INGREDIENTS. With a stand or hand mixer, combine the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract, lemon juice, oil, and yogurt. Mix until evenly combined.

COMBINE. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the lemon zest, and mix until just combined.

BAKE. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes, or until the center is fully set, and a toothpick inserted comes out crumb free.

COOL. After baking, let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the pan, invert and remove from the pan, removing the parchment paper from the bottom. Let the cake finish cooling on a wire rack

Cooled Starbucks Lemon loaf and a bowl of frosting.

FROSTING. Combine the butter, lemon juice, and lemon extract with a hand or stand mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth and creamy.

Evenly spread the frosting over the top of the loaf. Refrigerate to let the frosting set completely before slicing. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.

Close up of Starbucks lemon loaf slices topped with lemon frosting.

Kristyn’s Recipe Tips

  • Don’t Overmix Batter: Mix just until combined to keep the loaf soft.
  • Use Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh makes a big difference in flavor.
  • Cool Before Frosting: This keeps the glaze from melting.
  • Line Your Pan: Makes removing the loaf easier.
  • Lemon Pudding: If you can’t find lemon pudding, order it on Amazon or use vanilla pudding and add extra lemon extract.
  • Don’t Over Bake: If the outside browns before the inside is done, cover loosely with foil, lower the oven by 25°, keep the pan centered, or use a rose nail for even baking.
  • Grainy Icing: Use quality powdered sugar and sift it, make sure there’s enough butter, use room temperature butter, and add sugar slowly while mixing well.
  • Toppings: Drizzle with a lemon glaze. Simply dust with powdered sugar. Add a dollop of Whipped Cream and strawberries to each slice.
Slices of Starbucks lemon loaf topped with frosting.
Frosted and sliced Starbucks lemon loaf recipe on a cutting board.
4.96 from 520 votes

Starbucks Lemon Loaf

This Starbucks Lemon Loaf is soft, sweet, and full of bright lemon flavor with a sweet glaze, made easily at home with simple ingredients.
Servings: 10
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant lemon pudding mix
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lemon extract
  • cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • zest of 1 lemon

Frosting

  • 3 tablespoons butter, soft but not melted
  • 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 5 x 9" loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper. (With a pencil, trace the bottom of the pan on a piece of parchment paper and cut it out with scissors.)
    Spray the pan and parchment paper with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
  • n a mixing bowl, combine the flour, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With a stand or hand mixer, combine the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract, lemon juice, oil, and yogurt. Mix until evenly combined.
    Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the lemon zest, and mix until just combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes, or until the center is fully set, and a toothpick inserted comes out crumb free.
  • After baking, let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the pan, invert and remove from the pan, removing the parchment paper from the bottom. Let the cake finish cooling on a wire rack
  • For frosting. Combine the butter, lemon juice, and lemon extract with a hand or stand mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth and creamy.
    Evenly spread the frosting over the top of the loaf. Refrigerate to let the frosting set completely before slicing. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.
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Notes

Recipe Tips.
  • Don’t Overmix Batter: Mix just until combined to keep the loaf soft.
  • Use Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh makes a big difference in flavor.
  • Cool Before Frosting: This keeps the glaze from melting.
  • Line Your Pan: Makes removing the loaf easier.
  • Lemon Pudding: If you can’t find lemon pudding, order it on Amazon or use vanilla pudding and add extra lemon extract.
  • Don’t Over Bake: If the outside browns before the inside is done, cover loosely with foil, lower the oven by 25°, keep the pan centered, or use a rose nail for even baking.
  • Grainy Icing: Use quality powdered sugar and sift it, make sure there’s enough butter, use room temperature butter, and add sugar slowly while mixing well.
  • Toppings: Drizzle with a lemon glaze. Simply dust with powdered sugar. Add a dollop of Whipped Cream and strawberries to each slice.
Store. Lemon Loaf can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freeze. To freeze it without the frosting, allow the cake to completely cool, wrap the loaf with plastic wrap, then again with aluminum foil.
To freeze with frosting, flash freeze first by placing the cake (whole or sliced) on a baking sheet. Freeze for 2-3 hours, then wrap. Label and freeze for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 432kcal, Carbohydrates: 62g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 304mg, Potassium: 97mg, Sugar: 38g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Vitamin C: 5.7mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store?

Lemon Loaf can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to freeze?

To freeze it without the frosting, allow the cake to completely cool, wrap the loaf with plastic wrap, then again with aluminum foil.
To freeze with frosting, flash freeze first by placing the cake (whole or sliced) on a baking sheet. Freeze for 2-3 hours, then wrap. Label and freeze for up to 6 months. 

Thanks, Erin! For more great recipes from her, be sure to go to Delightful E Made.

This recipe was first shared April, 2015.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.96 from 520 votes (260 ratings without comment)

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735 Comments

  1. Lydia B says:

    5 stars
    Love this, have made it several times. One time I got side tracked and for got the pudding, it was OK but not neary as good as with the pudding mix.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Glad you like it 🙂 We love it! Thank you!

  2. Lily says:

    5 stars
    Spectacular!

  3. Jason Garvin says:

    5 stars
    It was delicious!!!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay! Happy you liked it! Thank you!

  4. Darian Royal says:

    5 stars
    I made this gluten free and it turned out amazing! So moist and lemony, just like starbucks. You can use a 1:1 flour but I personally dont think tapioca/potato starch (common ingredients in store bought gf flour) belong in cake. For confectionery baking, I prefer more nutritious alternatives that give a flaky crumb & nutty undertone. Here’s the custom blend I used to make this lemon loaf gluten free:

    1/2 cup quinoa flour (protein punch?)
    1/4 cup coconut flour
    1/4 cup almond flour
    3 tbsp rice flour
    3 tbsp millet flour
    3/4 tsp xanthan gum

    You can sub out the quinoa and millet if you CAN’t find them at a health food store, but the almond, coconut, and rice flour are kinda mando?

    THANKS SO much for the great recipe & INSPIRATION!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      You are welcome & thank you for sharing what you did!

  5. Laura F. says:

    5 stars
    For the Lemon Loaf recipe do you use salted or unsalted butter? The recipe doesn’t say?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Sorry..I like to add unsalted butter when baking 🙂 Enjoy!!

  6. Kim says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is DELICIOUS. I accidentally forgot the cup of sUgar (yes, its true) but no one even notiCeD ots absence because the frosting was sweet Enough. My 9-year old son (who is a starBucks fan) thought my version was much better.

  7. terri says:

    5 stars
    Bright, fresh taste. Perfect, moist bread with a tangy, tasty icing.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Agreed! Thank you so much for sharing that 🙂

  8. Barbara says:

    5 stars
    Best lemon loaf recipe I have ever tried. I COULDN’T find lemon pudding but my store had lemon yogurt. This recipe is so moist and flavorful. I will DEFINITELY be making this again!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      That works! I am so glad you like it! It is a favorite! Thank you for letting me know 🙂

  9. Molly says:

    5 stars
    I followed the recipe 99%. The only change I made was substitute the yogurt with sour cream. After it rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight it comes out super moist. Very good lemon flavor, just the right amount of real lemon and artificial flavoring. Will definitely be making this again

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Glad you’ll make it again! That’s what I love to hear! Thank you for sharing what you did!

  10. Brenda says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Very lemony and moist. I made 3 mini loaf pans, and they cooked for about 40 minutes.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Perfect! I’d love mini ones! Thanks for letting me know!