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Starbucks’ Lemon Loaf Cake – the True Copycat Recipe

Starbucks’ Lemon Loaf Cake is the True Copycat Recipe for the moist, fluffy yet dense, lemon bread loaf. This lemon cake recipe is topped with a delicious creamy powdered sugar lemon glaze.

Sliced lemon loaf cake on a cutting board with a yellow knife.

I am so excited to share this recipe with you! Whenever I go to Starbucks, I just have to have their Lemon Loaf Cake. It has a very pronounced lemony flavor, super moist, fluffy yet dense, almost bread pudding-like consistency, topped with a delicious white glaze.

The search for the perfect copycat Lemon Cake Recipe:

I have been trying to figure out what it’s made of for a long time. I have searched online for copycat recipes, looking for ones with the same texture as the Starbucks original Lemon Cake recipe. Testing at least 3 lemon cake recipes that looked similar to the Starbucks loaf, each one of them concluding to be disappointing.

One major flaw in all the lemon cake recipes shared was the lack of moisture inside the loaf. I tried soaking the lemon bread with lemon syrup, but it only made the outside a little moist. Everything that I tried didn’t come close to the sought after Starbucks Lemon Loaf.

Up close picture of slices of lemon loaf cake topped with glaze.
All the copycat recipes failed to give off a lemony flavor without the sourness that comes with it. Adding lemon just didn’t give that proper taste. I usually am able to recreate recipes and not being able to recreate this one left me all the more disappointed.

There was a copycat recipe that used Yellow Cake Mix with pudding. Seeing that it used store-bought mix, I didn’t even bother looking more into the recipe. I don’t like using something that comes from a box if I am going to go through the trouble of making it at home. But, when all of those other lemon bread recipes did not work, I decided that I had nothing to lose, so I was going to try it.

A slice of lemon loaf cake on a cutting board with a knife.

Oh, how happy I am that I tried the recipe! While I would rather use all natural ingredients, that does not include a box of store-bought mix, I am able to get past that fact ONLY because this recipe produces an amazing, exact copy of the Starbucks Lemon Cake Loaf!

Can I replace Lemon Pudding?

The lemony-ness in this lemon cake recipe comes from the artificial lemon flavoring in the Lemon Pudding. You can use plain boxed Pudding and add 2-3 teaspoons of lemon emulsion & 2-3 drops of the lemon oil to achieve the same taste.

I made my version of what I think the powdered sugar lemon glaze should look and taste like, but the rest of the recipe comes from Picky-Palate.com, this recipe is truly a God-sent.

Enjoy!

Other great dessert recipes to try!

Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf Cake – the True Copycat Recipe

4.78 from 22 votes

Starbucks’ Lemon Loaf Cake is the True Copycat Recipe for the moist, fluffy yet dense, lemon bread loaf. This lemon cake recipe is topped with a delicious creamy powdered sugar lemon glaze.

Author: Picky Palate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon cake, lemon loaf cake
Calories: 254 kcal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 20 slices

Ingredients

Lemon Loaf Cake

Lemon Topping

Instructions

Make Lemon Loaf

  1. Turn oven to 350°F. Line 2 loaf pans with foil & spray with nonstick spray, or butter and flour the pans. Set aside.

  2. Combine all the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined.
  3. Place all dry ingredients in a bowl, add about 1 cup of wet ingredients, beat with a mixer on low speed for about 15 seconds, then add the rest of the ingredients and beat on low speed for another 15-20 seconds. DO NOT over beat, or your cake will deflate.

  4. Divide batter evenly between two loaf pans.
  5. Place in the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, until golden in color or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  6. Remove from oven and let rest in the pan for 5 minutes, before removing and allowing to cool on a cooling rack.

Make Icing

  1. Beat 1/2 stick butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 4 tbsp lemon juice & 1 tsp lemon emulsion until smooth and supple.

  2. Spread evenly on top of both cakes.
  3. Allow the glaze to harden up before slicing.

Recipe Notes

This recipe can be used to make a cake, cupcakes or even small individual squares like I did using a brownie square pan (see link to picture below the post).

Nutrition Facts
Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf Cake – the True Copycat Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 254 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 249mg11%
Potassium 51mg1%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 130IU3%
Vitamin C 1.2mg1%
Calcium 79mg8%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Lynda

    Can you add zucchini to this recipe?

    · Reply
  • Janice hasting

    I’ve made this 4 times it goes and fast as it comes out of the oven

    · Reply
  • Jude

    Hi, I would love to try this recipe, but I’m in the uk.
    Would you be able to tell me what the equivalent of yellow box cake mix, yellow pudding, and lemon emulsion is ?
    Thankyou

    · Reply
  • Starbucks lemon pound cake icing is more firm which is what i’m looking for to ice the cake your’s resembles a softer icing, I’m still searching for the true icing recipe!

    · Reply
    • Hi Georgiana,
      If you’re looking for a replica of the current lemon cake at Starbucks than this one will not be it, because this one was meant to replicate the one they had before they switched to the new bakery. Good luck!

      · Reply
    • Carla

      I would try increasing the powdered sugar or reducing the liquid for the

      · Reply
  • Melodie Gingras

    Pretty bad when I buy two slices from Starbucks and have the employees taste your copy cat version vs what I bought…hands down yours wins! It was light and filled with flavor where the Starbucks version was more of pound cake! The only difference I did was add zest to the frosting and the cake itself…

    I made this recipe for Christmas because of all the lemons in our backyard and I keep on getting requests from friends for the recipe they still can’t believe it came from a box!

    · Reply
  • Tammy

    maybe I’m over thinking this recipe, but do you use the yellow cake mix dry or as directed on the box? And same with the pudding, do you prepare it or use it dry?

    · Reply
  • Donna

    I followed this recipe exactly. Disappointed that it sunk . I know I didn’t overmix because I actually timed it. It’s cooling now, let’s hope it tastes good! The only thing I did differently was to use a lemon cake mix instead of a yellow. It’s what I had on hand. The batter tasted really good but was thick.

    · Reply
    • Hi Donna,
      I’m sorry it sank and didn’t look like it was supposed to. Fortunately, the flavor should still all be there, even if the appearance is not what it was supposed to be. Let me know if you liked it!

      · Reply
  • Katie

    Would this work in a bundt pan?

    · Reply
  • Regular 1 lb loaf pan. You can use either 9×5 or 8×4, both will work.

    · Reply
  • Pam

    What size loaf pans are you using?

    · Reply
  • Nancy Sarmento

    I’d been looking for a tart lemony dessert….this totally is it. Love that it makes 2 loaves, one I took to a dinner party, one to keep at home for us. Will definitely make again and again.

    · Reply
  • Vonda

    It was husbands birthday today. He wants a lemon pound cake like Starbucks. A whole 6 slice cost 21.00 there. I found this recipe here and……OmGoodness it was the BOMB! He liked it better than starbucks…I felt like crying…..And when 1 of my sons said the same thing ….I almost fell out of my chair….We also had a store bought cheesecake. My other son my oldest thought is better than the cheesecake ….He took 3 pieces of cake home with him….Thank you for this recipe.

    Love ,
    Vonda

    · Reply
  • Dot Dawson

    Both of my loaves deflated, so disappointing

    · Reply
  • Melodie

    I took this to Starbucks so friends who work there could compare the the Starbucks lemons pound cake to your recipe! You won hands down said it super moist, not acidity best of all it tasted like real lemons not artificial at all. They asked me to make more so they could enjoy it.
    My better-halfs parents raved about it and thought I made it from scratch. Same with my better-half, he loved it and was so happy I could a recipe that would use lemons from our tree!
    The only thing I changed was using lemon rind for the cake and Treatolgy lemon from wiltons instead of lemon emulsion.
    Now to take one of the others advice and use orange…

    Thanks for posting this recipe, Marina!

    Melodie

    · Reply
  • Martha stapler

    Just made. Loved it.

    · Reply
  • Michelle

    This is an excellent recipe, I’ve used it countless times with different variations of flavours. The lemon and butterscotch are the most liked. I’ve also combined the flavours of coconut cream and banana puddings. Only one thing i would change though that gives it the consistency of a pound cake and that is to mix it more. I use a kitchen aide and let it go for about 4-5 mins.. This gives the cake a finer crumb and denser consistency and I don’t have an issue with it sinking. Getting rave reviews each and every time I make it 🙂 . Hope this helps .
    Thanx
    Michelle

    · Reply
  • Joyce Wesson

    I’ve tried this recipe a couple of times and love the flavor and the texture. I am having a problem though, after I take the loaves out of the oven the middle sinks. What might be causing this? Any insights would be helpful.

    · Reply
    • Joyce Wesson

      I think I know what the problem is, I mixed it by hand instead of using a mixer. It probably didn’t get enough air. I’ll check it out next time.

      · Reply
  • Joanne

    I make this all the time and get raves!! Only change I make is I use Lemon cake mix and lemon pudding but skip all the flavorings…..so good!

    · Reply
  • Karen

    I LOVED IT! MINE DID NOT FALL, BUT I USED THE UPDATED RECIPE AND DID NOT BEAT FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS. MY 10 YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND I LOVE STARBUCKS LEMON LOAF, AND WE BOTH ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS LOAF JUST AS MUCH. FINALLY A COPYCAT RECIPE THAT ACTUALLY COPIES THE ORIGINAL!

    · Reply
  • Gigi

    Hi! I am confused on how to use the instant lemon pudding. Should I put it in the dry ingredients mix as it comes, or prepare it in advance and then add it to the wet ingredients mix
    Thanks
    Gigi

    · Reply
    • Hi,
      You just add it with the dry ingredients without doing anything to it 🙂

      · Reply
    • Gigi

      Nevermind! I read in a previous comment that is used as a dry ingredient. Thankyou

      · Reply
  • katie

    Do you think I could use this recipe for cupcakes? How long would you bake them for?

    · Reply
    • Yes I think you can. Just bake it for about 15 min, then check with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean then they’re done, if not just continue baking until it does

      · Reply
      • Beverly

        I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but plan on making it this weekend. If baked in a bundt pan, how long? Also, is there something I can add to it for more density, like that of a pound cake?

        · Reply
        • Hi Beverly, I am not sure how long you should bake it if you use the bundt pan, since I’ve never baked mine in it. But start checking with a toothpick when the kitchen fills with the smell of the baked cake. The toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.
          And sorry but I don’t know how to make this particular recipe more dense 🙁

          · Reply
  • Deb

    This is a delicious bread. I used a white cake mix and vanilla pudding adding lemon flavoring as directed. It was wonderful! However, I would only make half of the glaze/frosting. We had quite a bit left over. Would be good slathered additionally on each piece. YUM.

    · Reply
  • Linda

    Can’t wait to try this.my boyfriend is a truck driver and loves their lemon pound cake.so I will see if I can make this for him.Thanks for sharing

    · Reply
  • jsfatl

    I doubled the recipe and used Organic cake mix and Organic vanilla pudding and lemon “flavoring” (oil-based, no alcohol). The cake is EXCELLENT! The icing is good, but more like light frosting. Mine never hardened. Still delicious!

    · Reply
  • Laura

    I made today for Mother’s Day and my family raved about it! My 71 year old father-in-law said (and I quote), “Damn that is BETTER than Starbucks!” 🙂 It was almost crazy how much they went on and on about it! I did use a lemon cake mix, vanilla pudding and 1 tsp lemon extract and followed everything else exact on the cake. Thank you so much for the recipe! A keeper!

    · Reply
  • Jenny

    I was actually just looking for a good lemon glaze to go with my family’s 7-up cake recipe. Was wondering if you had tried a 7-up cake. The only difference I’ve been able to find between our 7-up cake & starbucks’ lemon cake is in the density. The 7-up cake is very dense. I only mention it because you had originally said you would prefer something that didn’t call for a box mix.

    · Reply
    • Hi Jenny!
      I have never heard or made the 7-up cake. Would you be so kind as to share you recipe? I would really appreciate that! It would be nice to make a cake that did not involve a boxed mix lol.

      · Reply
  • Ruthanne

    Thank you for this recipe! Was a total success – made for a work function, and everyone raved about it. Resulting in me giving out this recipe to many people now 🙂 The only difference was I used a Duncan Hines Lemon Cake mix. BTW…My icing didn’t turn out, turned out like a thicker syrup sauce than what was pictured (I did something wrong, I’m sure), but to save the day, I used a Betty Crocker fluffy and creamy pre-made icing I had on hand, and combined the icing syrup sauce…and it worked, making the loaf look beautiful again! I think the combo of the syrup sauce and premade icing placed on top made it even better!

    · Reply
  • Linda

    I used box lemon cake mix along with the lemon pudding and added a couple of teaspoons of lemon extract to the wet ingredients….it was amazing!

    · Reply
  • Tracy Stough

    WOW! I made this last night and we are down to only one loaf left! (and it is only 8:00 AM)! Loved this recipe. I will add more powdered sugar next time to glaze/frosting, as it was a little runnier than I wanted. Also, will use a different brand of butter as my organic stick did not blend as well as I’d like. Altogether, awesome!!!

    · Reply
  • Chie Satonaka

    I made this for a work treat, and it turned out great. Everyone raved about it and insisted on having the recipe. This is a keeper and I’m definitely making it again.

    · Reply
  • chocolate cupcake recipe

    Bake a cake for your boy at camp, at institution or simply ship it to anybody who will recognize it as a gracious gesture from you. Leave it in the pan you bake it in, like this apple-bran magnificence, so it’ll travel good and can hold until it is eaten. Wrap it securely and make certain the handle is obvious.

    · Reply
  • Sandra

    Can you use a lemon cake mix to make it more lemony? Also has anyone tried subbing greek yogurt for sour cream? thanks!

    · Reply
    • Yes you can use the lemon mix and it will probably do the same as what the lemon emulsion does in the cake.
      With greek yogurt the texture might be a bit different but I think you can use it instead of sour cream.

      · Reply
  • Mary

    This is a wonderful recipe. The only problem I have is that I cannot find the 5.1 oz. lemon pudding mix–only the 3.4 oz. Thank you for all your effort developing this recipe. 🙂

    · Reply
    • Buy two packages and measure out 1 and 1/2 of the other packet. Oh and this particular recipe wasn’t originally developed by me, but I sure am glad I found it 🙂

      · Reply
  • MarjorIe Gonzalez

    I really think this recipe needs to revised or pulled, wished I would have listened to wot her commenters. With that said, followed the recipe exactly much to my dismay, it burnt on the outside and sunk in the middle. I even bought a theremotmeter to measure the inside of my oven. Same results as many people have complained about. I’ve used cake mixes for other recipes and have never had this problem. By the way, this is an expensive recipe

    · Reply
    • Hi Marjorle, I’m sorry your lemon loaf did not come out right. Unfortunately I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the recipe as I have made it myself following this same recipe many times and it has always come out right, but you really don’t have to take my word for it as there’s enough people saying the same thing in the comments here.

      · Reply
  • Ivana

    Dear Marina,

    What do you do if you do not have a yellow cake mix but you have to do it from scratch???
    Thank you in advance

    · Reply
  • Mae

    Wish I could post a picture of the finished product, it looked great! Followed the recipe religiously and my girls’ classmates commented mine was better than S! Thank you so so much for this recipe…

    · Reply
    • Hi Mae,
      that’s what I like to hear!))) and I would love to see the picture of your cake! Are you on Instagram or Facebook? Just add a picture to the Facebook wall, or add one to Instagram and tag me in it 😀

      · Reply
  • Jo

    Can this be frozen and iced at a later time? Thanks! Sounds yummy.

    · Reply
    • I don’t see why not 🙂 just make sure to thaw it completely before icing it 🙂

      · Reply
  • brea

    tried this for thanksgiving and it was easy and tasted amazing!!

    · Reply
  • Lacey

    Hello! How long did you bake this in the brownie pan? Thank you!

    · Reply
  • Tiffany

    OMG!! Delish! I loved Starbucks lemon loaf cake too and crave it constantly! This recipe is so close in my opinion. The icing is much better and has better consistency with real butter. Thank you for sharing this. It’s my new dessert to take for the holidays!

    · Reply
    • Thanks Tiffany! you sound as excited about this recipe as I was when I found it 🙂 I love the fact that even though Starbucks doesn’t sell it (in this version) any more, I can still make it at home 🙂

      · Reply
  • Dawn

    This was sooooo good. I followed exactly as you said. No deflation and mm mm good!!!
    My husband snuck the other loaf for lunch today! I was like Noooooo!!!! That one is mine!
    Great job!!!

    · Reply
    • You just gotta be smart and hide it first next time)))) Thanks for your feedback Dawn!

      · Reply
  • Jessica

    Just made this and it is amazing. I followed the recipe to a T and it didn’t deflate or fall one bit! For more lemony flavor I added lemon zest to the batter and the icing and it’s LEMONY! Love that it made 2 loafs as well! Thank you!!!!! Wish I could post a pic for ya’ll 🙂

    · Reply
    • Thanks Jessica!
      You’re welcome to share it on my Facebook page or you can post it on Instagram and tag me in the post. I would love to see it!

      · Reply
  • Looks so pretty, I love lemon also. Have never had a Starbucks but I just made a lemon cake and posted on my blog thewednesdaybaker.blogspot.com and was very happy with the texture and the flavor. My cake isn’t yellow in color but the flavor is wonderful. Its a keeper so maybe next time I will add a little food coloring.. Nice post Andi

    · Reply
    • Sounds like you’ve got an awesome recipe! Thanks Andi!

      · Reply
  • Christine Z

    Pretty good!! Not sure it’s like Starbucks (theirs seems more like a pound cake, a denser crumb) but yummy all the same. I used Duncan Hines lemon cake mix. Find the overall product a bit sweet & rich for my liking but I’m getting rave reviews from everyone else. Baked one loaf pan and one 6″ round pan and it didn’t drop which was surprising as I mixed for about a minute or so and we live in a high altitude area.

    · Reply
    • Thanks for your review Christine!
      Their current Lemon cake is like a pound cake, but this recipe shot to replicate the old (original) version of the Lemon Cake that’s why the difference 🙂

      · Reply
  • Jessica

    I have never had Starbucks Lemon Cake but I LOVE lemon cake and Starbucks, so I thought I’d give this a try. IT IS AMAZING! I can’t wait to share it with friends and family. Hoping to try Starbucks version in the near future. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    · Reply
    • Hi Jessica,
      I’ve got good and bad news for you. Bad news first – since you’ve never tried the original Starbucks Lemon Loaf, you’re too late to try it at Starbucks now. Ever since they switched to their new french bakery, their stuff is not good, and the lemon cake that they have now while tries to replicate the old version, it doesn’t come even close. The attempted replica is not as moist and lacks the lemon flavor.
      Good news – this lemon cake is like the OLD version! So while you can’t try it at starbucks, you can still make it at home, and from what it sounds like – you love it as much as I do 😀 Double score! 😀 Thanks for using my recipe!

      · Reply
  • Christine G

    I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting my loaf to come out of the oven!!! 🙂 Like you, I have tried numerous copycat versions, but have always been disappointed with the “dryness” (“lack of moistness” just seems too weird to write!)… I was so excited to see your explanatory lead up to your sharing of this recipe that I had to run over to our neighbours to get eggs (I only had 3 in my fridge and I was NOT going to jinx it by deviating from the recipe at all!) at 9 PM! Thank goodness it’s summertime! 🙂 35 minutes til my timer goes… Thinking I’ll be having a decadent Starbucks-worthy moment on my deck for breakfast tomorrow! Thank you for posting!!!

    · Reply
  • diane jones

    Marina ~~ This recipe is perfect ! I made it this morning after searching high and low all week for a recipe I thought worthy of the real real Starbucks lemon pound cake. It’s bad enough I spend $$ for coffee there several times a week but I will be darned if I will spend $2.40 on top of it for a piece of cake ! It is the moistness and the tartness of the lemon flavor you nailed . I followed the recipe down to the T, and it truly turned out as good or better than the original. THANK YOU for sharing this !

    · Reply
    • So great to hear you enjoyed this cake! Thanks for your feedback!

      · Reply
  • Jacqi

    The cake turned out wonderfully, although it didn’t rise well…. but it still tasted great. I did have to redo the frosting, because it came out grainy and runny. I spread it on the cakes, and while hopelessly waiting for it to firm up, I read the comments here, including a few who had the same problem. So, I scraped off the glaze, and made more, using a tad more butter and much less lemon juice. (2 tbsp). Turned out perfect! Thanks so much for the recipe. My husband and I love it!

    · Reply
  • Kimberly Fenton

    Hi, I wanted to thank you for the Starbucks Lemon Bread recipe. I followed your exact directions and it turned out fantastic. I made it in 2 mini glass bread pans and one large. I gave my daughter a mini loaf to take in to work with her and she said her boss loved it too. I rose up perfect and I did what you said about only beating it for a few seconds. Everyone that wasn’t wild about anything that wasn’t Chocolate loved this. Thanks for a great recipe! Kim

    · Reply
  • Shelley Sellars

    Just made this last night. Nothing like SB… If you are expecting SB you will be dissatisfied with the cake texture and flavor. The icing is too much like buttercream not icing.. It is a great lemon cake but nothing like SB pound cake.

    · Reply
  • Katie Mennenga

    I LOVE this recipe, but I substitute the yellow cake mix for a LEMON cake mix and DOUBLE the lemon juice in the cake recipe to almost 12 tablespoons and use lemon extract for the emulsion. It is PERFECT!

    · Reply
    • Those are some great tips Katie, thank you!

      · Reply
  • Brenda

    Made this last evening and following your instructions as written it was good. But today after setting overnight it was even better! Thank You for a delicious recipe I am sure we will make at get togethers. Both my daughter and granddaughter and I love lemon recipes and this is at the top!

    · Reply
  • Sheila B

    Could I use a bundt pan instead of two loaf pans? Baking time difference?

    · Reply
    • It can definitely be baked in a round pan instead of load pans. Unfortunately I don’t know what the time difference is, just bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

      · Reply
      • Sheila B

        This cake recipe turned out AWESOME! I made some errors and left out a few things but all to my benefit. I used lemon cake mix by accident…win! I bought the wrong size pudding so I added some vanilla pudding mix with the lemon…worked! I didn’t use extract or emulsion just fresh lemon juice…another win! I baked in Bundt pan for 40 minutes…turned out perfect! Thanks for the recipe!

        · Reply
        • That’s wonderful to hear Sheila!

          I think when using lemon cake instead of regular yellow you really don’t even need to use the emulsion because the lemon cake already has lemon flavoring in it.
          So you added the large vanilla pudding?

          · Reply
  • Dee

    Made this yesterday but used lemon cake by accident. This cake was unbelievable moist and delicious. I’ll try it with the yellow cake mix next time so I can compare.

    · Reply
    • Thanks Dee! Actually using lemon cake gets you a step ahead as you probably don’t even need to use the lemon emulsion that way, because it has the lemon flavor already. Thanks for your feedback, so glad you liked it!

      · Reply
  • Marinka B.

    Hi Marina. I’ve searched for a true copycat recipe for a long time.. and finally found it here!! thank you so much. My husband said it tasted better than starbucks!!! I was skeptical at first cause I only had a lemon cake mix and a small pudding box. but it turned out very moist and flavorful! thank you so much, will def do again!!! blessings to you!

    · Reply
    • Music to my ears Marinka, music to my ears 🙂 God bless you 🙂

      · Reply
  • Natalia

    Hi Marina,
    Just found your version of Lemon Cake and cannot wait to try it! 🙂 What a fabulous job you did with cake as well as with pictures. Thanks a lot for sharing it. I am wondering what is the weight of the yellow cake mix? And should I still use pudding mix if I am going to bake with Lemon Drizzle Cake Mix from Home Cook? Thanks in advance for your reply.

    · Reply
    • Thanks so much Natalia! It says that it’s 18.25 oz package. I am not sure if your brand and type of cake mix will work the same, but do let me know how it goes when you use it :

      Good luck to you!

      · Reply
  • Tammy

    I love lemon and came across your recipe. And i must say it’s the nicest moistest i’ve had in a long time, very good. The only thing i did different was use a lemon cake mix. So Thank you for sharing! I will definately be baking these again.

    · Reply
    • Thanks Tammy for your feedback! Enjoy!

      · Reply
  • Ada

    I’m not a baker, but I tried making this recipe last night. It was delicious, I would even say better than Starbucks, at least my husband thinks so. I followed all instructions and I didn’t have any deflating issues and I didn’t use the lemon emulsion/extract for the frosting and it still tasted amazing, I did add a bit more lemon juice to make up for the extract. Thank you very much for sharing, this will definetly be a repeat!

    · Reply
    • I’m glad that at least some people are getting the same results as I have :)) I tried to be as thorough as possible in the instructions, but unfortunately some still don’t get the desired results.
      Thanks for your feedback!
      By the way, adding lemon juice in place of the extract does not do the same thing. Lemon juice ads acidity without the flavor, which disappears once baked. If you do not have the lemon emulsion it’s better to use a tad more of the lemon zest.

      · Reply
  • Nana

    Can you make this in a cupcake pan or a normal cake pan?

    · Reply
    • Yes you can use either to bake this cake.

      · Reply
  • Carrie

    I followed the cake recipe instructions and did not change anything except for adding lemon zest. Like others, this cake did not rise in the middle like a “loaf” typically would. However, I think that since it’s made with a cake mix as the base, the end result tends to resemble what a cake mix cake looks like, a little flat. Flavor was yummy though. The texture of the cake was moist and porous. The Starbucks cake is more dense, like a pound cake. I think this recipe would be a great cake to make in round pans and then add a lemon or raspberry filling to it, then frost it.

    · Reply
    • Hi Carrie,
      Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback. I think the main benefit of this recipe is the moistness that you get, which I have not been able to replicate with other recipes. As to this recipe being good in a cake, you’re right, I actually made a which you can check out following the link.

      Once again thanks and hope you’re having a great day!

      · Reply
      • Debbie

        I made this cake to test out a few weeks ago (before making it again for tomorrows Christmas party!!)
        I followed the recipe exactly I had no problems and no sinking in the middle. family devoured it so I will be making it again later today for tomorrow! One thing I have to say is never been to starbucks, don’t care if this is the same as theirs or not because we all love it! Thank you so much for sharing!

        · Reply
    • Shelley Sellars

      Agree with you. It is a lemon cake and although it does have great lemon flavor it is nothing like Starbucks pound cake.

      · Reply
  • melissa tilley

    I made this for my husband for a work meeting a few months ago. They continue to ask for it weekly.
    Did you change the recipe to make two loafs? I used this recipe to make one loaf…maybe that was a different recipe from a different site?
    Anyhow, wonderful recipe!!!!

    · Reply
    • Hi Melissa,
      Thank you!
      I didn’t change the recipe, but if you used this recipe then you would either have to have a bigger pan to fit it, or you indeed did use another recipe 🙂

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  • Suzy

    Wow this is so good! My new favorite cake recipe! I made this in a round 9″ cake pan and baked it for about an hour. I followed the recipe except I didn’t use any real lemon juice, only lemon emulsion, and made a simple glaze with powdered sugar and lemon emulsion.

    · Reply
    • Oh thanks Suzy! I’m glad you enjoyed the cake!

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  • Wendy

    DELISH! Reminds me of lemon zingers! Does that date me too much?

    · Reply
    • Thank you Wendy!
      I am not sure what lemon zingers are, so may be?))))

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      • Sandra

        Oh my gosh! Lemon Zingers! Yum! You have to try those!! LOL

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  • tracy

    I’m preparing to make this for my honey this afternoon. that cake is the only reason he stops at starbucks… and he never shares! lol. let u know how much he loves me after he has some.

    · Reply
    • Thanks Tracy! I’ll be waiting for your feed back.

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  • M Dease

    Sorry, but the crumb on this copy-cat recipe is nowhere near Starbuck’s Lemon Pound Cake. That is one of the things that make this cake so wonderful. Keep trying.

    · Reply
    • How is the crumb of this Lemon Cake different from the original, in your opinion?

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    • Pat

      I agree. While flavorful and moist, this version is not near as dense as the original. Is that because of the m

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  • Tammy Moser

    I made this cake and went and bought a piece of lemon loaf cake from Starbucks and this recipe tastes delicious but nothing like Starbucks. Their cake is definitely a pound cake while this recipe is a layered cake recipe. Delicious lemon flavor, very moist, and light in texture.

    · Reply
    • Hi Tammy, which Lemon Cake from Starbucks did you try? Some of the Starbucks’ stores changed their lemon cake from the sliced ‘pound cake’ type to the little square cakes, individually portioned. Their individually portioned ones are nothing like the ones they used to have (Loaf pan kind), and which this cake is a replica of.
      I actually went and bought the Starbucks lemon loaf as well, and to me they tasted pretty much the same, from texture, to moisture-ness, to the pore structure and even the glaze, but that doesn’t meant that we all have the same tastes 🙂 I hope you still liked the cake you made at home 🙂

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  • Emily

    Is the yellow cake mix lemon flavoured, or just yellow in colour? Would a white cake mix work?

    · Reply
    • I am not sure how they’re (white and yellow cake mixes) different in texture (once cooked) so I am not sure if white cake mix would produce the same thing. But I am sure it’s not going to be bad, since both are cake. Let me know if you do try it 🙂

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  • Maggie

    I made this vegan by substituting soymilk, Ener-G egg replacer, Tofutti “Better Than Sour Cream,” and making sure that the cake and pudding mixes did not contain dairy or eggs. It turned out sooooooooooooo well. I brought it to my Dad for his birthday and he loved it!!!

    · Reply
    • Wow, with this many changes, I am glad it still worked out well! Thanks so for your comment Megan!

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  • nicole

    I haven’t made this yet but will soon.. this looks so good. I just wanted to say that another way to get more lemon flavor is to add the zest from the lemon. I can’t wait to try. Thanks for the recipe!

    · Reply
    • You are right, lemon zest is a way to add more flavor 🙂 let me know how you like it once you try it 😀 |
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  • Alena

    hello, i wanna try making this and was wondering if “lemon emulsion” is same as lemon extract?
    thank you

    · Reply
    • It’s a little different, but can be substituted. Although, do not put the same amount of lemon extract as you would, lemon emulsion. Lemon extract is much more highly concentrated than lemon emulsion. Start with a couple of drops of lemon extract and just go by taste and smell.

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  • Magg

    Is the instant pudding a wet or a dry ingredient?
    How do I use it? Do I have to prepare it before? Thank you 🙂

    · Reply
    • It is a powdered ingredient that you just add dry to the cake mix. Follow to the original poster’s blog and you will find a picture of it there 🙂 hope this helps 🙂

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  • Donna

    I posted a comment earlier, but it didn’t show up, so I’m trying again. I tried the recipe this morning and it turned out perfectly except for the glaze. I used 1/2 of 1 stick of butter. It says to beat until it is smooth. It never got smooth. It was very powdery, as though there was no butter or not enough. I continued following the recipe and the glaze separated, and never “set” like it should have. The flavor was wonderful but the appearance was not good. Any thoughts of what could have gone wrong? I definitely want to make it again but want it to look better.

    · Reply
    • Hi Donna!
      I am glad that you liked the taste of this cake! As far as the glaze, I think your butter might’ve not been soft enough yet… Room temperature butter is soft enough when pushing with your finger on it, allows your finger to go to the bottom without resistance, is this how soft your butter was? Did you use as much lemon juice as the recipe calls for? Did you use the powdered sugar or may be you confused it with granulated sugar? If you give me a little more info, I might be able to help find the cause of the mishap 🙂

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    • Brittany

      I’ve made this cake 4-5 times and my husband just gobbles it up. I do have one problem though. Using the exact same ingredients for the icing two times at my house and twice at my moms, the icing is grainy and runny at my house and thick and perfect at my moms… Could it be the bowl I’m mixing it in? The mixer? The weather? It’s driving me crazy!!! Help!

      · Reply
      • Hi Brittany, happy to hear that you like the cake! I think the only thing that I can think of is difference in humidity. Next time add half of the lemon juice and continue adding more until it’s perfect consistency and stop adding when you see the first sign of it going runny. That should do it 🙂

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  • Claudia

    I really like lemon/blueberry bread – this looks like a simple-to-make base for that!

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  • inna

    I made this and the cake fell. I will try using a more shallow container next time, like the brownie pan. It tasted great otherwise.

    · Reply
    • If you follow to the original source of the recipe, some other people commented on there and said that they had the same problem. The original author reccommends to bake it a little longer next time. Mine deflated just a little once out of the oven, but not to a point where I can say that it sunk. So try to bake it a little longer next time? Thanks for your feedback!

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      • Dawn

        This was delicious! Easy to follow. My husband craves the loaf at Starbucks and now I can do it!!!
        Seriously great recipe. Could I thin the icing by adding something?

        · Reply
        • Yes, you can add more lemon juice to it, or milk/water. Just add about 1/2 teaspoon at a time, not to thin it too much.

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      • Robin

        Mine deflated while baking. I was very careful not to over beat the batter. The only thing I did differently was I lined the pans with parchment paper instead of foil.

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    • Christine

      Mine both fell like I have never seen!!!!! Yikes …. Cooked 50 minutes … will have to cook longer next time !!!! Plus used a 3.4 oz pudding and it was not a lemoney as I would have liked … Will add more lemon next time too!!!! But was SUPER moist!!! Definite re-try!!!!!

      · Reply
      • When you do try again, please read my updated instructions to prevent deflating. I have revised the recipe and instructions a little bit to help with deflating. I looked at the original gal’s post and she shows a large box of the instant pudding, but says that she uses the little one, so I attempted using the large box and it came out fine. Also I read the instructions on the cake mix and it says not to mix it for more than 30 seconds, and I think this is the main culprit for everyone whose cake deflated.
        So try using the large cake box mix and do not overbeat, or do not beat (on low speed) for more than 30 seconds. Hope this helps.

        · Reply
        • Oh and add lemon emulsion if you want more lemony flavor. Adding more lemon juice will not give you the lemony-ness you’re looking for as most of it will evaporate when baking.

          · Reply
          • JoeBoch348

            I’m trying this but subbing with orange…If I make the lemon cake I won’t have any excuse to go to Starbucks and watch the ladies 😉

          • You win for the most original reason for changing the recipe!)))

          • Chris

            What is lemon emulsion? I found Martha Stewarts, but it has dijon mustard in it. Doesn’t sound too yummy on a cake. Need help, thanks!! Chris

          • Hi Chris,
            Lemon emulsion is what gives the lemon cake its ‘lemoniness’. The same could be achieved with lemon oil (sold in little tiny bottles). Under the last picture of this post there are four pictures of items that I used for this recipe. One of them is this lemon emulsion. If you click on the link it will take you to Amazon where you can get a better look at the bottle, and even order it if you would like 🙂 hope this helps.

  • Sharon

    2 what of powdered sugar….this looks great

    · Reply
    • Cups 🙂 I already corrected the recipe. Thanks!

      · Reply
      • Aly, Oklahoma

        This was a fantasticly done recipe! I made this today and it is beautiful and the taste it’s spot on!!

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