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Home » Recipes » Dish Type » Baked Goods » Breads

Old Fashioned Lemon Bread

Published: Mar 24, 2020 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Aug 15, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

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Jump to Recipe
sliced lemon loaf on black tray
pinterest pin with 2 photo collage and white text on dark blue background in the middle and 2 photos of lemon bread

The wonderful thing about food is that it has the ability to conjure up some incredibly powerful emotions. So much so that it can actually transport you back to a very special place in time. Personally, I have many recipes that have that ability. But what's even better is when you are able to do that for someone else with your cooking. I spotted this Old Fashioned Lemon Bread recipe in among my stash of my mother- in- law's recipes and I put it aside to make one day. Little did I know the power it possessed.

lemon loaf in off-white ceramic loaf pan

In addition to all the recipes she gave me over the years, I have this pile of my mother-in-law's recipes that my husband was able to collect after she passed away. Some of them I recognize, like her Dairy Free Pumpkin Bread, some he grew up with and there's some she likely never even made.

This is the best lemon bread I've ever had and it makes and amazing dessert, snack or breakfast. It's really perfect anytime of the day. It doesn't have a glaze, but trust me, it's so good, it doesn't need one.

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 👪Serving Size
  • 📖 Variations & Substitutions
  • 🍽Equipment
  • 🌡️Storing
  • 💭Top Tip
  • 💭What to do with the leftover lemon juice
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋 Old Fashioned Lemon Bread Recipe
  • 🍞More Quick Bread Recipes

One day I had an overwhelming craving for lemon bread and I remembered this lemon loaf cake recipe. And OMG did it ever hit the spot -it has such a bright lemon flavor and I couldn't believe how incredibly tasty it was! But it was my husband's reaction that really warmed my heart because I had no idea that this was such a special recipe for him. It wasn't until he was eating it and said, 'Wow. I haven't had this in about 40 years. It brings back such great memories.'  It was so meaningful to be a part of recreating those cherished memories for him through baking.

🥘 Ingredients

You don't need a glaze for this easy lemon loaf;  you simply mix it up and bake. Easy peasy! The walnuts give this loaf a nice texture and it's the perfect balance of sweet and tart. And you can sprinkle on a little additional lemon zest and walnuts if you like. 

For this recipe, you'll need:

  • unsalted butter
  • white granulated sugar
  • eggs
  • flour 
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • milk (I use 1% but you could use 2% or whole milk)
  • chopped walnuts
  • lemons
sliced lemon loaf on black tray

I also love this lemon bread recipe because not only is it easy, it's simple and wholesome. You use ingredients you have around the house and it calls for fresh lemons and walnuts, just like it did 40-50 years ago. These old-fashioned bread recipes are the best because they have stood the test of time.  My family's Date Nut Loaf is another recipe that has been passed on from generation to generation. And I know this Lemon Loaf will be the same; it's just too good not to pass on!

a slice of date loaf on a white plate with whole date loaf in the background (partially sliced) and sliced lemons on the side

👪Serving Size

This recipe for lemon bread serves 8, but you can double it (you'll need additional loaf pans). Simply click on the blue serving size in the recipe card, choose the number of servings you'd like, and the recipe amounts will adjust accordingly.

📖 Variations & Substitutions

  • Butter - if you use salted butter, skip the salt in the recipe
  • Walnuts - you could substitute pecans for the walnuts

🍽Equipment

You'll need a sharp knife, a cutting board, a flour sifter, an electric mixer and a 9X5 loaf pan for this lemon loaf (affiliate links)

🌡️Storing

Refrigeration: Store this delicious quick bread in the fridge for up to 5 days in a Ziplock bag or sealed container

Freezing: You can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months. *It's best that you DO NOT slice it prior to freezing, but rather, freeze it whole. Wait until it completely cools, then put it in a Ziplock freezer bag.

💭Top Tip

It's better to slice this lemon bread as you need it and don't slice the entire loaf before storing, as it prevents it from drying out. *Cover the exposed piece in the loaf with plastic wrap when you store it.

piece of lemon loaf on parchment paper

I'm so lucky to have so many of Grandma Jean's recipes to be able to share with my children. They may have only had their Grandma Jean for a short time but her recipes live on in our home.

sliced lemon loaf on black tray

💭What to do with the leftover lemon juice

You're going to have leftover fresh lemon juice after you make lemon loaf this recipe so why not give my Healthy Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta a try! It's loaded with veggies, chicken and pasta, with healthy and light creamy lemon sauce. 

Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta in a bowl with lemon wedges and blue ceramic pot in background


So if you have lemon lovers amongst you and you're looking for an easy and delicious lemon loaf recipe, you'll love this one! Making others happy with food is my favorite part of cooking and baking, but being able to make them food just like Mom used to make is priceless ~

Happy Baking!

⭐ Reviews

Did you love this old-fashioned lemon bread recipe? If so, please leave a 5 star rating and comment below!

lemon loaf in off-white ceramic loaf pan
Food Meandering Logo

📋 Old Fashioned Lemon Bread Recipe

This Old Fashioned Lemon Bread recipe is an easy recipe, made with simple ingredients like fresh lemon and walnuts, without glaze. And it's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Keyword: bread, lemon, loaf, old fashioned
Special Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 8
Calories: 339kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 2 whole eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 whole lemon rind (peel), grated

Garnish

  • lemon zest
  • chopped walnuts
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C and spray a 9X5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter with 1 cup sugar, using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, then add beaten eggs.
  • In a medium bowl, sift dry ingredients (flour, salt and baking powder) together. Then add this flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with milk, a little bit at a time, mixing well between additions.
  • Finely grate 1 whole lemon into a small bowl, then add the grated rind to the batter.
  • Stir in walnuts.
  • Baking time: Pour into prepared pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool hot bread for 5 minutes in pan, then run knife (or spatula) around edge of bread pan and remove to wire rack to cool for an additional 10 minutes.

Garnish

  • Sprinkle additional walnuts and lemon zest on top of the bread, if desired.

Notes

*Please see post contents for important recipe information and tips!
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Nutrition Facts
📋 Old Fashioned Lemon Bread Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 339 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 32mg11%
Sodium 83mg4%
Potassium 143mg4%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 383IU8%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 339kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 45g (15%) | Protein: 4g (8%) | Fat: 17g (26%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Cholesterol: 32mg (11%) | Sodium: 83mg (4%) | Potassium: 143mg (4%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 26g (29%) | Vitamin A: 383IU (8%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 60mg (6%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
Rate this Recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chinazor

    March 26, 2020 at 9:58 am

    The last time I had a lemon cake at a friend's place, I was literally separated from it because I could not stop munching. I am sure I would love this.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      March 27, 2020 at 5:39 am

      haha that would be me too! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  2. Laura

    April 03, 2020 at 2:02 pm

    This is my kinda recipe!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 04, 2020 at 7:31 am

      Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Anne Lawton

    April 04, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    Lemon tastes great with just about anything, this bread looks delicious!

    Reply
  4. Sue Ringsdorf

    April 04, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    I love lemon flavors this time of year, and this bread is the BEST! Looking forward to leftovers!

    Reply
  5. Carlos Leo

    April 04, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    This is my kind of bread loaf. I love the citrus flavor in my baked desserts.

    Reply
  6. Eileen Kelly

    April 04, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    A delicious lemon loaf with the perfect amount of lemon. A fabulous recipe and the entire family enjoyed the recipe.

    Reply
  7. colleen kennedy

    April 05, 2020 at 8:02 am

    Yes! Lemon desserts are my favorite! Looks perfect!!

    Reply
  8. Ariella

    April 05, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    Aw those kind of recipe reactions are the best.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 07, 2020 at 8:22 pm

      I agree!

      Reply
  9. Caroline

    April 06, 2020 at 5:50 am

    I love a good lemon loaf - have never tried with walnuts in there but it sounds like it's worth a try!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 07, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      They give it a really nice crunch, Caroline!

      Reply
  10. JoAnna Grable

    August 20, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    This is a lovely quick bread. So delicate and delicious. It is very light and sweet with a touch of lemon flavor. I'm going to zest two lemons next time, to increase the lemon flavor. Also, I beat everything by hand rather than an electric beater. It was perfect.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      August 20, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it, JoAnna! Using the zest of 2 lemons is a great idea!

      Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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