Lemon loaf cake covered with white icing and thin lemon slices on a white serving platter.

5-Ingredient Vegan Lemon Loaf Cake

This 5-ingredient vegan lemon loaf cake has a soft, tender crumb and fresh lemon flavor from both the juice and zest. Mix the batter in one bowl, bake, then finish the cooled loaf with a sweet, tangy lemon icing. Cut yourself a slice to enjoy with tea or coffee.

Sliced lemon loaf cake with white icing and lemon slices, showing the fine crumb inside.

5-Ingredient Vegan Lemon Loaf Cake

A soft, moist vegan lemon loaf cake with fresh lemon juice and zest, finished with sweet, tangy lemon icing. The batter comes together in one bowl with five main ingredients, plus icing. No eggs or dairy.
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

Loaf Batter

  • 100 g (½ cup) Superfine (granulated) sugar
  • 240 ml (1 cup) Unsweetened soy milk
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) Avocado oil (any neutral oil)
  • 30 ml (2 tablespoons) Lemon juice
  • 210 g (1½ cup) Self-raising flour ( or 210 g all-purpose flour + 2 teaspoons baking powder)
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon zest

Lemon Icing

  • 120 g (1 cup) Powdered icing sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons Lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Oil and line the pan (8 x 4 inch; 20 x 10 cm) pan with baking paper.
  • To a bowl, add in the sugar and soy milk. Whisk until sugar dissolves.
  • Add oil and lemon juice. Mix well.
  • Add self-raising flour and lemon zest. Fold gently just until no dry flour remains.
  • Transfer batter into the pan. Drop pan once on counter to remove air bubbles.
  • Bake for approximately 40–45 minutes, until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift onto a rack. Cool completely before icing or the icing will melt.
  • In the meantime, make the lemon icing by sifting the powdered icing sugar in a bowl.
  • Add 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, stirring until smooth. Add more juice 1 tablespoon at a time, only as needed.
  • Spread icing over the top of loaf. Leave for 30–60 minutes to set before slicing.
  • For decoration, add lemon zest or very thin lemon pieces just before serving.
Keyword 5-ingredient cake, dairy-free lemon cake, eggless lemon cake, lemon loaf cake, vegan lemon loaf

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