Lemon Tea Loaf

3 cups flour or 3 cups Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF flour or 3 cups Trader Joe’s All Purpose GF flour or 3 cups of your favorite GF flour blend + 2¼ tsp xanthan gum (omit if your flour already contains)

¾ cup sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Optional: ½ cup finely chopped nuts (walnut, pecan, hazelnut)

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tbsp lemon peel (See Notes)

1 egg

1¼ cup milk

4 tbsp butter, melted

1 tbsp lemon juice (bottled or fresh)

1 tbsp sugar

Prepare loaf pan(s) by lightly spraying with GF baking spray (See my blog post “A Guide to Preparing Pans for Dessert (Quick) Breads”.). Either 1 large (9” x 5” x 3”) or 4 small (6” x 3.5” x 2.5”). 

In medium bowl, whisk together (by hand or with whisk on stand mixer) flour, xanthan gum (if using), sugar, baking powder, salt baking soda, & nutmeg. 

Stir in nuts (if using), brown sugar, & lemon peel. 

Set the dry mixture aside. 

Beat together the egg & milk. 

Stir in the melted butter. 

Pour milk mixture into dry mixture & stir until moist. 

Pour into prepared pans. (It may be a little thick depending on what GF flour you are using. Just spread it out evenly in the pan.) 

Let batter stand in pans for 20 minutes. 

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes (for small loaves) – 1 hour 15 minutes for large loaf).

Mix together lemon juice & sugar in small bowl.

Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Then turn onto wire cooling rack to finish cooling. 

Once you turn the loaves onto the cooling racks, brush the top with the lemon & sugar mixture.

 Notes:

This recipe is based on one from my mom. She would make it every Christmas & give it away with a tray of Christmas cookies. 

My family has nut allergies, so I don’t add them, but it does add a nice flavor if you do! 

I use prepared that you can get in the spice section of your grocery store, but you can also grate your own!