• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
My Cookbook
About Jo
Get in Touch

Craving Home Cooked

Delicious Home Cooked Meals That Everyone Craves

Display Search Bar
Main Menu
Recipe Index
Dinner
30 Minute Meals
One Pot Meals
Desserts
Free EBook
My Cookbook
About Jo
Get in Touch
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
Visit my other site: Jo Cooks
Tap to download our free eBook!

Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!





Recipe Index
Dinner
30 Minute Meals
One Pot Meals
Desserts
Free EBook
HomeBakingBread
4.92 from 12 votes
6 Comments

Starbucks Lemon Loaf (Copycat)

Total Time2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Recipe
Print
  • 144
By: Joanna Cismaru Last Updated: 09/28/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf is so much better than the real thing, no more waking up early, skip the line and make this at home!

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Ingredients
  • How to make lemon loaf
  • How to serve
  • How to store leftovers
  • Did you like this recipe? Try these!
  • Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!
  • Starbucks Lemon Loaf
  • Did you try this recipe?
a delicious homemade lemon loaf cut into slices with a lemon glaze on parchment paper

This Starbucks lemon loaf copycat, in my opinion, is better than the original! It is so simple to make and it hits the spot when you need something sweet on the go. So delicious, fresh and loaded with bright lemon flavor, this is the breakfast (or snack) of champions. Don’t forget the coffee!

While I do admit, I used to be a Starbucks enthusiast – key words: USED TO. I really only went because I was addicted to their lemon loaf. What I didn’t love? The wait!! There is always a long line in the morning at Starbucks and when I’m running late, I just don’t have the time to stop! Plus I’m not a fan of the coffee! Therefore, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own at home.

overhead shot of ingredients needed to make lemon loaf

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

Lemon Loaf

  • Yellow Cake Mix – Any store bought variety will work.
  • Lemon Pudding Mix – I used a package of non-instant pudding mix.
  • Eggs – Large.
  • Sour Cream – You can substitute with greek yogurt.
  • Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed. You can use store bought if that’s what you have.
  • Milk – I used 2% milk.
  • Vegetable Oil – Can be substituted with canola oil, melted butter, or apple sauce.

Icing

  • Powdered Sugar – The same thing as icing sugar or confectioners sugar.
  • Lemon Juice – I used freshly squeezed.
process shots showing how to make lemon bread

How to make lemon loaf

  1. Preheat Oven – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 2 5×9-inch loaf pans.
  2. Mix Ingredients – To the bowl of your mixer – add the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, lemon juice, milk, oil and mix until combined. Pour into the prepared loaf pans.
  3. Bake – Transfer the loaf pans to the oven and bake for about 60 minutes or until in toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pans for 20 minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. Make Icing – Meanwhile, whisk together the powdered sugar with the 3 tbsp of lemon juice until smooth. For a thicker icing add more powdered sugar.
  5. Finish & Serve – Drizzle or spoon the icing evenly over the loaf and let it stand for 30 minutes before slicing. Serve.
a few slices of lemon bread with a couple pieces broken in half stacked on top of each other

How to serve

After your lemon bread has been sufficiently drizzled with that luscious lemon icing, the only thing left to do is eat it! Just as you would if you were dining at Starbucks, serve it up with a nice, piping hot cup of coffee or tea and you’ve got yourself the perfect afternoon treat or grab and go breakfast!

How to store leftovers

To prolong the life of your leftover lemon bread, cover it with foil or plastic wrap (or place in plastic bag) to prevent it from drying out. Properly stored, freshly baked lemon bread will last for about 1 – 2 days at room temperature and about 3 days in the fridge.

lemon loaf sliced and cooling on cooling rack

Did you like this recipe? Try these!

  • Coconut Cake
  • Lemon Yogurt Cake
  • Carrot Cake
  • Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Zucchini Bread
  • Pumpkin Bread
  • Cranberry Quick Bread

Craving More? Follow Along:

Free Newsletter

Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!





Pinterest
Facebook
Instagram
Recipe
4.92 from 12 votes

Starbucks Lemon Loaf

This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf is so much better than the real thing, no more waking up early, skip the line and make this at home!
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr
Total: 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Cool: 1 hour hr
Print
Rate
12

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls (3 piece set)
  • Loaf Pan 9.5 x 5 inch (set of 2)

Ingredients

Lemon Bread

  • 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix 1 box
  • 4.3 ounces lemon pudding mix 1 package non-instant
  • 4 large eggs
  • 8 ounce sour cream
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil

Icing

  • 2 cups powdered sugar same as icing sugar or confectioners sugar
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 2 5×9-inch loaf pans.
  • To the bowl of your mixer add the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, lemon juice, milk, oil and mix until combined, about 2 minutes. Pour into the prepared loaf pans.
  • Transfer the loaf pans to the oven and bake for about 60 minutes or until in toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
  • Cool the bread in the pans for 20 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together the powdered sugar with the 3 tbsp of lemon juice until smooth. For a thicker icing add more powdered sugar.
  • Drizzle or spoon the icing evenly over the loaf and let it stand for 30 minutes before slicing.

Tips & Notes:

  1. To prolong the life of your leftover lemon bread, cover it with foil or plastic wrap (or place in plastic bag) to prevent it from drying out. Properly stored, freshly baked lemon bread will last for about 1 – 2 days at room temperature and about 3 days in the fridge.

nutrition facts

Serving: 1serving Calories: 355kcal (18%) Carbohydrates: 61g (20%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0.1g Cholesterol: 69mg (23%) Sodium: 356mg (15%) Potassium: 103mg (3%) Fiber: 0.5g (2%) Sugar: 36g (40%) Vitamin A: 167IU (3%) Vitamin C: 4mg (5%) Calcium: 122mg (12%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Course: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American

before you go!

Did you try this recipe?

Leave us a recipe rating below + tag @cravinghomecooked on instagram and hashtag it #cravinghomecooked!

  • 144
Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts. Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Read More

Comfort Food Recipes

Subscribe and receive a FREE copy of my Top 25 Recipes eBook!





Previous Post
Breakfast Casserole
Next Post
Irish Soda Bread
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
Rate this recipe




guest
Rate this recipe




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

sidebar

joanna cismaru headshot.

welcome

Hi and Welcome! I’m Joanna and I’m the creator of this blog. I am a writer, a photographer and a cookbook author.

Read More…

Click to subscribe to new recipes & latest cravings!

Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!




Popular Now

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus

Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus

Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper

sliced up chicken parmesan on a bed of spaghetti in a black bowl.

Chicken Parmesan

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

creamy tuscan chicken pasta in a black skillet.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

a spatula lifting a piece of lasagna from a casserole dish.

The Best Lasagna

chicken club pasta salad in a white bowl.

Chicken Club Pasta Salad

Dinner Recipes

freshly made marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet garnished with parsley.

Marry Me Chicken

Instant Pot Meatloaf

Butter Chicken

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Taco Stuffed Pepper Casserole

freshly made garlic butter steak and potatoes in a skillet.

Garlic Butter Steak And Potatoes

chinese sizzling beef on a bed of rice in a plate.

Chinese Sizzling Beef

chicken fajitas on a tortilla garnished with sour cream and limes.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Comfort Food Recipes

Subscribe and receive a FREE copy of my 25 Recipe ebook!

Download Now

Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!





our top ten

most popular recipes

creamy tuscan chicken pasta in a black skillet.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus

Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus

Easy Pasta Alfredo

freshly made marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet garnished with parsley.

Marry Me Chicken

a spatula lifting a piece of lasagna from a casserole dish.

The Best Lasagna

honey garlic chicken bites on a bed of rice in a bowl.

Honey Garlic Chicken Bites

freshly baked blueberry biscuits in a black cast iron skillet.

Blueberry Biscuits

Chicken Spaghetti

Butter Chicken

Browse All

Explore:

Recipe Index
Cookbook
Free eBook
Contact

Follow Along:

Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest

AS FEATURED ON:

parade logo.
thekitchen logo.
msn logo.
bloglovin logo.
Visit My Other Site: Jo Cooks
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
© 2026
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
wpDiscuz

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required