This Lemon Cream Cheese Bread is soft, moist, and bursting with bright citrus flavor! Swirled with a rich, creamy cream cheese layer, every slice is perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy. Tender, buttery, and incredibly comforting — it’s the perfect homemade treat for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack.
Ingredients
For the Bread Batter:
1 ½ cups 190g all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup 115g unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup 150g granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup 120ml milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
8 oz 225g cream cheese, softened
¼ cup 50g granulated sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Lemon Glaze:
1 cup 120g powdered sugar
2 –3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a standard loaf pan (9×5-inch) with parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients:
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar:
In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and flavor:
Mix in eggs one at a time. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
Combine wet and dry:
Add dry ingredients in batches, alternating with milk. Mix just until combined (do not overmix).
Prepare cream cheese layer:
In another bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Layer the batter:
Pour half of the batter into the loaf pan
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on top
Add the remaining batter and gently smooth
Bake:
Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
Cool: