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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

It's drizzled in a bright lemon glaze!

By Josh Miller; Recipe by Sloane LaytonPublished: Apr 7, 2022
Star FillStar FillStar FillHalf StarStar
3.3
3 Ratings
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the pioneer woman's lemon poppyseed cake recipe
Will Dickey
Yields:
10 - 12 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins

You might say that lemon-poppy seed cake is an icon in the spring desserts Hall of Fame. Of all the beautiful Bundts out there, lemon-poppy seed takes the cake (haha)—it's easy to make, and even easier to decorate thanks to its quick whisk-and-drizzle glaze. So if you love lemon desserts, get ready: here's a delicious new recipe to add to the must-bake list!

Where do poppy seeds come from?

A popular ingredient in muffins, cakes, salad dressings, and more, poppy seeds come from the poppy flower (famously featured in The Wizard of Oz). While poppy plants can be used for medical purposes, the seeds are totally safe to eat. As far as baking is concerned, the only thing that poppy seeds add is a lovely speckled look and a tender crunch.

What's the secret to a beautiful lemon poppy seeds cake?

The trick to a beautiful Bundt cake is simple: don't butter and flour the pan. Instead, use nonstick baking spray with flour. Even though nonstick Bundt pans have come a long way, a little extra insurance is always a good bet! Nonstick baking spray is great for getting into all the nooks and crannies of the pan, while the classic butter-and-flour method has a higher margin of error. So spray away, and your cake will slide out of the pan with ease!

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Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1 cup

    unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 cups

    granulated sugar

  • 5

    large eggs, at room temperature

  • 2 tsp.

    vanilla extract

  • 3 Tbsp.

    lemon zest, plus 1/4 cup lemon juice

  • 3 cups

    all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/4 tsp.

    salt

  • 3/4 tsp.

    baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp.

    baking soda

  • 1 cup

    buttermilk

  • 1/4 cup

    poppy seeds

  • Nonstick baking spray 

For the Glaze

  • 1 cup

    powdered sugar

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp.

    lemon juice

Directions

    1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 350°. Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
    2. Step 2Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Stir together the buttermilk, poppy seeds, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
    3. Step 3Gradually add about one third of the flour mixture with the mixer on medium-low. Stir in half of the buttermilk mixture followed by another third of the flour mixture. Repeat with the remaining buttermilk and flour mixtures until all is incorporated. 
    4. Step 4Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. Pour the batter in the prepared pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. 
    5. Step 5Turn the cake onto a wire rack and cool completely, about 2 hours.
    6. Step 6For the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Let the glaze harden for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Serve this cake topped with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and fresh berries!

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