Name: Lemon Lemon Loaf
Yield: 2 (9-by-5-by-3-inch) Loaves
Ingredients: 1½ cups cake flour; 1½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2¼ cups sugar; 8 large eggs, at room temperature; ¼ cup grated lemon zest (from about 4 lemons); ¼ cup fresh lemon juice; 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled; ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice; ⅓ cup sugar; 2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, or more if needed; 4 to 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

A lemon loaf coated in glaze on a white rectangular serving plate next to a knife.

photo by Tina Rupp

Sometimes simplicity speaks volumes. Our lemon loaf recipe is very straightforward. We do not add poppy seeds, pecans, or any other extraneous ingredient. We really feel that the most important aspect of a lemon loaf is the zingy lemon flavor, and we accentuate it by using a combination of freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly grated lemon zest, and a mildly sweet lemon syrup. The sour cream gives this loaf a subtle tang and a dense, moist crumb that cannot be achieved with yogurt. If you want to increase the lemony goodness of these cakes, add the simple glaze after the syrup has set and the cakes are cool. This loaf freezes extremely well, so you can double the recipe and make a few extra loaves.

BAKED NOTE

For zesting purposes, we always recommend using an organic fruit, free of chemicals or pesticides that might reside deep in the rind.

Recipe information

Yield
2 (9-by-5-by-3-inch) Loaves

Ingredients

FOR THE LEMON CAKE

1½ cups cake flour

1½ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2¼ cups sugar

8 large eggs, at room temperature

¼ cup grated lemon zest (from about 4 lemons)

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

½ cup sour cream, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

FOR THE LEMON SYRUP

⅓ cup fresh lemon juice

⅓ cup sugar

FOR THE LEMON GLAZE (OPTIONAL)

2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, or more if needed

4 to 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation

MAKE THE LEMON CAKES
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the sides and bottom of two 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the paper.
Step 2
Sift both flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
Step 3
Put the sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a food processor and pulse until combined. With the motor running, drizzle the butter in through the feed tube. Add the sour cream and vanilla and pulse until combined. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
Step 4
Sprinkle the flour mixture, one third at a time, folding gently after each addition until just combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, rotate the pans, reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F., and bake for another 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Step 6
Let cool in the pans for 15 minutes.
MEANWHILE, MAKE THE LEMON SYRUP
Step 7
In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, continue to cook for 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Step 8
Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and invert the loaves onto the pan. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the tops and sides of the loaves.
Step 9
Brush the tops and sides of the loaves with the lemon syrup. Let the syrup soak into the cake and brush again. Let the cakes cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
Step 10
(The soaked but unglazed loaves will keep, wrapped in two layers of plastic wrap and frozen, for up to 6 weeks.)
IF YOU LIKE, MAKE THE LEMON GLAZE
Step 11
In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and 4 tablespoons of the lemon juice. The mixture should be thick but pourable. If the mixture is too stiff, add up to another 2 tablespoons lemon juice and whisk again, adding small amounts of lemon juice and/or confectioners' sugar until you get the right consistency. Pour the lemon glaze over the top of each loaf and let it drip down the sides. Let the lemon glaze harden, about 15 minutes, before serving.
Step 12
The glazed loaves will keep for up to 3 days, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

From Baked: New Frontiers in Baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Polifito. Text copyright © 2008 by Anne Bramley; photographs copyright © 2008 by Tina Rupp. Published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams.