Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

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This lemon poppy seed cake is laced with fresh lemon zest, filled to the brim with nutty, crackly poppy seeds, and drizzled with a bright lemon glaze. It’s the perfect “company cake.”

Slice of lemon poppy seed cake next to the rest of the cake.

A variation of my lemon pound cake, this lemon poppy seed cake is laced with fresh lemon zest, filled to the brim with nutty, crackly poppy seeds, and drizzled with a bright lemon glaze. The texture is just what you hope for in a homemade cake — moist and melt-in-your-mouth tender — and the cake keeps well for days. My grandmother would have called it a “company cake” since it’s the perfect treat to have on hand when friends and family come over.

The cake can be made in a Bundt pan or two 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pans. Before deciding which pans to use, please see the important notes at the bottom of the recipe. The cake keeps well for days on the countertop and freezes well, too. If you love the lemon and poppy seed combo, don’t miss my lemon poppy seed muffins!

What you’ll need to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Cake including lemons, egg, and butter.

How to make lemon poppy seed cake

To begin: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds.

Bowl of unmixed dry ingredients.

Whisk well and set aside.

Whisk in a bowl of dry ingredients.

In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Bowl with buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Whisk and set aside.

Fork in a bowl of buttermilk and lemon.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), combine the butter and sugar.

Butter and sugar in a stand mixer.

Cream on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.

Butter and sugar mixture in a stand mixer.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time.

Egg in a stand mixer with a butter and sugar mixture.

Beat well after each addition.

Eggs, butter, and sugar mixture.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl again. With the mixer on low speed, beat in one-quarter of the flour mixture.

Dry ingredients in a stand mixer with a butter mixture.

Add one-third of the buttermilk mixture.

Buttermilk mixture added to a butter mixture.

Beat in another quarter of the flour mixture, then another third of the milk mixture. Repeat with another quarter of the flour mixture and the remaining milk mixture. Finally, beat in the remaining flour mixture.

Flour mixture in a stand mixer.

Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, and give a quick mix to make sure all of the ingredients are well incorporated.

Lemon poppy seed cake batter in a stand mixer.

Spray the Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and coat with sugar. Make sure the entire pan is covered.

Bundt pan on a countertop.

Spoon the thick batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.

Bundt pan filled with lemon poppy seed cake batter.

Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden and a cake tester comes out clean. Lemon poppy seed cake in a Bundt pan.

Cool the cake in the pan for ten minutes on a rack. While the cake cools, make the syrup. Combine the water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Water and sugar in a sauce pan.

Invert the warm cake onto the rack. Slip a large piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil under the rack to catch all the drips from the syrup. Gradually brush the hot syrup over the cake, letting it soak in (a little syrup will drip off, but try not to rush so that most of it is absorbed). Allow the cake to cool completely, about one hour.

Lemon poppy seed cake being brushed with syrup.

When the cake is cool, make the glaze. Stir the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl, mixing until completely smooth. Add more confectioners’ sugar if necessary to make a thick, opaque glaze (it should be thicker than you’d think — you want it the consistency of honey or molasses).

Spoon in a bowl of glaze.

Carefully transfer the cake to a serving platter. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides.

Glazed lemon poppy seed cake.

How to Store and Freeze Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Let the glaze harden before slicing. The cake will keep nicely for 3 days if kept covered on the countertop. It can also be frozen (without the glaze) for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving. (Add the glaze after the cake is thawed.)

Glazed lemon poppy seed cake on a platter with slices missing.

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Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This lemon poppy seed cake is laced with fresh lemon zest, filled to the brim with nutty, crackly poppy seeds, and drizzled with a bright lemon glaze. It’s the perfect “company cake.”

Servings: One 10-inch bundt cake, about 16 servings
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 70 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 35 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with a knife
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup poppy seeds
  • 1 cup low-fat buttermilk (see note)
  • Finely grated zest of 3 lemons (about 3 gently packed tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2¼ cups granulated sugar, plus more for the pan
  • 3 large eggs

For the Syrup

  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

For the Glaze

  • About 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray a 10-inch Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray and dust with sugar. Be sure the entire pan is coated (see note below).
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside.
  4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or beaters), cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again. With the mixer on low speed, beat in one-quarter of the flour mixture, then one-third of the buttermilk mixture. Beat in another quarter of the flour mixture, then another third of the milk mixture. Repeat with another quarter of the flour mixture and the remaining milk mixture. Finally, beat in the remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, and give a quick mix with a rubber spatula to make sure all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
  5. Spoon the thick batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for ten minutes on a rack.
  6. While the cake cools, make the syrup. Combine the water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
  7. Invert the warm cake onto the rack. Slip a large piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil under the rack to catch all the drips from the syrup. Gradually brush the hot syrup over the cake, letting it soak in (a little syrup will drip off, but try not to rush so that most of it is absorbed). Allow the cake to cool completely, about one hour. When the cake is cool, carefully transfer it to a serving platter.
  8. To make the glaze: stir the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl, mixing until completely smooth. Add more confectioners' sugar if necessary to make a thick, opaque glaze (it should be thicker than you'd think -- you want it the consistency of honey or molasses). Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Let the glaze harden before slicing and serving the cake, about 15 minutes. The cake will keep nicely for 3 days if kept covered on the countertop.
  9. Note: If you’d like to make your own buttermilk, check out the easy method here.
  10. Note: You'll need 3 large lemons for this recipe
  11. Note: As the recipe indicates, I grease the Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and then dust it with sugar. It has always worked beautifully for me, but a number of readers have mentioned problems with the cake sticking. If you’d prefer to use a different method, treat the pan by generously coating it with butter and then dusting it with flour, or use a nonstick baking spray with flour like Pam with Flour or Baker’s Joy. (Also, it's best not to use a Bundt pan with an intricate design for this cake, as they are more prone to sticking.) Another option (that is foolproof) is to use two 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pans instead of a Bundt pan. Loaf pans are much less prone to sticking, and you can line them with parchment paper for extra insurance. To prepare the loaf pans, spray them with nonstick baking spray, line the bottoms with parchment, and then spray them again. The bake time will be 50 to 60 minutes, and you will only need half of the soaking syrup.
  12. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen (without the glaze) for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving. (Add the glaze after the cake is thawed.)

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (16 servings)
  • Calories: 369
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated fat: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 59 g
  • Sugar: 40 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Sodium: 158 mg
  • Cholesterol: 66 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • I want to halve this recipe to fit my 6 cup bundt pan. Should I use 2 eggs or divide the 3 eggs by weight??

    • — Alexandra on March 1, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Alexandra, I would divide the 3 eggs by weight to be precise. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 2, 2024
      • Reply
  • I have made this cake 5 times now and had been a hit every time! Haven’t dusted the tin in sugar yet as they were for occasions and didn’t want to risk it! This is now my go to! Thanks!!!

    • — Cassie on December 30, 2023
    • Reply
  • So excited to try this recipe..just need to clarify on something..its Baking Soda no Baking Powder right?

    • — Maizan on August 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • That’s correct — hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on August 14, 2023
      • Reply
  • Can this be made in a square tin?

    • — J on July 15, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi J, I haven’t tried it in anything but a Bundt pan, so can’t say for sure, but if you want to use a square pan, I’d recommend an 8 x 8-inch and halve the recipe. The bake time will be shorter so keep a close eye on it. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!

      • — Jenn on July 15, 2023
      • Reply
      • Turned out great! The cooking time was roughly the same for me, but that might have to do with the type of oven.

        • — J on July 16, 2023
        • Reply
  • I’ve reviewed this cake a couple of times, the last time to add my attempt at substitutions when making it for a group that included vegan friends (tasted great, needed more baking time or possibly structure).

    What I forgot to mention is that you can also make this a boozy lemon poppy cake if you spike your syrup with the spirit of your choice. I make the simple syrup with lemon juice as directed (or double it in drier times of the year), and then add two to three generous shots of liquor. A nice limoncello or rum, or my favorite homemade lemon-ginger liqueur!

    • — Melissa on June 4, 2023
    • Reply
  • This cake is a true crowd pleaser. If you don’t sugar your Bundt pan, you’re missing out on one of the delicious textures that make this cake so good.

    I spray my pan with coconut oil baking spray, then dust generously with granulated sugar. If you let the cake cool the ten full minutes after it comes out and then invert it, it comes out of the pan easily with a caramleized outer layer that’s just delicious. I’ve had requests for this cake specifically citing that “gooey crust lemon cake” that they enjoyed so much.

    I do bump up my lemon zest a fair bit, and sometimes I’ll double the syrup recipe, especially in drier months of the year. You can’t really go wrong with this cake.

    Also, I’ve made this in a vegan variation and it worked OK, but you will need to watch the bake time. I didn’t bake it quite long enough and it ended up falling apart (cupcakes), but it tasted delicious. I ended up layering the crumbled cake parts with vegan whipped cream as a trifle. To make it vegan, I subbed plant butter, DIY oat milk “buttermilk,” and “Just Egg” plant-based egg. You have to check the bake time and watch it carefully; I’ll no doubt try it again to see if I can nail it.

    • — Melissa on June 2, 2023
    • Reply
  • This was one of the best cakes I have made (and I bake *a LOT*)! I made this for a work event with approx. 40 guests, and got so many compliments, so many people asked me for the recipe – and one even asked me to cater for her birthday party based on this cake alone!

    Easy to follow recipe, great lemon taste – I will definitely make this cake again. Thank you!

    • — Stina Björkelid on May 4, 2023
    • Reply
  • Would sour milk work as a substitute for buttermilk here? Thanks so much.

    • — Jocelyn on March 31, 2023
    • Reply
    • Yep!

      • — Jenn on April 1, 2023
      • Reply
  • Made with poppy seeds and blueberries…. BADDA BING!! BADDA BOOM!! (to quote East Side Mario’s Italian eatery.)
    Put one loaf in the cake keeper for mouth-watering easy access, and hide the second loaf in the freezer because you know it will disappear before visitor(s) show up for coffee and a chat.
    Elaine

    • — Elaine on March 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • A good recipe. Very light and fluffy. But I did NOT sprinkle sugar inside the bundt pan because of the comments about it sticking. Also, I added a bit of vanilla to the liquid ingredients, and doubled all the fresh lemon juice and zest because I wanted to taste the lemon – it came out with just the right amount of zing. Finally, I added a bunch of lemon zest to the final glaze, and it was delicious and looked great.

    • — MARY on March 26, 2023
    • Reply

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