Contest Winning Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Recipes

LEMON POPPYSEED CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). 2
• . Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
• . Add the butter, oil, sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
• . Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until mostly combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
• . Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined.
• . Combine the milk and lemon juice, then slowly add the mixture to the batter and mix until well combined.
• . Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.
• . Add the lemon zest and poppy seeds and gently stir to combine.
• . Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
• 0. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
• 1. To make the frosting, add the cream cheese and butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until well combined and smooth.
• 2. Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
• 3. Add the lemon juice and zest and mix until well combined.
• 4. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth. Add more or less powdered sugar, as desired for consistency purposes.
• 5. To put the cake together, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes so that they're flat, if needed. 16
• Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round. 17
• Spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly on top of the cake. 18
• Add the second layer of cake and another cup of frosting. 19
• Top the cake with the remaining layer and frost the outside of the cake. Refer to my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed. To make the line pattern in the side of the cake, I used one of the decorative sides on this icing smoother. 20
• Finish off the cake as you like. I added rosettes around the top outer edge and sprinkled on some poppy seeds. I also added some lemon slices. 21
• Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve. Cake is best served cool, but not necessarily cold.

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• 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).
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Note: If you'd like to make your own buttermilk, check out the easy method here.
• Note: You'll need 3 large lemons for this recipe
• 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.
• 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.)

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bottom and sides of a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt® generously.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until light; beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Reduce mixing speed and add poppy seeds, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
• Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in another bowl. Beat in flour mixture slowly, alternating with buttermilk.
• Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 65 to 75 minutes.

THE BEST LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with baking spray, set aside.
• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt, set aside.
• In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and the sugar and until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
• Scrape down the sides. Add the eggs in one at a time, allowing them to fully combine into the mixture.
• Scrape down the sides and add the flour mixture. Gently stir it in until just combined.
• Add the milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla, stir in until combined, scrape down the sides.
• Last, add the poppyseeds and stir them in until evenly distributed, do not over mix.
• Add the cake batter to the baking dish and bake for 35-42 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. A few crumbs left on the toothpick are okay, but any wet batter and it needs to bake longer.
• Place the dish on a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the cake cools, make the frosting by placing the butter into a large bowl with an electric hand mixer. Mix until smooth, 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully incorporated. Add the lemon juice, zest, and vanilla, mix until combined. Turn the mixer on medium and whip the frosting until light and fluffy, 3 minutes.
• Once the cake is cooled, frost with lemon buttercream. Slice and serve.

LEMON POPPYSEED CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 20cm square deep cake tin (or if using a decorative tin like ours, grease well).
• In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until combined. Spoon into the tin and smooth over the top. Bake for 40-45 mins. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out, peel off the parchment and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Beat in the lemon juice to make a runny icing. Pour over the cake and leave to set.

GRANDMA'S LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Fold in poppy seeds. Transfer to a greased and floured 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For drizzle, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water and lemon juice; drizzle over cake.

CONTEST-WINNING POPPY SEED BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, oil, poppy seeds, extracts and flavoring. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture until blended., Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

LEMON POPPY SEED LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heavily grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter or margarine, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Mix lemon juice and yogurt together and add alternately with the sifted flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just blended. Stir in lemon rind and poppy seeds. Pour mixture into prepared pans and smooth tops.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 15 minutes before turning out of pans.

LEMON POPPY SEED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 4-cup (8x4-inch) or six-cup loaf pan, line the bottom with parchment or waxed paper, and grease and flour the paper. Or grease and flour a fluted tube pan.
• Lightly combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the lemon zest and poppy seeds.
• Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
• Then add the butter and half the egg mixture. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Increase the speed to medium (high if you are using a hand mixer), and beat for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Gradually add the remaining egg mixture in two batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the surface with a spatula. The batter will be almost 1/2 inch from the top of a 4-cup loaf pan.
• Bake, covering the pan loosely with buttered aluminum foil after 30 minutes to prevent over browning, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes (35 to 45 minutes in a fluted pan). To get an attractive split down the middle of the crust, wait until the natural split is about to develop (when cake has cooked for about 20 minutes), and then use a lightly greased sharp knife to make a shallow mark about 6 inches long down the middle of the cake. (This must be done very quickly so that the oven door does not remain open very long, or the cake will fall). When the cake splits, it will open along the mark.
• Shortly before the cake is done, prepare the Lemon Syrup: In a small pan over medium heat, stir the sugar and lemon juice together until the sugar has dissolved.
• As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the pan on a wire rack, poke the cake all over with a wire tester or wooden skewer, and brush it with half the syrup.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Loosen the sides of the cake with a spatula, and invert it onto a greased wire rack.
• Poke the bottom of the cake with the wire tester, brush it with some syrup, and re-invert it onto a greased wire rack.
• Brush the sides with the remaining syrup and allow the cake to cool completely.
• Store the cake for 24 hours, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap (to give the syrup a chance to distribute evenly). Serve at room temperature. *Note*: Tightly wrapped, the cake will keep for 3 days at room temperature, 1 week in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer.

LEMON POPPY SEED BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Soak poppy seeds in milk for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and pudding mix. Make a well in the center and pour in water, oil, and eggs. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Blend in poppy seed mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.