Lemon Cream Cheese Bread Recipe

This delightful Lemon Cream Cheese Bread combines zesty citrus flavor with a rich, creamy filling for a refreshing twist on a classic loaf. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a sweet treat with afternoon tea, this recipe is sure to impress.

Ingredients

For the Bread:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp lemon zest (approximately 2 lemons)
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

For the Cream Cheese Filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Lemon Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling:

In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside for later use.

Make the Lemon Bread Batter:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
4. Stir in the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice.
5. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with the sour cream or Greek yogurt. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.

Assemble the Bread:

1. Pour half of the lemon bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
2. Carefully layer the cream cheese filling on top of the batter.
3. Spread the remaining batter over the cream cheese layer and smooth the surface.

Bake:

1. Bake the loaf for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
2. Once done, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Lemon Glaze:

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest until the glaze is smooth and glossy.

Serve:

Once the bread has cooled, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top. Slice and serve as a refreshing, tangy treat.

Enjoy the bright citrus flavor paired with the creamy richness of the filling—this Lemon Cream Cheese Bread is a must-try for any occasion!