Great Grandmothers Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Recipes

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.

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:

• Pour the buttermilk into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, stir in the poppy seeds, and set aside at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly spray the inside of a Bundt pan with the baking spray and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 cups of the granulated sugar on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, the vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Sift the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into a medium bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the lemon juice to the buttermilk mixture. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is well mixed. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and the remaining 1/2 cup of lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Set aside. When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a baking rack set over a large plate. Spoon the warm lemon syrup slowly over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed into the cake. Set aside for at least 30 minutes to cool.
• For the glaze, whisk the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl, adding a little more sugar or lemon juice to make a smooth, thick, but pourable glaze. Drizzle over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Transfer to a flat cake plate and serve at room temperature.

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.

GRANDMOTHER'S BUTTERMILK POPPY SEED COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-inch fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®.
• Combine sugar and cinnamon for filling in a small bowl; set aside.
• Combine buttermilk and poppy seeds for cake in a small bowl; allow to soak until needed. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Cream sugar and butter together in a separate bowl. Beat in egg yolks. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with buttermilk-poppy seed mixture, beating batter briefly after each addition.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Fold into cake batter with almond extract. Spoon 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with 1/2 of the sugar-cinnamon filling; repeat. Spoon remaining batter on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pan for 1 hour, then loosen cake and invert carefully onto a serving plate.

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease a bundt pan.
• Beat together cake ingredients with an electric mixer for about 4 minutes. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick tests clean.
• While cake is baking mix lemon juice with powdered sugar for the glaze. It should have a thin consistency to sink into the cake.
• When cake is done and still hot, poke holes all over it (still in the bundt pan) with long skewers and pour the glaze over it.
• Allow cake to cool and then remove from the pan.

LEMON POPPY-SEED LADY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and dust bottoms and sides with flour, tapping out excess; set aside.
• Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt twice; set aside. In a mixing bowl, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter on low speed until soft. Increase speed to medium; beat until pale and fluffy.
• Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla, poppy seeds, and lemon zest. With mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk; beat until thoroughly combined after each addition. Scrape sides of the bowl; beat 10 seconds more. Set aside.
• In another mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to medium-high; gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar until peaks are just stiff. Gently fold in whites; do not overmix.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; bake until golden and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. To remove cakes, invert onto plates; peel off parchment paper, and reinvert so the top side is up.
• Make filling: In a small bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold in lemon curd; cover with plastic, and refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 2 hours.
• Assemble cake: Using a serrated knife, carefully trim tops of both cakes to make level, if desired. Slice each in half horizontally to make a total of 4 layers. Brush away crumbs from tops of layers.
• Place one of the bottom layers on a serving platter; spread with 1 cup lemon filling. Top with another cake layer; spread with 1 cup filling. Repeat with another cake layer and filling; top with remaining cake layer. Cover entire cake with plastic wrap, and carefully transfer to the refrigerator, steadying it with your hands to keep the layers from sliding. Chill until filling is firm, at least 2 hours.
• When ready to serve, frost cake and garnish with poppy seeds.