🍋 Classic Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake
Zing up your teatime with this bright and zesty Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake. This classic English bake is a triple-lemon treat: lemon in the batter, lemon in the drizzle, and lemon in the glaze. It’s simple to make, bursting with citrusy flavor, and perfect for any occasion.
🧁 Ingredients
For the Cake:
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200g (7 oz / ¾ cup + 1 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
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200g (7 oz / 1 cup) caster sugar
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½ tsp fresh lemon juice
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3 large eggs
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50ml whole milk
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220g (7.7 oz / 1¾ cups) self-raising flour
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⅛ tsp salt
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¼ tsp baking soda
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Zest of 2 lemons
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20ml fresh orange juice
📌 Substitute Tip: If you don’t have self-raising flour, use all-purpose flour and add 1 tsp baking powder per 100g flour.
For the Lemon Drizzle:
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60g (¼ cup) caster sugar
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2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Lemon Glaze:
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50g (½ cup) icing sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
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2 tsp fresh lemon juice (adjust for desired consistency)
👩🍳 Method
1. Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F. Grease and line a 2-pound loaf tin. Grate the zest of 2 lemons and squeeze 20ml of fresh orange juice. Set both aside.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add Eggs and Milk
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and ½ tsp lemon juice. Add this mixture to the butter mixture in three additions, mixing on low speed after each one.
4. Mix the Dry Ingredients
Sift together the self-raising flour, salt, and baking soda in another bowl.
5. Combine Wet and Dry
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while mixing on low speed. Add the lemon zest and orange juice, and gently fold with a spatula to finish mixing. Do not overmix.
6. Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Make the Lemon Drizzle
While the cake bakes, mix caster sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
8. Drizzle and Cool
Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and use a skewer to poke holes all over. Spoon the lemon drizzle evenly over the cake. Let it cool completely in the tin.
9. Finish with Lemon Glaze
Remove the cooled cake from the tin and place it on a wire rack. Mix icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth, then drizzle over the top.
🍰 Enjoy!
This Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake is light, moist, and full of zesty brightness. Serve it with a cup of tea, or enjoy it as a sweet citrusy treat any time of day.
