Lemon and poppy seed cake

Lemon and poppy seed cake is a classic combination that offers a delightful balance of zesty lemon and crunchy poppy seeds. Here's a recipe to make this delicious and moist cake:

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Zest of 2 large lemons
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Lemon Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for extra flavor)

For Garnish (Optional):

  • Lemon zest
  • Poppy seeds

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cake:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  4. Mix in the sour cream (or Greek yogurt), milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until combined.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

2. Bake:

  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is golden brown.
  2. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Prepare the Lemon Glaze:

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and pourable. Add more lemon juice if needed to reach your desired consistency.
  2. Optionally, stir in some lemon zest for extra flavor.

4. Glaze and Garnish:

  1. Once the cake has cooled completely, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top.
  2. Garnish with additional lemon zest and poppy seeds if desired.

Enjoy your lemon and poppy seed cake! It’s perfect for a light dessert, afternoon tea, or any time you want a refreshing and flavorful treat.