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Irresistible Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread: Your New Favorite Spring Bake

Discover a quick and easy pull-apart bread recipe unlike any you’ve ever tasted. Imagine layers of perfectly spiced streusel, bursts of sweet, plump blueberries, and a subtly sweet, moist bread, all generously drizzled with a zesty lemon glaze while still warm. This delightful bake is so utterly delicious, you’ll find yourself making it again and again.

As spring finally unfolds its vibrant beauty, there’s no better way to celebrate the season’s freshness than with a truly special treat. This incredible Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread is an absolute showstopper, perfect for brightening any day. Whether you’re planning a delightful Mother’s Day brunch, searching for an elegant dessert, or simply craving something sweet and comforting, this homemade glazed bread will exceed all expectations. Its blend of bright citrus and juicy berries captures the essence of spring in every delicious bite.

While a classic Blueberry Scone Loaf certainly offers a burst of zesty flavor, this pull-apart bread takes the experience to an entirely new level. The unique structure, allowing you to simply “pull apart” individual, tender pieces, makes it not just a treat for the taste buds but also a fun and interactive dessert or breakfast option. It’s a versatile delight that can be enjoyed warm from the oven or as a delightful snack throughout the day.

If you’re exploring other exquisite spring dessert ideas, don’t miss out on my Lemon Whippersnappers or the refreshing No Bake Fruit Tart! But for an unforgettable experience that combines the best of sweet bread, fruit, and spice, this Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread stands alone.

What Makes Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread So Special?

This isn’t just any sweet bread; it’s a masterpiece of texture and flavor. The dough is exquisitely rich, thanks to high-quality ingredients like eggs and butter, which contribute to its fantastic structure and incredibly tender crumb. Flour forms the comforting base, while a blend of warming spices elevates the overall experience. This careful combination ensures that each pull-apart piece is fluffy, moist, and utterly irresistible. While fresh blueberries are always recommended for their vibrant flavor and juicy texture, don’t hesitate to use frozen ones if fresh aren’t available – they’ll still deliver a delicious result.

Achieving that beautiful, even golden crust is a sign of perfectly baked pull-apart bread. Once baked and generously coated with its lemon glaze, allow the bread to cool completely before storing it. For optimal freshness, keep your Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s best enjoyed within five days, though we doubt it will last that long!

This delightful breakfast pull-apart bread is a perennial favorite at brunches. Imagine the joy of sinking your teeth into a warm, tender slice, bursting with blueberry and lemon goodness. It’s a sweet start to any day or a perfect ending to any meal.

A Delightful Discovery: The Freaky Friday Blog Hop

I’m thrilled to share this fantastic Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread recipe with you today, but I must give credit where it’s due! This recipe hails from my assigned blogger for this round of the Freaky Friday blog hop, the wonderful The Wimpy Vegetarian.

For those unfamiliar, Freaky Friday is a cherished tradition I’ve been hosting for about seven years now. It’s a good old-fashioned blog hop where each participant is secretly assigned another blog from our group. On a designated day, we all simultaneously reveal whose blog we cooked from and the delicious creation we made! Today is that exciting day, and I couldn’t be happier with my assignment.

Exploring The Wimpy Vegetarian

When I drew names from the hat, I was delighted to discover I’d be exploring Susan’s blog, The Wimpy Vegetarian! Susan, who resides in beautiful Northern California, shares a charming story about her culinary journey. Shortly after she and her husband married, she embarked on a vegetarian path. Her husband, initially skeptical, famously told her he had “incisors for a reason” and advised her to stock up on meat!

However, with her impressive culinary school talents, Susan has masterfully transformed his perspective, making him a true believer that “horse food,” as he once playfully called it, can be incredibly delicious. Her blog is a testament to her skill in creating flavorful, satisfying vegetarian dishes that appeal to everyone, even the most dedicated meat-eaters.

More Irresistible Recipes from The Wimpy Vegetarian

Don’t let the word “vegetarian” deter you from exploring this fantastic website, which is brimming with glorious, mouth-watering recipes! It was a true challenge to narrow down my choice, but some of the other tempting recipes included her Blueberry Scone Bread (a close contender!), a delightful Dutch Baby with Strawberries, the incredibly decadent Orange Cinnamon Rolls, refreshing Frozen Mudslides, and her tantalizing Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Bites.

Ultimately, the Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread won my heart (and my oven) because, the day after Easter, I had exactly one cup of fresh blueberries remaining. It felt like kismet, a sign that this was the recipe I was meant to create and share with all of you.

Key Ingredients for Your Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread

Creating this delightful bread requires a few simple yet essential ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:

For the Streusel Topping:

Flour: Provides structure to the streusel, ensuring it bakes into a crisp, crumbly topping that won’t simply sink into the bread.
Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness and helps create that desirable crunchy, caramel-like texture in the streusel.
Granulated Sugar: Contributes a clean sweetness, balancing the deeper notes of brown sugar.
Ground Cardamom: A unique spice that perfectly complements both the blueberries and lemon, adding an aromatic depth to the streusel that makes it truly special.
Heavy Cream: Binds the streusel ingredients together, giving it a rich, creamy texture and helping it stay moist as it bakes.
Blueberries: Fresh, plump blueberries are highly recommended for their vibrant flavor and juicy bursts. Frozen can be used if thawed and patted dry to prevent excess moisture.

For the Tender Bread Dough:

All-Purpose Flour: The fundamental building block that provides the necessary structure and body for your baked bread.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough and aids in its overall texture and rise during baking.
Baking Powder: A crucial leavening agent that gives the bread its beautiful lift and airy texture.
Sea Salt: Preferred over iodized salt for its cleaner flavor profile, enhancing all other ingredients without imparting any metallic notes.
Lemon Zest: Infuses the bread with a bright, aromatic citrus essence that pairs exquisitely with the blueberries and the final lemon glaze.
Ground Cinnamon: A warm, inviting spice that harmonizes beautifully with the vanilla and adds another layer of cozy flavor to the bread.
Cold Butter: Essential for a rich, tender crumb and a higher rise. Using cold butter and cutting it into pats ensures it incorporates slowly, creating pockets of steam for a flaky texture.
Heavy Cream: Contributes to a remarkably fluffy and soft bread, making it incredibly moist and enjoyable.
Large Egg: Acts as a binder, adds richness, and further assists in the bread’s rise and structure.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall sweet flavor profile of the bread, adding a classic, comforting aroma.

For the Zesty Lemon Glaze:

Powdered Sugar: Forms the smooth, sweet base of the glaze, dissolving easily for a silky finish.
Fresh Lemon Juice: Provides the essential tart and bright lemon flavor that cuts through the sweetness of the bread, making the glaze incredibly refreshing.

How to Master This Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread

Before you begin, preheat your oven to 375˚F (190˚C) and generously butter the bottom and sides of a standard loaf pan. This ensures your beautiful bread won’t stick and will have that perfect golden crust.

Step 1: Prepare the Spiced Streusel

In a medium bowl, use a fork to thoroughly combine the flour, ground cardamom, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Once mixed, gradually stir in the heavy cream until all the dry ingredients are fully moistened and a crumbly streusel forms. Carefully fold in your fresh blueberries, being gentle to avoid crushing them. Set this aromatic streusel aside while you prepare the bread dough.

Step 2: Craft the Tender Bread Dough

In the bowl of your food processor, fitted with a metal blade, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, sea salt, lemon zest, and ground cinnamon. Pulse these dry ingredients a few times to ensure they are well combined. Next, add the cold butter, cut into small pats. Pulse the mixture about 8 to 9 times until the butter is incorporated into the flour, resembling coarse meal with some small pea-sized chunks of butter remaining. Transfer this mixture to a separate medium-sized bowl.

In a small, separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, large egg, and pure vanilla extract until fully combined. Pour this wet mixture into the bowl containing your flour and butter mixture. Using a spatula, gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few dry streaks are fine. Gather the dough into a ball and place it on a lightly floured surface.

Step 3: Section and Layer the Dough

Knead the dough a few times on your floured surface to bring it together, then use your fingers to flatten it into an approximate 6-inch by 14-inch rectangle. This shape is ideal for slicing. Next, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Start by slicing the rectangle in half lengthwise, creating two long strips. Then, cut each long strip into six squares.

Take half of your prepared streusel mixture and spread it evenly over six of the dough squares. Stack the remaining six plain dough squares directly on top of the streusel-covered ones. Finally, spread the rest of the streusel mixture over the very top of these stacked squares. This layering technique creates those irresistible pockets of flavor in every bite.

Step 4: Arrange and Bake

Carefully arrange the streusel-layered dough squares into your prepared loaf pan. Place them two at a time, standing them up on their ends. You might find it helpful to lean them against a bowl or the side of the pan initially to get the right angle. Don’t worry if some streusel crumbles off; simply scoop it up and sprinkle it over the top of the assembled bread dough in the pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top of the bread achieves a beautiful light golden brown color and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool slightly in the pan while you prepare the glaze.

Step 5: Prepare and Drizzle the Lemon Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice until you achieve a smooth, pourable consistency. If the glaze is too thick, add a tiny bit more lemon juice; if too thin, add a touch more powdered sugar. Drizzle this vibrant lemon glaze generously over the warm pull-apart bread. The warmth of the bread will allow the glaze to melt slightly and seep into the nooks and crannies, creating an even more delightful experience.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Allow the glazed bread to cool for a few more minutes, then gently lift it from the loaf pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread is best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. It reheats beautifully in the microwave for a few seconds if you prefer it warm!

Love It? Pin It!

Don’t let this amazing recipe slip away! Make sure to save this delightful Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread recipe to your favorite Pinterest board. It’s perfect for future brunches, special occasions, or just a sweet treat whenever the craving strikes!

More Recipes You Will Adore

If you’ve fallen in love with this sweet bread, you’ll certainly want to explore these other fantastic recipes that offer similar comfort and flavor:

Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread
Lemon Blueberry Sweet Rolls
Pumpkin Zucchini Streusel Bread
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Crack Bread
Lemon Icebox Pie
Cinnamon Spice Coffee Cake
Pink Lemonade Cake
Lemon Ice Cream
Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
Lemon Sweet Rolls (pictured above)

Discover All the Deliciousness from our 2022 Freaky Friday Spring Edition Recipes

This round of Freaky Friday was proudly hosted by An Affair from the Heart. Explore all the incredible recipes from my fellow bloggers:

An Affair from the Heart – Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread
Aunt Bee’s Recipes – Baked Asparagus with Parmesan
The Carefree Kitchen – Carrot Cake
The Culinary Compass – Dunkaroo Dip Recipe
Devour Dinner – Fruit Charcuterie Board
Family Around the Table – Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
Feast + West – Frozen Grasshopper Martini
Home Cooked Harvest – Rocky Road Brownies
Hostess at Heart – Honey Bun Cake
Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog – Homemade Sour Cream Funfetti Cupcakes
Off the Eaten Path – Beer Margarita Recipe
The Speckled Palate – Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Bourbon and Walnuts
Sue Bee Homemaker – No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Take Two Tapas – Crab Dip
The Wimpy Vegetarian – Texas Trash Dip Warm Bean Dip

Now, let’s get baking and create this absolutely delicious Blueberry Lemon Streusel Pull-Apart Bread!

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Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread, a delightful sweet bread with streusel and glaze

Average Rating: 5 stars from 13 votes

Print Recipe

Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread

This quick bread recipe is unlike anything you have ever tasted. Layers of spiced streusel, fresh blueberries, and a subtly sweet bread, drizzled with a slightly tart lemon glaze while it’s warm. You’ll bake this one again and again.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 55 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Cuisine: American

Keywords: blueberry, bread, glaze, lemon loaf, pull apart, scone, streusel

Servings: 1 loaf | 12 servings

Calories: 296 kcal per serving

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

Whisks for Cooking, 3 Pack Stainless Steel Whisk
Manual Juicer Citrus / Lemon Squeezer
Citrus Zester
Rubber Spatulas
Loaf Pans

Ingredients

FOR THE STREUSEL:

1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 Tablespoon heavy cream
1 cup fresh blueberries

FOR THE BREAD:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
Zest of one large lemon
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into pats
1 cup heavy cream
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

FOR THE LEMON GLAZE:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

Instructions

PREPARE THE STREUSEL: In a medium bowl, combine flour, cardamom, and sugars with a fork. Mix in the heavy cream until the dry ingredients are completely moistened. Gently fold in the fresh blueberries and set aside.
PREPARE THE BREAD DOUGH: Preheat your oven to 375˚F (190˚C), and butter the bottom and sides of a standard loaf pan.
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder, sea salt, lemon zest, and cinnamon together until combined. Add the cold butter (cut into pats) and pulse about 8 or 9 times until the butter is incorporated, leaving small pea-sized chunks. Transfer this mixture to a medium-sized bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg, and pure vanilla extract until smooth. Pour this wet mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture. Using a spatula, gently combine the wet ingredients with the dry until just incorporated. Form the dough into a ball and place it on a lightly floured surface.
Knead the dough a few times, then flatten it with your fingers into a 6-inch x 14-inch rectangle.
Slice the dough into 12 pieces by first dividing it in half lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Then, divide each long rectangle into 6 equal squares.
Spread half of the prepared streusel mixture over 6 of the dough squares. Stack the remaining 6 plain dough squares on top of the streusel-covered ones. Spread the remaining streusel over the top of the stack.
Arrange the stacked dough squares, two at a time, standing up on end into the prepared loaf pan. You may lean them against the side of the pan or a small bowl to help them stand. If any streusel falls off, simply scoop it up and sprinkle it over the top of the bread dough in the pan.
BAKE: Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top of the bread is a light golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool slightly in the pan.
PREPARE THE LEMON GLAZE: While the bread cools, whisk the powdered sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the amount of lemon juice (add more or less) until you achieve your desired consistency. Drizzle this glaze generously over the warm bread.

Notes

Store any leftover Blueberry Lemon Pull-Apart Bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It is best enjoyed within 5 days.

Nutrition