Lemon, Courgette and Pear Loaf
Light, fruity loaf with hidden veg.
A Fresh, Citrusy Family‑Friendly Bake
This Lemon, Courgette and Pear Loaf is a soft, gently flavoured bake that combines fresh fruit, a hint of citrus, and hidden vegetables. Pear adds natural sweetness, courgette keeps the loaf moist, and lemon brings a light, fresh flavour without being overpowering. It’s an ideal bake for sharing at home, enjoying as a snack, or serving as a dessert.
(Makes approx. 4–6 servings)
Ingredients
Allergens: Wheat, soya
135 kcal
7.5g
(Saturates: 1g)
14g
(Sugars: 2g)
1g
2-3g
0.35g
How to Make Our Lemon, Courgette & Pear Loaf
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Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a loaf tin with baking paper.
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In a large bowl, mix together the self‑raising flour and baking powder.
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In a separate bowl, combine the sunflower oil, plant‑based milk, and vinegar.
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Grate the lemon zest and squeeze the juice, adding both to the wet ingredients.
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Peel and grate the pear and courgette. Gently squeeze out excess moisture, then stir into the wet mixture.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold gently until just combined. Do not over‑mix.
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Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the top.
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Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
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Allow to cool in the tin for 20 minutes, then remove, slice, and serve.
How to Get Your Child Involved
Babies can be involved by:
- Sitting nearby while ingredients are mixed and poured
- Watching the pear and courgette being grated
- Smelling lemon zest or the baked loaf once cooled
- Exploring safe whole ingredients, such as a pear or lemon, with close supervision
With close adult support, they can:
- Help choose which ingredient to prepare next (pear or courgette)
- Scoop grated fruit or vegetables from one bowl to another
- Press baking paper into the loaf tin
- Compare textures by touching grated pear and grated courgette and noticing the difference
- Count how many spoonfuls of batter go into the tin
As confidence grows, they can:
- Help plan the order of steps (“What do we do first?”)
- Measure ingredients using cups and talk about full and half measures
- Decide how the loaf should be served (thick slices, thin slices, with fruit on the side)
- Take responsibility for setting a cooling rack or preparing plates
- Describe flavours after tasting (sweet pear, fresh lemon, soft crumb
