1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×4 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Mix Sugar and Lemon Zest:
- In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub the zest into the sugar with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant.
4. Add Wet Ingredients:
- To the sugar and lemon zest mixture, add the vegetable oil, eggs, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined and no large lumps remain. Avoid overmixing.
6. Fold in Blueberries:
- Gently fold the blueberries into the batter. If using frozen blueberries, toss them with a tablespoon of flour before adding to prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
7. Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
8. Cool:
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Prepare the Lemon Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more lemon juice or powdered sugar if necessary.
10. Glaze the Bread:
- Once the bread has cooled, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top. Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.
Tips:
- Preventing Blueberries from Sinking: Tossing the blueberries with flour helps to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf as it bakes.
- Lemon Flavor: For an extra lemony kick, you can increase the amount of lemon zest used in both the bread and the glaze.
- Storing: Lemon Blueberry Bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. It also freezes well.
Enjoy your delicious Lemon Blueberry Bread as a delightful start to your day or as a sweet treat to brighten your afternoon!