Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf

          I really think you are going to love this new recipe. I have been on a bread kick lately, and this is one of many loaves that I have tried. I think you could even consider it healthy since it is made with yogurt. The yogurt actually leaves it very moist and gives it a great hint of vanilla.

This picture doesn't even do it justice!

Yumminess---8---The only thing I would do differently would be to NOT use lemon juice from a jar, but rather squeeze your own lemons. I used the jarred juice, and it left a little bit of a bitter taste.

Easiness---9---The bread really couldn’t have been any easier. I had trouble with it, not because of the recipe, but because my oven was acting strange. I have both bake and convection bake on my oven, and I wish I had used convection. The bread took FOREVER to bake, and it was actually still a little bit gooey when I took it out of the oven. I would suggest using convection bake, or at least make sure you watch it bake rather than take the recipe’s word for it on time.

Repeat---10---Definitely! I plan to make it again this week. I even think I could use the yogurt tip from this recipe in other bread and cake recipes. I am excited to give it a try! I also think I might consider making it with yogurt and applesauce instead of vegetable oil. I know the applesauce trick works great in brownies, so I would imagine that it works similarly in all baked goods.

You can find the original recipe here, but of course I found it through Pinterest!

INGREDIENTSLoaf Ingredients

·         1 ½ cups All Purpose Flour + 1 TBS to the side

·         2 tsp. Baking Powder

·         ½ tsp. Kosher Salt (I didn’t have Kosher Salt, so I used ¼ tsp. Sea Salt)

·         1 cup Plain Yogurt (I used Low Fat Vanilla…and I would definitely recommend it!)

·         1 cup Sugar

·         3 large eggs

·         2 tsp. grated lemon zest (about 2 small lemons)

·         ½ tsp. vanilla extract

·         ½ cup vegetable oil

·         1 ½ cups blueberries (frozen or fresh. I used frozen)

Lemon Syrup Ingredients

·         1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (definitely squeeze your own lemons. Do not use store bought lemon juice)

·         1/3 cup sugar

Lemon Glaze Ingredients

·         1 cup confectioners’ sugar

·         2-3 Tbs. lemon juice (squeeze your own)

DIRECTIONS

·         Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom and sides of one 9 x 5-inch loaf pans; dust with flour, tapping out excess.

·         In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

·         In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil.

·         Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

·         In a separate bowl, mix the blueberries with the remaining tablespoon of flour, and fold them very gently into the batter.

·         Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing loaf to a wire rack on top of a baking sheet.

·         While the loaf is cooling, make the lemon syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir together the lemon juice and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, continue to cook for 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat; set aside.

·         Use a toothpick to poke holes in the tops and sides of the warm loaf. Brush the top and sides of the loaf with the lemon syrup. Let the syrup soak into the cake and brush again.

·         Let the cake cool completely.

·         To make the lemon glaze, in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of the lemon juice. The mixture should be thick but pourable. Add up to another tablespoon of lemon juice if the mixture is too stiff. Pour the lemon glaze over the top of each loaf and let it drip down the sides. Let the lemon glaze harden, about 15 minutes, before serving.