Lemon poppy seed cake is a classic lemon dessert for any occasion.
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What Is Lemon Poppy Seed Cake?
Lemon poppy seed cake is a lemon cake that features poppy seeds mixed in the batter. Lemon juice and zest give this cake a tangy flavor, while poppy seeds add visual appeal, texture, and subtle nuttiness. The cake is often topped with a lemon glaze for extra lemony flavor. Lemon and poppy seeds are a classic combination, usually baked into pound cakes, bundt cakes, and muffins.
3 Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Variations
You can make lemon poppy seed cake in a bundt pan, loaf pan, or even a cake pan to make a birthday cake. Consider these variations:
- 1. Lemon poppy seed drizzle cake: Make a lemon syrup by dissolving granulated sugar in lemon juice in a small pot on the stovetop. Poke holes in the top of the cake using a long skewer, then drizzle the lemon syrup all over the cake.
- 2. Lemon poppy seed layer cake: Triple the ingredients for lemon poppy seed cake to fill two, round eight-inch cake pans. When the cakes are cool, slice them into a total of four cake layers. Fill the layers with buttercream or lemon curd.
- 3. Lemon poppy seed cupcake: For a spin on the classic cake recipe, top lemon poppy seed cupcakes with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting.
Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Recipe
makes
1 8-inch loaf cake or 16 cupcakesprep time
30 mintotal time
1 hr 30 mincook time
50 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
Grease an 8-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust lightly with flour.
- 3
Zest and juice the lemon.
- 4
Set aside the fresh lemon juice.
- 5
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and lemon zest. Use your fingers to massage the zest into the sugar until lemon flavor infuses the sugar.
- 6
Add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to the sugar mixture and mix at low speed using the paddle attachment until fully incorporated.
- 7
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 8
Carefully add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture, continuing to mix at low speed.
- 9
Add the vegetable oil and poppy seeds, and continue to mix until fully incorporated.
- 10
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. The bake time will be about 50 minutes (15–20 minutes for cupcakes).
- 11
Let the cake cool in the pan until just cool enough to unmold.
- 12
Meanwhile, make the lemon glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together reserved lemon juice and confectioners' sugar.
- 13
Unmold the cake and set it on a wire rack inside a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- 14
Use a pastry brush to spread the glaze over the cake and let it cool completely on the rack.
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