This easy lemon blueberry bread recipe is a delightful treat, perfect for brightening up your breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea. Inspired by the comforting, home-style cooking of the Pioneer Woman, this bread combines the zesty tang of lemon with the sweet burst of blueberries in a moist and tender loaf. It’s the ideal companion to a hot cup of coffee or tea and a wonderful way to share a moment of joy with friends and family.
Whenever I have friends visiting, baking something special is always on my mind. While I adore making treats like cinnamon coffee scones or a classic strawberry buttercream cake, and even whipping up Pioneer Woman lemon bars, this lemon blueberry bread has become a new favorite. The combination of lemon and blueberry is simply irresistible, and transforming it into a loaf makes it perfect for sharing and serving.
Baking the Perfect Lemon Blueberry Bread: Tips and Tricks
One of the secrets to a truly great lemon blueberry bread lies in preventing the blueberries from sinking to the bottom. Nobody wants a bread where all the juicy berries are clumped at the base! The solution is surprisingly simple: a light dusting of flour.
Coating your blueberries in a couple of tablespoons of flour before adding them to the batter creates a barrier that helps them stay suspended throughout the bread as it bakes. This ensures every slice is studded with delicious blueberries, not just the bottom ones! This simple trick, learned from past baking experiences, makes all the difference in achieving a perfectly textured and visually appealing loaf.
Back when I first experimented with this recipe years ago, I skipped this crucial flour-coating step. The result? A bread where all the blueberries plummeted to the bottom, causing the loaf to stick stubbornly to the pan. It was a frustrating baking mishap that taught me a valuable lesson – don’t underestimate the power of flour-dusted blueberries!
So, just before you gently fold the blueberries into your batter, take about 2 tablespoons of flour, sprinkle it over the berries, and toss them lightly to ensure they’re evenly coated. Then, shake off any excess flour before incorporating them into the mixture.
This lemon blueberry bread recipe is truly one of the easiest you’ll find. I personally love using fresh, plump blueberries sourced from our local farmer’s market whenever possible. The taste of fresh, seasonal blueberries elevates this bread to another level. However, don’t worry if farmer’s market berries aren’t available; store-bought fresh blueberries work perfectly well too. You can even use frozen blueberries if you’re in a pinch, but for the best flavor and texture, fresh is definitely recommended.
For baking, I swear by stone loaf pans, similar to this one available on Amazon. Stone bakeware distributes heat beautifully, resulting in even baking and preventing sticking. This ensures your lemon blueberry bread cooks uniformly and releases effortlessly from the pan, leaving you with a perfectly shaped loaf every time.
While a lemon glaze can add an extra layer of sweetness and visual appeal, I often skip it for this recipe. The natural flavors of lemon and blueberry shine so brightly on their own that a glaze sometimes feels unnecessary. The bread is perfectly delicious and satisfying just as it is, allowing the tangy lemon and sweet blueberry notes to truly take center stage.
If you’re looking for more delightful sweet bread recipes to explore, you can find a few other favorites shared on my blog – perfect for expanding your baking repertoire!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Pioneer Woman Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe: Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 ¼ cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for coating blueberries)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard-sized loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Zest and Juice Lemon: Using a zester, carefully zest the lemon, ensuring you only get the yellow part and avoid the bitter white pith. Then, juice the lemon and set both the zest and juice aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This incorporates air and creates a tender crumb.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, pour in the milk and lemon juice and stir to combine the wet ingredients.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Whisking ensures even distribution of the baking powder and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or gently folding with a spatula just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough bread.
- Flour Blueberries: In a separate small bowl, gently toss the fresh blueberries with 2 tablespoons of flour. This prevents them from sinking during baking.
- Fold in Blueberries: Remove the blueberries from any excess flour and gently fold them into the batter until just evenly distributed.
- Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven.
- Cool: Remove the loaf pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, slice and serve your delicious Pioneer Woman Lemon Blueberry Bread. Enjoy it as is, or with a pat of butter or a dollop of yogurt.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 slices
Serving Size:
1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 307Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 311mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 5g
Have you made this Pioneer Woman Inspired Recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog to let me know how it turned out or share a photo of your lemon blueberry bread on Instagram! I love seeing your baking creations.
