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This easy lemon blueberry pound cake recipe is a wonderful way to put fresh blueberries to good use. It’s simple enough for everyday baking but pretty enough to serve to company.
This lemon blueberry pound cake is one of those cakes that works just as well for brunch as it does for dessert or an afternoon treat. It’s buttery and tender, with juicy blueberries throughout and plenty of bright lemon flavor from fresh zest, juice, and a tangy lemon glaze.
You’ll need two large lemons for the recipe. Be sure to zest them before juicing them—it’s nearly impossible to do the other way around! And although you might be tempted to bake this in a Bundt pan, I recommend sticking with a loaf pan. The cake releases easily from a loaf pan but tends to stick to a Bundt.
“Absolutely delicious! Looks stunning and tastes even better!”
What You’ll Need To Make Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
- All-purpose flour: Be sure to measure it using the spoon-and-level method. Too much flour can make the cake dry and dense.
- Milk, lemon juice, and zest: Together, the milk and lemon juice create a buttermilk-like mixture that helps give the cake its tender crumb, while the zest adds bright lemon flavor. You’ll need about 2 large lemons for the cake and glaze; fresh juice and zest are best.
- Blueberries: Fresh or frozen blueberries work well. If using frozen, don’t thaw them first, as they can release excess juice and streak the batter.
- Unsalted butter: Allows you to control the amount of salt in the cake. Make sure it’s softened for the best texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a soft, tender crumb.
- Eggs: Large eggs provide structure and richness.
- Baking soda: Reacts with the lemon juice to help the cake rise.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Gives the lemon glaze its smooth texture and sweetness.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How to Make Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
Prepare the lemon mixture: Begin by zesting the lemons. Then whisk together the milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. The mixture will curdle; that’s okay.
Prepare the dry ingredients and blueberries: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate small bowl, toss the blueberries with the remaining teaspoon of flour. Set both aside.
Cream the butter and sugar: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Finish the batter: Scrape down the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, add one-third of the flour mixture, followed by half of the milk mixture. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture and the remaining milk mixture, then add the remaining flour. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
Fold in the blueberries: Using a spatula, gently fold the flour-dusted blueberries into the batter until evenly distributed. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake and cool: Bake until the cake is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
Make the glaze: Once the cake is cool, transfer it to a serving platter. Mix the confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice until thick but pourable, adjusting with more sugar or juice as needed. Spoon over the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Let set for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Tips for the Best Lemon Blueberry Cake
- Use a metal loaf pan. Metal conducts heat more efficiently than glass, helping the cake bake evenly. If using a glass pan, the baking time may differ.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Once the flour goes in, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the cake dense or tough.
- Make sure the glaze is thick. It should have a thick, almost glue-like consistency so it stays opaque and coats the cake rather than running off.
How to Store and Freeze Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
The cake will keep on the countertop for up to 3 days, stored in a covered container or wrapped in plastic wrap.
To freeze, let the cake cool completely and leave off the glaze. Double-wrap it securely in aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight on the countertop, then add the glaze before serving.
Video Tutorial
Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, packed (see note)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups + 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup blueberries (if using frozen blueberries, do not defrost)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
For the Glaze
- ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest, packed
- 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 9 x 5-in (23 x 13-cm) metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, then spray the pan again. (Alternatively, you can line the long side of the pan with a parchment "sling" and spray the pan again.)
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Let sit for at least 10 minutes while you proceed with the recipe. (It will curdle; that’s okay.)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups (260 g) flour, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, toss the blueberries with the remaining teaspoon of flour. Set both aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- With the mixer on low speed, add one-third of the flour mixture, followed by half of the milk mixture. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture and the remaining milk mixture, then add the remaining flour. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Using a spatula, gently fold in the flour-dusted blueberries until evenly distributed. Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and a tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
- When the cake is cool, transfer it to a serving platter. Make the glaze: In a small bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Add more confectioners' sugar or lemon juice as necessary to make a thick but pourable glaze (it should be a little thicker than you'd think, about the consistency of molasses or honey).
- Spoon the glaze over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Let set for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing with a serrated knife and serving.
Notes
- You’ll need 2 large lemons for the entire recipe. Be sure to zest them before you juice them.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Could you use maple syrup instead of sugar?
Hi Maureen, unfortunately, maple syrup won’t work here – sorry!
Hi jenn, how about brown sugar can i use it instead of white sugar or will that change the end result (i am not a baker sorry i have only evey made cookies and banana bread and both used brown sugar)
But i really want to make this cake it looks so delicious
Hi Hessa, I wouldn’t recommend it. While it may work, it may impact the texture of the cake. For the most predictable results, I’d stick with the granulated sugar.
The best recipe! I made this about a month ago and was not disappointed 😁
Just a question – for the lemon blueberry pound cake, it only calls for 1/4 tsp baking soda. No baking powder. Is that enough to make it rise?
P.S. Love your web site. Every recipe I’ve tried so far has been great.
Hi Susan, yes, the cake rises nicely with the baking soda because the acid in the lemon juice activates it and creates air bubbles, which causes the cake to rise. If you’re interested in the science, you can read more about it here. 😊
Love this recipe and make it often.
I’m pretty sure I have already commented on this recipe a few years ago. Just letting you know Jen, I made a double batch this time, followed your recipe & made it in a large bake rectangle bake tin, baked for 50 mins. I’m a nurse & bake every week for these wonderful people I work with I & your recipes are always met with such joy & deliciousness. This lemon & blueberry loaf is such a winner. Thanks Jen 😋
The only thing I did different was add a little vanilla!!! And I doubled and made in loaf pans. Very very good!
I added a little vanilla to the cake mixture and also to the icing mixture. Love it.
GM my time I am always looking for a great recipe for blueberry lemon qwik bread. WELL LOOK NO MORE…I think my problems before was not mixing the sugar n butter until creamy and light..I don’t use a mixer (for me more to clean up n grew up with older women who just beat things by hand) BUT YOUR RECIPE SUPERB. THANK YOU SO MUCH I ALSO ADDED RED PLUMS IN SMALL CHUNKS W/O THE SKINS PLUS 3 STRAINED GREEK YOGURT. THE BREAD TURNED OUT DIVINE TY AGAIN HAVE A BLESSED SAFE JULY 4TH ITS A KEEPER
While I loved the outcome, I have to admit I changed some things about the recipe. I had put some blueberries and orange juice in a blender to make a smoothie, then realised I was out of ice cream, so made this instead. I followed the recipe as usual, except I added in the pureed blueberry, orange juice mixture and a handful of whole blueberries instead of the cup of normal blueberries. I also had to bake it for far longer (maybe it was the additional liquid but judging by other comments this is a common occurrence for people with this recipe). I checked it at 55 minutes and it jiggled when I moved it. I kept checking every 10 minutes and my final time was 85 minutes in all. It came out delightful. Very moist, just the right sweetness and with a crunchy crust. I did not ice it, as I do not like icing. Loved it.
Absolutely delicious!
Wow! Thank you for a perfect recipe!
Just curious… why no vanilla?
(would it interfere with the lemon/blueberry flavor?)
I just didn’t think vanilla was necessary here with the lemon flavor, but feel free to add up to a teaspoon if you’d like.
I did not make any changes to the recipe, followed it to a tee…and I also have to bake it for way longer than instructed, 20ish minutes, which burns the outside with the inside still raw.