Name: Iced Lemon Loaf Cake (Copycat Starbucks)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: American

It is a Keeper Verified

March 6, 2026

Iced Lemon Loaf Cake is a copycat recipe that’s better than the original. It’s light and bright, bursting with fresh lemon flavor and is topped with a sweet vanilla frosting that takes it over the top. This copycat recipe that has that citrus kick of lemon that just wakes up your taste buds and has them begging for more!

Iced Lemon Loaf Cake (Copycat Starbucks)

Iced Lemon Loaf Cake (Copycat Starbucks) cover

From the Cook

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Iced Lemon Loaf Cake (Copycat Starbucks)

It is a Keeper Verified

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350℉.

In a small bowl mix together your flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt.

In a larger bowl beat together your butter and sugar. Mix well until fully incorporated.

Add in your eggs to your butter and sugar mixture one at a time.

Once your eggs are fully mixed, add in your vanilla extract and lemon juice.

Add to your large bowl a little bit of your flour mixture, followed by a little bit of milk. Continue to alternate between the flour mixture and milk until both are fully mixed in.

Add your batter to a 9 x 5” lightly greased loaf pan.

Place your loaf pan in the oven for about 40 to 50 minutes. Continue to check your loaf pan in the oven as oven times vary. You will know what is complete when removing a toothpick from the middle of the loaf comes clean.

Once your loaf has completed cooking, transfer to a cooling rack.

While you are waiting for your loaf to cool, mix together all of the ingredients for your icing. Your icing should be a thick consistency, not thin.

Once your loaf has cooled for about 15 to 20 minutes, pour the icing over your loaf pan. If you would like more icing for the top, you can make more icing and pour over the top of your loaf.

Slice and enjoy!

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Maximize Lemon Flavor 🍋
Use both fresh lemon zest and juice—zest the lemon before juicing it, and add zest directly into the dry ingredients to distribute citrus flavor evenly throughout the cake for maximum brightness.
Room Temperature Ingredients 🌡️
Bring eggs, butter, and milk to room temperature before mixing to ensure proper emulsification and a tender, evenly-textured crumb that rivals the Starbucks original.
Don't Overmix the Batter 🥄
Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined—overmixing develops gluten and creates a dense, tough loaf instead of the light, delicate texture this recipe demands.
Soak the Cake for Extra Moisture 💧
While the cake is still warm, poke holes with a toothpick and brush a simple lemon-sugar syrup over the top to infuse moisture and intensify the lemon flavor throughout.
Frost at the Right Time ❄️
Allow the cake to cool completely before applying the vanilla icing to prevent it from melting and sliding off, ensuring a beautiful, professional-looking finish.

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About the Cook

It is a Keeper

Hi! I’m Christina… welcome to my kitchen! It’s so nice to meet you! I share tried and true recipes that anyone can make. I believe, if you can read, you can cook.