This Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread disappears quick. It’s a delicate, moist loaf flavored with lemon zest, loaded with blueberries, with a creamy layer of sweetened cream cheese within the heart and a crunchy streusel topping.
I’ve been making basic Lemon Blueberry Bread for years, however the cream cheese filling provides the flavour of cheesecake baked proper into a fast bread. It really works effectively for breakfast, brunch, particular events, or a easy afternoon deal with.
WHY THIS LEMON BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE BREAD WORKS
- Recent lemon zest and juice give a vivid citrus flavour.
- The cream cheese filling is layered within the heart and creates a creamy chunk in each slice.
- A buttery streusel topping provides bakery-style texture.
- Works superbly with recent or frozen blueberries.
This lemon blueberry cream cheese bread combines a delicate, moist crumb with a creamy cheesecake layer and a buttery streusel topping.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
This recipe makes use of easy pantry components:
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides the bread construction and can also be used to coat the blueberries and make the streusel topping.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the loaf and helps create each a young crumb and a crisp streusel.
- Eggs: Eggs present construction and assist bind the batter.
- Oil: Vegetable oil retains the loaf delicate and moist with out weighing it down.
- Greek Yogurt or Bitter Cream: Provides moisture and richness whereas preserving the crumb delicate.
- Lemon Zest & Lemon Juice: Recent zest gives many of the lemon taste, with a small quantity of juice for brightness.
- Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the flavors with out overpowering the lemon.
- Blueberries: Recent or frozen, each work. If utilizing frozen, add them straight from the freezer.
- Cream Cheese: Used to create the creamy layer baked into the middle of the loaf.
- Leaveners: Baking powder provides the bread carry, so it bakes up gentle.
- Salt: Enhances and balances the general taste.
- Butter: Melted butter is used within the streusel topping so as to add richness and assist it maintain collectively.
HOW TO MAKE LEMON BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE BREAD
This can be a basic fast bread recipe, so no mixer or sophisticated methods are required.
1. Put together the streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter till crumbly. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of.
2. Make the cream cheese filling: Beat softened cream cheese with sugar, flour, vanilla and an egg till easy. Put aside.
3. Combine the batter: In a mixing bowl, rub lemon zest into the sugar, then whisk in eggs, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, oil, and vanilla. Fold in dry components (flour, baking powder, and salt) till mixed.
4. Add the blueberries
Toss blueberries with somewhat flour, then gently fold them into the batter. Reserve a small handful for the highest.
5. Assemble the loaf
Unfold half of the batter into the ready pan. Add the cream cheese filling in a fair layer, then cowl with the remaining batter. Scatter reserved blueberries on prime and end with the streusel.
6. Bake
Bake 60 minutes or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. Tent loosely with foil if the highest browns too rapidly.
7. Cool fully
Let the bread cool within the pan for 10–Quarter-hour, then switch to a wire rack. Permit it to chill absolutely earlier than slicing so the cream cheese layer can set.
TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use room-temperature cream cheese so the filling mixes easily.
- Don’t overmix the batter, or the loaf might flip dense
- Frivolously toss blueberries in flour to forestall sinking
- Cool fully earlier than slicing for clear layers
- For additional texture, don’t skip the streusel topping-it provides a bakery-style end and makes the loaf much more irresistible.
STORAGE & MAKE-AHEAD TIPS
Among the finest issues about this lemon blueberry cream cheese bread? It really tastes higher the subsequent day. The flavors meld collectively, and the feel turns into much more moist.
- Retailer coated at room temperature for 1 day
- Refrigerate for as much as 5 days
- Freeze particular person slices or the entire loaf for as much as 2 months
When you’re baking forward for brunch or an important day, this loaf will be made a day upfront and saved within the fridge till able to serve.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The mixture of yogurt (or bitter cream) and the cream cheese swirl retains the loaf tender and prevents it from drying out.
Sure. Use them straight from the freezer and don’t thaw, or they could tint the batter.
Sure. You’ll be able to bake the batter in a muffin pan, adjusting the baking time to 18-22 minutes. You’ll get about 14 muffins.
Sure. This loaf retains effectively and truly tastes higher the subsequent day as soon as it has absolutely set.
Sure. Wrap the absolutely cooled loaf or particular person slices tightly and freeze for as much as 2 months. Thaw at room temperature earlier than serving.
MORE LEMON BLUEBERRY RECIPES TO TRY
When you take pleasure in this lemon blueberry cream cheese bread, listed here are a number of extra reader favorites to attempt subsequent:
Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread
Description
This moist lemon blueberry cream cheese bread is made with recent lemon zest, juicy blueberries, and a wealthy cheesecake-style swirl. Excellent for breakfast, brunch, or a easy dessert.
Elements
For Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons butter-melted
For Lemon Blueberry Bread:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 2 Tablespoons recent lemon juice
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or bitter cream)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you may substitute with lemon extract for a pronounced lemon taste)
- 1 1/4 cups of blueberries-fresh or frozen (if utilizing frozen, don’t thaw, add them straight from the freezer)
- 1–2 Tablespoons flour
Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz. cream cheese-room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
Icing:
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F levels. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a big overhang on the perimeters so you may simply carry the bread from the pan, then put aside. The pan should have an 8-cup quantity; don’t use a smaller pan, or it would overflow in the course of the baking.
To make the crumb topping:
- In a small bowl, whisk collectively flour and sugar, add melted butter, and stir with a fork till crumbly. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of.
To make the cheesecake filling:
- Combine softened cream cheese with sugar, flour, and vanilla. Add egg and blend simply to mix, put aside. Don’t overmix!
To make the bread batter:
- In a bowl, place ¾ cup granulated sugar and lemon zest and rub for a minute. Add eggs and whisk till mixed. Whisk in Greek yogurt, lemon juice, oil, and vanilla (or lemon) extract.
- Add the dry components combination (flour, salt, and baking powder) and whisk all the things collectively simply to mix.
- Toss the blueberries with 1-2 tablespoons of flour. Utilizing a rubber spatula, fold about 2/3 of the blueberries into the batter, and reserve the remaining to sprinkle on prime.
To assemble the bread:
- Unfold a skinny layer of batter within the ready pan (about 1/3 of the batter), subsequent spoon cream cheese filling over the batter and unfold with the again of the spoon, however attempt to not go all the way in which to the sides of the pan. Unfold the remaining bread batter over the cream cheese and scatter the remaining blueberries on prime. Lastly, sprinkle with streusel topping.
Bake:
- Place the pan in a preheated oven and bake for about 60-70 minutes or till the toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear and the middle has set fully. After 20-25 minutes, tent it loosely with aluminum foil to forestall the highest and sides from getting too brown. Baking time will range relying on the kind of pan you employ, and if utilizing frozen blueberries, it could want 10 minutes or so additional time.
- Cool for 10-Quarter-hour within the pan, then switch to a wire rack to chill fully.
- Retailer at room temperature as much as at some point and refrigerate for longer storage.
