Lemon Cream Cheese Bread Recipe – Moist, Tangy & Sweet
This Lemon Cream Cheese Bread is moist, citrusy, and rich with a luscious cream cheese swirl. The perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and creamy, this loaf is great for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an afternoon treat! Drizzle with a lemon glaze for extra flavor.
Ingredients
For the Bread:
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure while keeping the bread soft.
- Baking powder & baking soda – Helps the bread rise perfectly.
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors.
- Unsalted butter – Adds rich buttery goodness.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the bread just the right amount.
- Eggs – Helps bind everything together.
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt – Keeps the bread moist and tender.
- Lemon zest & juice – The key to bright citrusy flavor!
For the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- Cream cheese – Softened for a smooth creamy texture.
- Granulated sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the tang.
- Egg yolk – Creates a silky-smooth filling.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and enhances flavor.
Optional Glaze:
- Powdered sugar – For a light sweet drizzle.
- Fresh lemon juice – Thins out the glaze and adds an extra citrusy zing.
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Make the Bread Batter:
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in sour cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix gently—don’t overmix!
3️⃣ Make the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
4️⃣ Assemble the Bread:
- Pour half of the bread batter into the loaf pan.
- Dollop the cream cheese mixture over the batter and swirl it with a knife.
- Top with the remaining batter and smooth it out.
5️⃣ Bake the Bread:
- Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
6️⃣ Add the Glaze (Optional):
- Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
- Drizzle over the cooled bread for an extra touch of sweetness.
Notes
- Use Fresh Lemons – Fresh zest and juice make a huge difference in flavor.
- Don’t Overmix – Stir gently to keep the bread soft and fluffy.
- Check for Doneness – If the top browns too quickly, cover with foil in the last 10 minutes.
- For Extra Lemon Flavor – Add an additional teaspoon of zest or a little lemon extract.
- Make Mini Loaves – Perfect for gifting!