Name: Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour; 1 pkg lemon jello (3 oz); 2/3 cup sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt; 3 eggs; 1/2 cup buttermilk*; 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp lemon extract; zest of 1 lemon (about 2 teaspoons of zest); 2 tbsp softened butter; 2 cups powdered sugar; 4 tsp lemon juice

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This Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat recipe is bright, with a tangy lemon flavor, and topped with a sweet lemon glaze. You can make this coffee shop favorite right in your own home!

looking at starbucks iced lemon loaf overhead with sliced lemons on cutting board — *Copycat Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf.*

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If you’ve ever visited Starbucks, you’ve probably seen their moist lemon pound cake in the display cake. And let me tell you, it’s as good as it appears! The cake itself while buttery, tender, and lemony, is not overly sweet. The sweetness comes from the thick lemon icing that sits on top, and let me tell you, it’s fantastic!

two slices of lemon loaf cut with lemons in the background — *Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe.*

This Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf recipe is great any time of the year for all you lemon lovers! While this delicious recipe screams springtime, making it in the dead of winter with its bright lemon flavor, takes away the gloom and brings happiness.

starbucks iced lemon loaf slices on a platter. — *Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf recipe.*

Why you will love this Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf

This iced lemon loaf is a dessert that everyone will love and dare I say, the closest thing you can get to the Starbucks recipe.

It’s a “one bowl and pour” deal – Meaning, mix all the loaf ingredients together in one bowl and bake in a 9″x5″ rectangular baking pan. Then allow it to cool and frost. Ridiculously easy!
Way cheaper to make at home than buying at Starbucks – The cost of one slice of Iced Lemon Loaf at my local Starbucks is currently $3.65. That’s insane for one slice! This recipe makes 8 slices (depending on how thick you cut it.) If you bought 8 slices at Starbucks, that’s almost $30! But if you’re a baker, you probably have most of the simple ingredients at home, so save your money by making it yourself!
Slightly healthier – I say this in the sense, that you know every ingredient that’s going into your lemon loaf. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list online? It’s so long and has ingredients I can’t even pronounce! But for this copycat recipe, you know exactly what’s in here.

looking directly on top of lemon pound cake with slice lemons — *Starbucks Copycat Iced Lemon Loaf.*

The Players for Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf

Ingredients:

Flour – All-purpose flour is all you’ll need for this delicious lemon loaf recipe.
Lemon Jello packet – One 3-ounce box of lemon pudding mix really intensifies the lemon flavor.
Sugar – Plain white granulated sugar is used to sweeten this lemon loaf cake recipe.
Baking powder – Using baking powder creates a lighter, fluffier, and more tender texture in the whole loaf.
Baking soda – This helps our iced lemon loaf to rise while also aiding in a moist cake.
Salt – Helps bring and develop all of the flavors together.
Eggs – You’ll need large eggs that are room temperature to create a moist iced lemon loaf.
Buttermilk – This brings a wonderful tangy flavor to the loaf. Make your own by souring white vinegar and milk together for 5 minutes. I include this in the notes section of the recipe card.
Butter – You’ll need some cooled melted butter for this moist cake, along with some for the delicious lemon glaze. Alternatively, you can use equal amounts of either vegetable oil or canola oil if you prefer.
Lemon juice – Using fresh lemons brings a natural lemon flavor to our lemon bread.
Vanilla extract – This brings warmth and sweetness to this Starbucks copycat recipe.
Lemon extract – While we’re getting lemon flavors from the jello and the fresh lemons, using lemon oil helps bring even more lemon flavor.
Lemon zest – Fresh lemon zest is used in this delicious lemon cake.
Powdered sugar – Also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar is needed to make our zesty lemon frosting.

Tools:

Loaf Pan – You’ll need a 9 x5-inch loaf pan to make this Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf recipe. I also use a loaf pan in my Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf Recipe.

box of lemon jello surrounded by real fresh lemons — *Adding a box of lemon jello makes this loaf moist and extra lemony!*

How to Make Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and set your oven rack in the middle of the oven. Spray a 9″x5″ loaf baking pan generously with cooking spray and set aside. Alternatively, you can also take a piece of parchment paper, crumple it up and wet it thoroughly with water, and place it into the loaf pan!

parchment paper in a loaf pan on a counter. — *Crumble up a piece of parchment into a ball, wet it under water, and the parchment will adhere nicely to the sides of the loaf pan.*

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, lemon jello packet, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

flour in a glass mixing bowl. — *To a bowl, add the flour.*

white sugar being added to the flour — *To a bowl, add the flour.*

To the same mixing bowl, add the eggs, buttermilk, 1/4 cup melted butter, lemon juice, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and lemon zest. Using a hand mixer or wooden spoon, mix the ingredients until there are no visible lumps. Pour the lemon loaf batter into the prepared loaf pan.

3 large eggs added to the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. — *Add in the eggs.*

homemade buttermilk added to the eggs for starbucks iced lemon loaf recipe. — *Add in the eggs.*

Bake the lemon loaf for 55 minutes. If you find that your loaf is browning too quickly at the halfway mark, tent it with foil. To check that the loaf is fully baked, insert a toothpick into the middle of the loaf. If the inserted toothpick comes out clean, it’s done.

lemon loaf next to a lemon on a black counter. — *Bake for 55 minutes.*

lemon loaf on the parchment after baking in the oven. — *Bake for 55 minutes.*

Allow the lemon loaf to cool for 20 minutes in the loaf pan. Remove the loaf by running a knife around the edges of the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Lemon Frosting

In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of softened butter, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. Make the consistency as thick as you’d like by adding more or less lemon juice. Frost the cooled lemon loaf. Enjoy!

lemon frosting being added to the cooled lemon loaf. — *Make the thick lemon frosting.*

lemon frosting spread over the entire lemon loaf. — *Make the thick lemon frosting.*

Storage Instructions for Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf

Place any leftover lemon loaf into an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap. It will keep on your counter for up to 3-4 days.

side view of lemon loaf on a platter on top of a striped kitchen towel. — *Slices of Iced Lemon Loaf.*

Want to try other lemon recipes?

lemon cake on a piece of parchment with a plate slice of loaf bread and gold fork — *Copycat Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Recipe.*

Give these recipes a try if you’re a lemon lover like me!

side angle of cut loaf bread on a serving board — *Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe*

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If you end up trying this Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat recipe, leave me a comment down below. I’d love to chat with you!

Looking for other Copycat Recipes? Check these out next!

Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf Copycat Recipe

This sweet and tangy iced lemon loaf recipe is a delicious copycat version of the famous Starbucks version. No need to visit the coffee shop anymore. You can make this right in your own home!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 55

Total Time 1 5

Course Dessert

Servings 8 slices

Ingredients

Lemon Loaf Mixture

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 pkg lemon jello (3 oz)
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk*
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp lemon extract
zest of 1 lemon (about 2 teaspoons of zest)

Lemon Icing

2 tbsp softened butter
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

Baking the Lemon Loaf

Preheat oven to 350 F and set oven rack to middle of oven. Spray a 9"x5" loaf baking pan generously with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, lemon jello packet, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
To the same bowl, add in the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, lemon juice, vanilla extract, lemon extract and lemon zest. Using a handmixer or wooden spoon, mix very well until there are no visible lumps. Pour mixture into baking pan.
Bake for 55 minutes, checking with a toothpick at 50 minutes by poking in the middle of loaf. If toothpick comes out clean, the loaf is done.
Allow to cool for 20 minutes in the baking pan. Remove loaf from pan by running a knife around the edges of pan and transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Making the Lemon Icing

In a medium size bowl, mix together softened butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice. Make the consistency as thick as you'd like by adding more or less lemon juice. Frost the cooled lemon loaf.

Notes

*Buttermilk substitute – in a 1/2 cup measuring bowl, add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, then fill up to 1/2 cup line with milk. Allow to ‘sour’ for 5 minutes before using

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