Daring Bakers: Lemon Loaf with Fresh Berries

The Daring Bakers’ February 2012 host was – Lis! Lisa stepped in last minute and challenged us to create a quick bread we could call our own. She supplied us with a base recipe and shared some recipes she loves from various websites and encouraged us to build upon them and create new flavor profiles.

I took her recipe for Meyer Lemon Loaf and tweaked it just a little bit by adding fresh berries for an extra burst of flavor. This was so yummy! My mom loved it so much that she ate nearly the entire loaf by herself!

Lemon Loaf with Fresh Berries

Makes two 8” x 5” (20 x 13 cm) loaves

Adapted from Recipe Girl’s Meyer Lemon Loaf

Ingredients

LOAF:

2 2/3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

zest of 3 lemons

2 cups sugar

6 large eggs, at room temperature

¾ cup  sour cream, at room temperature

2 tablespoons  rum (can omit – I did!)

1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

pinch of salt

9 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 pint raspberries

1 pint blueberries

a handful of sugar

SIMPLE SYRUP:

½ cup sugar

½ cup water

Juice from 1 medium lemon 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to moderate 350°F. Butter and flour two 8” x 5” loaf pans.
2. Sift together flour and baking powder; set aside.
3. Place sugar, lemon zest, and eggs into a large mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until the mixture is a light lemon color and thickened a bit. Whisk in sour cream, then salt, then rum (if using) and lemon juice.
4. Gently whisk in the flour in four parts, then whisk in the butter in three parts. You’ll have a thick, pourable batter flecked with lemon zest.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
6. In a separate bowl, mix fresh berries and sugar. Allow to sit until berries have started to ooze juice. Using a spoon, cover the tops of each loaf with the berry mixture.
7. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
8. While the loaves are baking, prepare simple syrup. Boil together sugar and water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice.
9. Turn the loaves out of their pans onto a cooling rack and brush liberally with the lemon syrup, repeat brushing as you feel necessary. Let cool.

I'd say it looks pretty good - wouldn't you? :) 

Much love,