Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe (2024)

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Lemon Blueberry Bread – an easy Italian style quick bread recipe from scratch. Loaded with blueberries, made with fruity olive oil, rich ricotta cheese and dressed in a decadent lemon glaze.

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Best Lemon Blueberry Bread

In case you find yourself with a bucket of blueberries this season, I’m pretty sure this is the best thing you can do with them. A crazy delicious, soft and moist treat to go with your morning coffee.

Blueberry Bread Ingredients

  • Olive Oil – a light and fruity olive oil is highly recommended but a neutral vegetable oil like canola is fine too.
  • Ricotta cheese – the secret Italian ingredient that will take any quick bread from good to amazing. It adds moisture, natural sweetness and a unique cheesecake like flavor. (A plant based version works great too).
  • The Blueberries – fresh is the way to go, make sure you wash and dry them well in advance. No need to worry about them sinking to the bottom as this ricotta batter is thick and creamy and you will have berries all throughout.
  • Vanilla – it adds a nice subtle flavor so definitely use it if you have some.
  • Lemon Glaze – an easy mix of powder sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. You can sprinkle some lemon zest for extra zing.
  • Flour – all purpose flour is all you need here, you could substitute with a whole wheat pastry flour for a denser but more nutritious bread.
  • Baking Powder + Baking soda – use both, the powder does most of the leavening and the baking soda helps neutralize the acidity in the recipe.

Tips + FAQ

  • Why are there green stains around the blueberries? – the short answer is “Anthocyanin”, the antioxidants in plants responsible for the beautiful colors you see in blueberries. Depending on the PH levels in their environment they will change colors. Baking soda makes the batter pretty alkaline hence the greenish tint of the blueberry stains. If you wish to avoid this then make sure to add extra acidy to your batter and/or use a little less baking soda.
  • Can I use frozen blueberries ? – yes you can use thefrozen onesin a pinch but use them straight from the freezer, do not allow them to thaw at all.
  • Don’t Overmix the Batter – use a wide spatula to gently Fold everything together for the fluffiest result.
  • Storage – once completely cooled off any leftover bread can be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored at room temperature. Individual slices can be frozen in little freezer bags then popped in the toaster oven to reheat.

How to Make Lemon Blueberry Bread

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 350”F.
  2. Dry Ingredients – in a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Fold in the blueberries.
  3. Wet Ingredients – In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, olive oil, vanilla and ricotta cheese.
  4. Combine – transfer the wet mix to the bowl with the dry ingredients and using a wide spatula fold them together.
  5. Bake – pour the cake batter inside an oiled loaf pan or lined with parchment paper and bake for 50 minutes to one hour, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.
  6. Cool – transfer the bread to a cooling rack and allow it to cool off completely.
  7. Glaze – whisk the lemon glaze ingredients together and pour over the bread once it has completely cooled off.

Favorite Desserts:

Ricotta Cheesecake

Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Blueberry Ricotta Muffins

Italian Tiramisu

Lemon Muffins

Cranberry Bread.

Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe (7)

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Fluffiest lemon blueberry bread, made with with smooth olive oil, a creamy richness from ricotta cheese and a decadent lemon glaze!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:50 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr

Ingredients

Blueberry Bread:

Lemon Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup powder sugar
  • 1/2 lemon juiced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 “ F

  • In a large bowl whisk together the flour with the baking soda, baking powder and sea salt. Add the blueberries and half of the lemon zest and gently toss to coat. Set aside.

  • In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, olive oil, vanilla and ricotta cheese until smooth. Transfer to the bowl with the flour blueberry mixture.

  • Using a wide spatula gently fold the wet batter into the dry ingredients , making sure not to crush the blueberries if possible.

  • Using a drop of olive oil make sure to coat the inside of a loaf pan.

  • Transfer the batter to the oiled pan.

    Bake in the preheated 350”F oven for about 50 minutes to one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

  • Transfer to a cooling rack and allow it to cool off completely. Gently transfer the cooked bread onto a plate and start working on your lemon glaze.

Glaze:

  • To make the lemon glaze whisk together the powder sugar with the lemon juice until smooth and thick to your liking. Add more lemon juice or powder sugar to obtain desired consistency.

  • Using the whisk drizzle the glaze on top of the blueberry bread and immediately sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest. Slice with a serrated knife and enjoy with your morning coffee.

Notes

  • Can I use frozen blueberries ? - yes you can use thefrozen onesin a pinch but use them straight from the freezer, do not allow them to thaw at all.
  • Don’t Overmix the Batter - use a wide spatula to gently Fold everything together for the fluffiest result.
  • Storage - once completely cooled off any leftover blueberry bread can be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored at room temperature. Individual slices can be frozen in little freezer bags then popped in the toaster oven to reheat.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: blueberry bread, olive oil bread

Servings: 8 slices

Calories: 367kcal

Author: Florentina

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  1. Can I make this into muffins?

    Reply

    1. Definitely!

      Reply

  2. Hi Florentina,
    This looks amazing and will definitely try it! But a quick question though, must the olive oil be extra virgin or can I substitute it with canola oil? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Brenda, you can definitely substitute with canola, I try to go the healthier route and I’m particularly fond of olive oil and the richness it adds to baked goods. Let me know how it goes 🙂

      Reply

      1. Btw Florentina, is it possible to substitute ricotta cheese with any other cheese? If yes, which do you recommend?

        Reply

        1. Hi Brenda, sorry I haven’t experimented with a different cheese, however my next choice would probably be cottage cheese or goat cheese… If I still ate goat cheese that is 🙂

          Reply

  3. So the recipe calls for 1/2 tsp sea salt but nowhere does it say when to add it. Also, if I use 1/2 of the lemon zest, when do I use the second half?

    Reply

    1. Hi Donna, you add the sea salt with the dry ingredients. The remaining lemon zest goes on top of the glaze 😉

      Reply

  4. Wow, I was thinking of making banana bread but now I have to make this!

    Reply

    1. Oh yes, i think this one wins over banana bread, tough i love banana bread, Olive oil and blueberries win every time !

      Reply

Lemon Blueberry Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put lemon in blueberries? ›

The tartness of lemon provides a bright and zesty contrast to the sweetness of blueberries. Lemon can enhance the flavor of blueberries by adding a touch of acidity that brings out their natural sweetness. Both lemon and blueberry are versatile flavors that can be used in a variety of dishes, from sweet to savory.

What is lemon bread made of? ›

To make the lemon bread: In a small bowl, mix the buttermilk (or yogurt) with the lemon juice and zest (or lemon oil), and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Beat together the butter and sugar until combined.

What do coffee grounds do for blueberries? ›

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

Why do you put flour on blueberries before baking? ›

The light coating of flour around the berries will absorb some of the fruit's liquid, making them less likely to sink. This is especially helpful when the batter is thin; thicker batters are a little better at cradling the fruit and keeping it suspended.

Are lemons and blueberries good for you? ›

Blueberries are celebrated for their high antioxidant content, known for their potential health benefits. Lemons, on the other hand, provide vitamin C and other essential nutrients. Combining the two not only creates a flavor harmony but also a nutritional synergy.

How many servings are in a Costco lemon blueberry loaf? ›

Servings and Size

I'd hazard you could get 8 servings at least from this loaf, which means each serving would cost $1.13. The Costco item # is 1719747. This is a “Kirkland Signature” (store brand) bakery item.

What is juju bread? ›

Juju Bread specialises in sourdough and gourmet boutique breads, all baked in the traditional artisan style. All products are made by hand, from scratch, with all natural ingredients. Nothing artificial and no preservatives or improvers.

Can I use lemon juice instead of lemon extract? ›

As lemon extract has a much more concentrated flavor, you'll need to use double the amount of lemon juice as lemon extract. This is fine for dressings, marinades and pickle recipes, but can be a problem with baked dishes.

What is New Orleans bread called? ›

This thin-crusted variety of French Bread—more commonly known as the Baguette, Po' Boy Loaf or Sunday Cap Bread—is fundamental to the New Orleans gastronomy.

What enhances the flavor of blueberries? ›

Lemon: At the very top of the list is sweet-tart blueberries and sharp lemon, an almost unbeatable combination.

What makes blueberries taste better? ›

Peak Ripeness. Another reason U-Pick Blueberries taste better than store-bought berries is because you can choose to pick the most ripe ones. Fully ripened to perfection blueberries are dark blue with a light white, cloudy coating called the “bloom” around them. This coating is completely natural and safe.

What can I add to blueberries to make them taste better? ›

Macerating—soaking or steeping in liquid and/or sweetener—is one of the easiest and fastest ways to doctor up sub-par berries. Toss them in sugar, honey, or maple syrup, along with a little fresh juice or alcohol (an herbal liqueur, like elderflower spirit, would be great).

Why do you put lemon juice in fruit? ›

To prevent the effects of oxidation, fruit needs citric acid, and lemons are full of it. As a natural antioxidant, lemon juice can help prolong the life of fruit salad (as well as its visual appeal) by inactivating the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the browning.

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