Strawberry Lemonade Loaf Cake 🍓🍋
This strawberry lemonade loaf is the perfect spring bake—bright, sweet, and packed with fresh strawberry flavor. The soft lemony cake paired with a tangy strawberry glaze makes it taste like sunshine in every bite. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or a little afternoon treat!
Ingredients
For the loaf:
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup diced strawberries
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the strawberry lemon glaze:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp crushed strawberries
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
2️⃣ In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3️⃣ In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4️⃣ Mix in eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
5️⃣ Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk until combined.
6️⃣ Fold in diced strawberries and pour batter into the loaf pan.
7️⃣ Bake 45–55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.
8️⃣ Mix glaze ingredients and pour over the cooled loaf.
The strawberry glaze melts right into the lemon cake and gives it that soft pink, bakery-style finish. It’s fresh, sweet, and the ultimate spring bake. 🌸
Would you try this combo? 🍓🍋
#springrecipe #lemon8challenge #recipes #cakes #lemon8food Lemon8 Food
Making a strawberry lemonade loaf cake is a fantastic way to bring fresh, vibrant flavors to your baking routine. I’ve found that using fresh lemon zest and juice really enhances the brightness of the cake, creating that perfect tangy balance with the sweetness of strawberries. One trick I use is to dice the strawberries small to ensure they distribute evenly throughout the loaf, preventing sinking or uneven baking. This cake’s soft, moist texture comes from alternating the dry ingredients with milk, which keeps the batter light and tender. Don’t skip creaming the butter and sugar properly—the light, fluffy mixture makes a big difference in the final crumb structure. Baking times can also vary slightly depending on your oven, so testing with a toothpick towards the end is a helpful step to avoid overbaking. The glaze is what really sets this cake apart. Combining powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice and crushed strawberries creates a natural, tangy-sweet topping that melts into the cake for a bakery-style finish. I’ve found that adjusting the glaze’s consistency with the amount of lemon juice lets you customize how thick or drizzle-like the topping becomes. This strawberry lemonade loaf cake pairs wonderfully with tea or coffee, making it a perfect addition to weekend brunches or a light dessert after dinner. The combination of sweet and tangy flavors reminds me of sunny spring days and adds a cheerful touch to any gathering. If you want to mix things up, you can try topping the cake with fresh strawberry slices or a sprinkle of lemon zest for an extra burst of freshness. Overall, this loaf is a crowd-pleaser and brings a delightful balance of soft, moist cake with sweet and tangy accents that makes every bite feel like a little sunshine.
This looks so good! Sweet breads are my favorite ❤️