Lavender and lemon are paired together to make this absolutely delightful quick bread that you will have in the oven in under 20 minutes...flat! Because this lemon bread is so easy and delightful, it is one of my personal favorites and I make it often for my personal coffee time (yes, I DO take coffee breaks with just myself.). Because this bread freezes fantastic for up to three months, I like to make up a loaf for eating now and one for eating later. But be warned...if you don't get that in the freezer before anyone sees it you can consider it eaten.
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When the weather starts to warm and remind me that summer is coming again, I find myself turning towards recipes that feature citrus. Citrus is bright, colorful, and full of flavor that tastes like what I imagine sunshine would taste like. Lemon, particularly, is sunshine in a fruit!
This quick bread goes into a traditional loaf pan with no problem and is what I bake this recipe in most often. But making these in mini loaf pans (these are disposable mini pans that I found in the kitchen section at Target but you can also grab [easyazon_link identifier="B000QJ9IWG" locale="US"]HERE[/easyazon_link]) creates adorable mini loaves that are perfect for gifting to neighbors and/or hostesses. And are just so dang cute, aren't they!
Did you know that smelling lavender helps you relax? Research shows the scent lowers heart rate and blood pressure, putting you in a relaxed state. So baking this bread will ultimately relax you!
Note:
There is a difference between culinary lavender and lavender at the florist. Be sure to grab your lavender from your grocer, or [easyazon_link identifier="B01MQNOSYS" locale="US"]HERE[/easyazon_link], if you don't grow your own.
This bread smells utterly amazing. Like...seriously!! Lavender and lemon in bread form will make your kitchen smell amazing for hours and hours, long after you eat the bread.
I am obsessed with lavender in food and drinks! I find myself liking almost every shortbread cookie, latte, cake, icing, or cupcake I have ever tried with lavender in it. Why not bring some of those favorite flavors to my own kitchen, right? Save some money and still enjoy my favorites.
Tip:
When using dried lavender, use only 1/3 of the fresh lavender amount called for.
I realize that making a lemon glaze seems a bit unnecessary and overwhelming when you are having a busy day and want to get this bread cooked up and on it's way to the table. But please...don't skip it! It's absolutely worth it.
The recipe calls for cooling the cake prior to putting the glaze on the bread and I try to do that as often as I can because it creates a much prettier bread and the icing soaks into the bread much better. However...if you don't have time, go ahead and put the glaze on warm bread. The flavor will still be there and you can save a bit of time.
I wish you could smell my house! Oh wait, make this bread and you can smell it for yourself! Next time you are looking for a quick and easy bread that still tastes like you spent hours making it, this is it. Make up a batch for your next coffee date with the girls. Or, like I have already, put a few loaves into the freezer for brunch on a holiday morning. You'll be happy to have something homemade and still easy enough for busy lives!
Lemon Lavender Quick Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg beaten lightly
- 1 cup milk or half & half
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- juice and peel of 2 lemons finely grate the lemon peel-save 2 tablespoons of juice and 1 tablespoon peel for the icing
- 2 teaspoons dried lavender or 2 tablespoons fresh lavender, finely chopped
For Glaze
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350degrees. Grease a loaf pan, set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl combine the egg, milk, oil, lemon peel, lemon juice, and lavender.
- Dump the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until the batter is moistened. (The batter will be lumpy)
- Spoon batter into the greased loaf pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean and top of loaf is cracked.
- Cool for 10 minutes before topping with glaze.
For glaze
- Melt butter with sugar and lemon juice in small saucepan until well combined.
- Poke holes in the top of the lemon loaves and slowly pour the glaze over the top.
Notes
For mini loaves reduce the baking time to 40 minutes.
Dawn says
Can I use applesauce or vegetable oil instead of olive oul
Nellie says
I think so. Maybe try half and half the first time?
Cindy says
You can! I used it 1-1 and it was fluffier in texture. Just make sure it's unsweetened. I've made muffins, mini loaves, vegan and gluten free versions. This recipe is super versatile. Love it.
Enjoy!
Jessica says
I made this today and I have a question on the measurement for lemon juice. I juiced 2 lemons which came out to about a cup but wasn’t sure if I added the whole cup minus 2Tb for glaze or just 2 Tb to the batter it wasn’t clear for me so I did 3Tb. Turn out good but needed more than 3Tb of lemon juice.
Nellie says
YOu are right about the cup minus the 2 tablespoons for the glaze. I've updated the recipe to make it more clear. Thank you for coming back and letting me know it wasn't clear! And yay for it still turning out good!
Amy says
So delicious! Just a hint of Lavender without being overpowering. I have already made this several times. Even my kids devoured every crumb.
Elsie says
Loved it
Delicious lemon flavor and moist-easy to make-so pretty with the dried lavender(purple specks)
Will make again
Elsie says
Loved it!
Delicious lemon flavor-and moist-so pretty with dots of purple from the dried lavender.will definitely make again
Olivia says
Absolutely incredible recipe. Second time making it, added extra lavender this time. I adore this combo! A forever recipe indeed 💚 thank you!
Nellie says
Yay!! I'm so glad to hear that. And thanks for coming back and leaving a comment!
Kathy says
Thank you for the recipe! I tried to follow the recipe exactly but I only had lemon juice and no whole lemons. But while I was baking the bread, all the lavender surfaced to the top of the loaf! All the pictures I have seen have the lavender dispersed throughout! Did I use the wrong lavender, or do I need to grind it first? The product I used is Lavande Sur Terre Highland Organic Ultra Blue Dried Lavender Flower Buds, from Amazon. Also is the texture supposed to be dense like pound cake? Thank you!
Nellie says
First, I'm sorry that happened but can't help but think that was beautiful? Yes, it's a fairly dense cake...like a tea cake. I don't know exactly what happened and why it surfaced. My guess is that those buds were fairly light. Did it turn out tasty?
Tina V Bickmore says
Easy to make and delicious! I ordered Edible dry lavendar from Amazon. I also realized last minute I didn't have lemon juice (oops!) and I used lemonaide and dried lemon peel, it still came out good.
I will definitely make this again!
Nellie says
That is a great idea to use lemonade...smart!
Kim Benz says
Fabulous recipe, served it at my lavender farm.
Nellie says
Yay!!! So glad to hear it!
Marilee says
Lovely! Made this for a going-away breakfast, and it received excellent comments. Everyone loved it. Just the right amount of lavender too. I did not add the glaze, and the cake was perfect without it. Several people want the recipe, and these are all incredible southern cooks I'm talking about.
Nellie says
That is encouraging! Southern cooks know their lemon bread! I love making this one because the smell that envelopes the house is utterly amazing! Thanks for coming back to comment. So often only those disappointed in a recipe comment so it's always lovely to hear positive. You make my day!
Paula says
Hi Nellie,
I am in the middle of mixing the ingredients for the delicious looking quick bread and thought I had dried lavender when I actually have lavender herbes de provence from a lavender farm that I visited. Would the herbes de provence work in this recipe? If not, is there something else I can add in place of the lavender?
Thanks so much!
Paula
Nellie says
Ooooh. That sounds yummy! I'm sure you could, although it will make for a more savory bread. You can also eliminate the lavender and have a delicious lemon bread :).
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
What a fabulous combination! I happen to have culinary lavender in my spice drawer and love citrus, so I should get on this right away.
Nellie says
You should! Your kitchen will smell amazing :)
Barbara says
When I read the recipe, it was calling for w cups of flour instead of an amount, could you please tell me how many cups of flour are in the recipe?
Thanks, it really looks wonderful and I'd really like to try it.
Thanks again
Barbara Booth
Nellie says
Oh my!! Thank you for letting me know! There are 2 cups of flour in the recipe. And it IS wonderful. Please let me know how you like it. Thanks much! ~Janel