Description
Zesty lemon cream cheese bread brings Mediterranean sunshine to your kitchen with its tangy, creamy perfection. Rich layers of citrus and smooth cream cheese create a delightful slice of pure comfort you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Lemon:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon zest
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) lemon juice
Dairy and Eggs:
- 1/2 cup (120 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and coating a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Create the dry mixture by combining flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, whisking thoroughly to eliminate any lumps.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and airy, using an electric mixer at medium speed.
- Incorporate eggs, lemon zest, sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla into the butter mixture, blending until ingredients are fully integrated.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to prevent overmixing.
- Prepare the cream cheese filling by whipping cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until silky and uniform in texture.
- Transfer half the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, creating an even base layer.
- Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the initial batter layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Top the cream cheese layer with remaining bread batter, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, monitoring until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center emerges clean.
- Remove from oven and allow the bread to cool completely in the pan before slicing to maintain structural integrity.
Notes
- Swap sour cream with Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version of the bread that reduces overall fat content.
- Fold in fresh blueberries or poppy seeds into the batter for added texture and complementary flavor profiles.
- Ensure cream cheese filling is at room temperature to achieve smoother, more even distribution throughout the bread.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for maximum bright, citrusy flavor that elevates the entire recipe’s taste complexity.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 267 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg