Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

Let's face it Starbucks makes the best Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf next to this recipe which uses fresh lemons, poppy seeds, butter and more. As it bakes this lemon poppy seed loaf fills your home with a lovely citrus fragrance.

This poppy seed loaf is soft and dense, similar to a sponge cake. The tangy cream cheese frosting is perfect for this lemon loaf that's no so sweet.

Like lemon? Try one of these recipes; lemon cake with cream cheese frosting. Try other desserts with lemon like lemon meringue cheesecake, lemon ricotta pancakes, no churn lemon meringue ice cream, one skillet lemon pasta or a boozy strawberry lemonade.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 50

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings Slices

Calories 395 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour (sifted)
2 tsp baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cups butter (softened or melted but not hot)
¾ cups sugar
3 eggs
2 lemons
2 tbsp poppy seeds
¾ cups buttermilk or substitute with 1 cup milk + 3 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract

Lemon Glaze

1 cups icing sugar (sifted)
1 lemon (grated and juiced)
1 ½ tbsp milk
4 oz Cream Cheese

Instructions

For the Poppy Seed Loaf:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line or grease a 9.5 x 5" loaf pan, set aside.
Grate 2 lemons and set aside. Juice one of the lemons and set aside.
If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by substituting ¾ cups of milk and combining it with 3 teaspoons of lemon juice (not counted in ingredient list).
Combine flour, salt and baking powder and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix the butter, sugar and egg with a hand mixer until creamy.
Add poppy seeds, grated lemon and lemon juice and mix until well combined. Add lemon and vanilla extract.
Add flour mixture and buttermilk a little at a time by alternating between the two until finished.
Pour batter into lined loaf pan and bake for about 50 minutes. Test doneness by placing a skewer in center and removing it. If the skewer comes out dry then it's done.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Juice and grate the lemon, set aside.
Cream the cream cheese in a small bowl using a hand mixer.
Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and blend together.
Add half of the powdered sugar and mix.
Add ½ tablespoon of milk alternating with the remaining powdered sugar.
Add ½ tablespoon of milk as needed until you get a spreadable frosting that isn't too runny.
Make sure your cake has cooled down before frosting your cake.
Place frosting on cake and refrigerate immediately.

Notes

Top Tip

Test doneness by placing a skewer in center and removing it. If the skewer comes out dry then it's done.

If you don't have buttermilk, make your own by combining ½ cup of milk and 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar.

Make sure your lemon poppy seed loaf has cooled down to room temperature before frosting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 6gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 386mgPotassium: 132mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 688IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Cake, loaf, poppy seed,, starbucks

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