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Home » Recipes & Tips » Lemon Bread

Lemon Bread

02/14/23 | Bread, Recipes & Tips

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Bursting with fresh flavor, my lemon bread recipe will have your taste buds singing! This sweet treat is bursting with citrusy goodness from both lemons and oranges, creating an unbeatable combination. With the addition of thyme, this lemon bread is truly something special - and it can easily be customized to suit your tastes!Bursting with fresh flavor, my lemon bread recipe will have your taste buds singing! This sweet treat is bursting with citrusy goodness from both lemons and oranges, creating an unbeatable combination. With the addition of thyme, this lemon bread is truly something special - and it can easily be customized to suit your tastes!Bursting with fresh flavor, my lemon bread recipe will have your taste buds singing! This sweet treat is bursting with citrusy goodness from both lemons and oranges, creating an unbeatable combination. With the addition of thyme, this lemon bread is truly something special - and it can easily be customized to suit your tastes!Bursting with fresh flavor, my lemon bread recipe will have your taste buds singing! This sweet treat is bursting with citrusy goodness from both lemons and oranges, creating an unbeatable combination. With the addition of thyme, this lemon bread is truly something special - and it can easily be customized to suit your tastes!

Bursting with fresh flavor, my lemon bread recipe will have your taste buds singing! This sweet treat is bursting with citrusy goodness from both lemons and oranges, creating an unbeatable combination. With the addition of thyme, this lemon bread is truly something special – and it can easily be customized to suit your tastes!

lemon bread with one half cut into slices, garnished with fresh thyme sprigs on a wooden chopping board

When I say this orange bread is amazing, I mean it! It makes a yummy sweet breakfast or a lighter dessert alternative. One of the best things about this lemon bread recipe is that you can alter how much lemon, orange, or any other citrus you use in it. Omit the orange for a truly lemony delight, or go in with all orange for delicious orange bread! My lemon bread recipe uses both to create a treat that’s bursting with flavor.

To top it all off, I add the fragrant taste of thyme to make this dessert even more special. The combination of lemon, orange, and thyme is truly sensational! Aside from tasting amazing, this orange bread is also light, fluffy, and moist, thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt.

The key to getting that perfect texture is to not over-mix the batter – so when you’re adding your dry ingredients, take care to combine them lightly! The result will be a lemon orange bread that’s so tender and delicious that it’ll have you counting down the minutes until you can take your first bite.

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Bread Recipe

  • Simple to make. No fancy techniques are involved in making this lemon bread recipe – just some basic baking ingredients and a few simple steps!
  • Perfect for using fresh herbs. If you have an abundance of thyme from either your herb garden or the store, this orange bread is a great way to use it.
  • A cute gift! I make mini versions of my lemon orange bread to gift to friends and family. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to show someone you care (and how adorable do mini loaves look?!). You can really personalize this gift by incorporating citrus flavors the recipient loves – lemon, orange, or even lime and grapefruit!
sugar in a glass mixing bowl with a whole orange, half an orange and a glass jug of orange juice

Ingredients For Lemon Bread

  • Butter
  • White sugar
  • Egg
  • Milk 
  • Lemon juice
  • Greek yogurt
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Thyme chopped
  • Orange zest
  • Lemon zest

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

melted butter and white sugar in a glass mixing bowl
creamed butter and sugar with a cracked egg in a glass mixing bowl
creamed butter and sugar, with milk and orange and lemon zest in a glass mixing bowl
creamed butter, sugar, milk and zest with a blob of yogurt on top in a glass mixing bowl
lemon bread mix with flour and thyme in a glass mixing bowl
a green spatula mixing lemon bread dough in a glass mixing bowl
lemon bread dough in a metal loaf pan
lemon bread garnished with fresh thyme sprigs on a wooden chopping board

Instructions For Lemon Bread Recipe

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  2. Cream butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes. 
  3. Add the egg and cream for an additional 1-2 minutes. 
  4. Add milk, citrus juice, and yogurt and whisk until well combined. 
  5. In another bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, thyme, and zest.
  6. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just barely combined, do not overmix. 
  7. Pour into one greased loaf pan (see note) and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs on it.

Lemon Bread FAQ

Can you store orange bread at room temperature?

Yes! No matter what citrus you use to make this orange bread with lemon, if wrapped or stored in an airtight container, it should keep for up to three days at room temperature. Homemade lemon bread can also be stored in the fridge, which will last up to a week.

Can you freeze homemade lemon bread?

If you’re looking to make it ahead of time, you can also freeze this lemon bread recipe – just make sure you wrap it tightly in either plastic wrap or place it in a container and store it in the freezer. It should keep this way for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy your lemon orange bread, just let it thaw overnight in the fridge. You can also freeze slices of orange bread, making it ideal for when you need a tasty treat but don’t have the time to whip up a fresh loaf!

How can you tell if lemon bread is baked?

To ensure your orange bread with lemon is cooked to perfection, use a wooden skewer or toothpick to poke into the middle of the loaf. If it comes out clean, with a few crumbs, your lemon bread is ready!

Make sure you don’t over-bake it – you want your orange bread to be light and fluffy, not dry and crumbly. Be sure to check the temperature of your oven and keep an eye on the baking time, as specified in my lemon bread recipe instructions!

Can you use dried thyme to make lemon bread?

Yes, you can use dried thyme in this recipe. Since it’s a stronger flavor, you will want to use just 1 tablespoon of dried thyme if you’re substituting it for fresh. But, if possible, using fresh thyme is the way to go for optimal flavor!

Can I swap out Greek yogurt for something else in this lemon bread recipe?

You can use sour cream or plain yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. All these ingredients will help make the orange bread moist and fluffy, so you can use whichever one you have to hand!

slices of orange bread on a wooden chopping board
lemon bread with one half cut into slices, garnished with fresh thyme sprigs on a wooden chopping board
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Lemon Bread

Lemon thyme bread is a fresh twist on a classic sweet bread. Quick to make, it's worth every minute of baking time!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword lemon bread, lemon bread recipe, orange bread
Prep Time 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings 12 slices
Calories 202kcal
Author Longbourn Farm • Alli Kelley
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Equipment

  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Liquid Measuring Cups
  • Glass Mixing Bowls
  • KitchenAid Hand Mixer
  • Silicone Spatula Set

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk less 1 tablespoon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup plain or vanilla greek yogurt
  • 1 3/4 cup All purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped , 1 tablespoon if using dried
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  • Cream butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes. 
  • Add the egg and cream for an additional 1-2 minutes. 
  • Add milk, lemon juice, and yogurt and whisk until well combined. 
  • In another bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, thyme, and zest.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just barely combined, do not overmix. 
  • Pour into one greased loaf pan (see note) and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs on it.
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Notes

I use one regular sized (9×5 inches) loaf pan, but you could easily use two smaller or three mini loaf pans, just alter the baking time accordingly. 

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 176mg | Potassium: 60mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 3.7mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Looking for more great bread recipes??

  • Banana Bread Recipe
  • Bread Recipe
  • Apple Bread Recipe
  • Cinnamon Roll Recipe
  • Homemade Pretzels
  • Homemade Biscuits 
  • Easy Blueberry Muffins
  • Chocolate Banana Bread
  • Cinnamon Muffins
  • Banana Nut Muffins
  • Sticky Buns
  • Moist Cornbread Recipe
  • Homemade Wheat Bread
  • Blueberry Bread
  • Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
  • Dutch Oven Bread
  • Easy Pizza Dough
  • Strawberry Banana Bread

Comments | 6 comments

« Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie
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Comments

  1. John says

    March 4, 2023 at 6:22 PM

    I made this today and really questioned the thyme, only had dried and didn’t use quite as much as called for.. But OMG what a flavor bomb, such a unique taste, I love it!!
    Thanks for this recipe!!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      March 5, 2023 at 1:14 PM

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  2. Alli says

    January 4, 2018 at 4:39 PM

    5 stars
    One of my favorite quick breads!

    Reply

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Hi, Friend!


Alli Kelley is an Agriculture focused entrepreneur. She runs a successful food blog, a consulting and coaching business, and all the social media connected with an online presence.

She also enjoys home improvement projects, experimenting in the garden, and collecting colorful eggs from her chickens.
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