This Buttermilk Blueberry Bread is filled with fresh blueberries and zesty lemon or lime zest. Drizzle it with a bright citrus glaze to turn it into a dessert.
Should this blueberry quick bread be a breakfast or dessert? In my world, it’s both depending on the time of day
With the combination of real buttermilk and oil, this blueberry bread is epically moist and perfectly textured.
Add a healthy dose of citrus zest — both lime and lemon work! — and a citrus glaze to take it to the next level.
Watch this Buttermilk Blueberry Bread disappear quickly piece by piece, it’s amazing if it even makes it 24 hours!
Two Ingredient Citrus Glaze
If you make just about any berry quick bread, it needs a sweet and bright citrus glaze drizzled on top.
And you only need two ingredients, powdered sugar and fresh citrus juice, to create the perfect one.
For a blueberry bread, I recommend lime or lemon juice. It pairs perfectly.
However, if you use this base recipe for let’s say a cranberry bread, I suggest using fresh orange juice!
Buttermilk Blueberry Bread Ingredients
Buttermilk! It’s super important! And to get the optimal results, use REAL buttermilk.
However, if you do not have any buttermilk and can’t make it to the store, I recommend one of these two swaps:
Buttermilk alternatives for Blueberry Bread
- Whisk together 2/3 cup whole milk and 2 tablespoons sour cream.
- Whisk together 2/3 cup whole milk and 2 tablespoons full fat greek yogurt.
The second important ingredient for the best blueberry bread texture is oil.
You can use melted butter in it’s place, but for that extra moist perfect texture, vegetable oil works best.
Fresh or Frozen Blueberries for Blueberry Bread
If at all possible, fresh berries will provide the best and most consistent results.
However, if you need to use frozen blueberries, that is ok too! However I have a few tips:
- Remove the frozen blueberries from the bag and allow them to thaw in a colander in the sink.
- Once they are room temperature, pat them dry with a paper towel to absorb any leftover water.
- Toss any blueberries that are too soft/squishy.
Can you freeze this Blueberry Bread?
Yes! This blueberry bread is great frozen and enjoyed at a later date — just don’t add the glaze.
To freeze it, I wrap individual slices in cling wrap and then place them in a freezer friendly ziplock bag.
To thaw, allow the bread slice to come to room temperature on the counter for about an hour.
You can drizzle it with a freshly made citrus glaze if you prefer!
This Buttermilk Blueberry Bread is a winning recipe that is adaptable to whatever fresh fruit you have on hand.
This blueberry bread has the perfect texture and flavor and everyone will think you bought it at a bakery.
Serve it for breakfast with a cup of coffee or top it with the sweet citrus glaze and serve it for breakfast!
Buttermilk Blueberry Bread
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
- 1 lemon or lime, zest only, optional
Citrus Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh citrus juice (lemon or lime)
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter, line pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add half the flour mixture, then whisk in buttermilk. Add remaining flour mixture, then whisk in vegetable oil. Fold in blueberries and optional citrus zest, if desired.
- Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Let bread cool for 10 minutes in pan. Transfer bread to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
- Whisk together powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of citrus juice until smooth. If too thick, add 1 teaspoon additional liquid at a time until desired consistency.
- Pour on top of bread and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
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Can you make it with gluten free flour? My daughter has celiac and I would like to make this for her birthday.
Hi Belinda, I have not personally tried it, but have had many readers write in that they have had success using this recipe with Pamela’s Gluten Free All Purpose Flour blend. Hope this helps! Happy birthday to your daughter!
This looks soooo moist and delicious!
We usually make a buttermilk sandwich bread… but I haven’t tried it in a quick bread. Yum. And, with blueberries? Even better.
I am loving that lime drizzle! The combination of lime and blueberry is simply amazing. I can’t wait to grab some blueberries and whip this together.
Yum! Such an amazing blueberry recipe. Will go perfect with my coffee in the mornings. My family loves when I find new breakfast recipe to make.
What a sweet bread! Worthy of a bakery, indeed! Can’t wait to have this for breakfast tomorrow!
What a light and sweet treat for breakfast! This will pair perfectly with my morning cup of coffee tomorrow!