Blueberry Bread Recipe
This Lemon Blueberry Bread has a moist and tender crumb and is loaded with juicy, sweet blueberries and lemon zest. The easy lemon glaze makes every bite memorable.
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial and see how easy it is to make this bakery-quality blueberry loaf recipe.
Blueberry Bread Video
Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe
We go through blueberries quickly and love adding them to everything from Fruit Salad to Smoothies, but they are completely transformed when cooked or baked into sweet bread. The blueberries become almost jammy when they are baked into Blueberry Pie and Blueberry Muffins.
When one of my readers messaged asking if our Cranberry Bread can be made with blueberries, a lightbulb went off in my head and I knew I had to test it. With some small modifications, we now have this new favorite, blueberry loaf with lemon icing.
Ingredients
The ingredients here are pantry and refrigerator staples but the results will rival any slice you might get at a bakery or coffee shop. Here’s what you’ll need for the blueberry bread:
- Dry Ingredients – all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt give structure to the bread. Baking powder makes the bread rise to achieve the dome on top (see our tips for the best rise below).
- Butter and Sugar are creamed together to add sweetness and moisture to the bread. Use unsalted butter so you can control the salt.
- Milk and Eggs – give the loaf its moist and tender crumb. Make sure your liquid ingredients are at room temperature for easier blending into the batter.
- Lemon zest – Grate the zest from 1 lemon and reserve 1/2 tsp of zest for the glaze.
- Blueberries – We use fresh blueberries. Rinse and dry them before using.
- Vanilla extract – adds flavor and aroma to the bread
Substitutions and Variations
Frozen Blueberries – use frozen if that is what you have on hand. No need to thaw – toss in flour and fold them in. You may need to bake a few minutes longer if using frozen blueberries.
Cranberries – Yes! One of our favorite combinations is cranberry and orange and this recipe was inspired by our Cranberry Bread.
Other Berries – You can substitute the blueberries for equal amounts of raspberries, blackberries, or chopped strawberries.
How to Make Blueberry Bread
- Prep – Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease your loaf pan with butter and dust with flour, tapping out the excess flour.
- Combine Dry Ingredients – In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream together softened butter and half of the granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the remaining sugar and continue beating until well combined and creamy (Note: the sugar takes a long time to incorporate if it’s all added at once). Beat in eggs, vanilla extract, and 1 tsp lemon zest and mix until well incorporated.
- Add flour mixture in 2 parts, alternating with the milk. Mix on medium/low speed just until incorporated with each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Coat Blueberries – In a small bowl, toss blueberries with 1/2 Tbsp flour then fold them into the wet ingredients just until incorporated and transfer to your prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake for 50-60 min at 350°F until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes. Run a cake release tool or knife around the edges and transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
Pro Tip:
Lightly coating blueberries with 1/2 Tbsp of flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the batter as it bakes, ensuring that blueberries are evenly dispersed throughout the finished loaf.
Tips to Achieve a Better Dome on Your Sweet Bread
- Oven Temperature – Make sure your oven is fully preheated. An oven thermometer helps! Also, if you use a dark-colored baking pan, reduce the temperature by 25˚F since it will brown faster.
- Dough Consistency – The thick dough will help support a more pronounced dome as it rises
- Fill the Pan Correctly – You want to fill the pan 2/3 full. Keep this in mind if you are using different-sized pans or mini loaf pans.
- No Peeking – Keep the oven door closed, opening it too early can cause a sudden drop in temperature which can affect the rise.
- Cooling – Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes to stabilize the structure before transferring it to a wire rack.
- Don’t Overmix – Overmixing the batter can develop too much gluten and knock out the air bubbles.
The Best Lemon Glaze
Whether you serve this Blueberry Bread for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or even for dessert, do not miss the incredible lemon icing on top. This easy Blueberry Bread recipe would not be complete without the simple lemon glaze generously drizzled over the top! You’ll need:
- Powdered sugar – Spoon it into a measuring cup for a consistent measure
- Fresh lemon juice – Freshly squeezed
- Lemon zest – Do not skip the zest as it adds an extra layer of bright citrus flavor
Once the bread has cooled, stir powdered sugar, lemon juice, and the 1/2 tsp reserved lemon zest until smooth. Add more lemon juice or powdered sugar until it’s a perfect drizzling consistency. Use a spoon to drizzle on top.
Pro Tip:
To contain any messes while glazing, place a plate or paper towel under a cooling rack to catch the drips and avoid puddling while the glaze sets.
Leftovers
This blueberry bread keeps so well – it stays soft and moist for days and doesn’t lose anything in quality or flavor. It’s the perfect to-go snack and is one of my favorite things to pack for road trips and long flights.
- Room Temperature: Wrap the Blueberry Bread in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for a week.
- Freezing: Cool the loaf completely, wrap it in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil, and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
This blueberry bread is so easy to whip up and is such a treat for breakfast or dessert. If you try it, don’t skip the glaze – it adds such a nice sweet and tangy contrast. You’ll love every bite!
Blueberry Bread with Lemon Glaze
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 6 cup (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 bread loaf pan)* then dust with flour, tapping out the excess flour.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and half of the granulated sugar on medium/high speed until combined then add the remaining sugar and beat for 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, vanilla extract, and 1 tsp lemon zest and mix until well incorporated.
- Add flour mixture in 2 parts, alternating with the milk and mixing on medium/low speed just until incorporated with each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- In a small bowl, toss blueberries with 1/2 Tbsp flour then fold them into the batter just until incorporated. Spread the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 50-60 min at 350°F until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.* Let cool in pan for 10-15 minutes then run a cake release tool or knife around the edges and transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.*
- After your bread is fully cooled, in a separate bowl, stir together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and reserved 1/2 tsp lemon zest. Stir until smooth. It should have a drizzling consistency. Add more lemon juice to thin it out or powdered sugar to make it thicker.
Notes
- Substitutions: substitute fruit amounts equally. Adding too much can weigh down the batter.
- Frozen Blueberries – do not thaw. Toss frozen berries in flour and add to the batter. You may need to bake a few minutes longer.
- Cranberries – You’ll love the combination of cranberry and orange as in our Cranberry Bread.
- Other Berries – try raspberries, blackberries, or chopped strawberries.
- Pan Considerations – Using a different pan size may require different baking times. Also, if using a darker-colored pan, reduce the temperature by 25˚F since the bread will brown faster.
- Baking times can vary depending on the oven so start checking the bread a few minutes before the suggested baking time.
- To glaze the bread – Place a plate under the cooling rack to catch the drips and avoid puddling while the glaze sets.
