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This Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf Cake just shrieks “Hellooo spring!” Yes, it is time to start baking with all things lemon while still enjoying our soups and stews for the winter, while eagerly awaiting the day when those first little shoots of green come out in spring. Can you tell what kind of mood I’m in lately? It’s always reflected in my baking and recipes!
Lemon Loaf With Poppy Seeds – It’s Pretty Much a Cake
I put this lemon poppy seed loaf cake under my dessert category as well here on the website, because let’s face it, it’s really a loaf cake. When we call things “loaves” we are really trying to convince ourselves that it’s a little bit healthier because we baked it in a loaf pan, haha!! You know it’s true! While this lemon poppy seed loaf cake isn’t that bad, it is a treat, there is quite a bit of white sugar in it, and that lemon icing glaze. Ohh yeah baby. You don’t want to skip that! That lemon icing glaze is the most popular on my website!
Can I freeze lemon poppy seed loaf cake?
This recipe makes two loaves so yes you can totally freeze this loaf. Make sure to wrap it up in a couple of layers of plastic wrap and then I always wrap it in tinfoil. This is how my Grandma used to wrap up her baking. The plastic wrap will keep the moisture in and all of the freezer “smells” out of the baked goods, but the tinfoil is actually what is going to keep the freezer burn from happening. Make sure not to skimp out on either the plastic wrap or the aluminum foil, when you go to all this effort baking the loaves don’t ruin it by tossing it in the freezer unprotected! It will last for 4-6 weeks in the freezer.
Poppy Seed Lemon Loaf Baking Tips & Tricks
- Don’t skip the Lemon Icing Glaze, it literally makes the cake. Er, the loaf.
- The lemon loaf can brown rather quickly and bake up to be a dark cake. I suspect it’s people’s ovens OR the cake pans that they are using. If you notice in the video I use one of my vintage Pyrex loaf pans, I find that they work better than metal. I think that metal loaf pans are part of why lemon loaves get too dark. Try a glass cake pan and turn your oven down 10 degrees if your lemon loaves are turning too brown.
- You can also bake this lower and slower if you have trouble with your loaves getting too dark. Try turning it down to 325 °F and see what happens!
Some Other Delicious Loaf Cake Recipes
These are some of my very favorite loaf cake recipes! Try some of these if you are looking for more ideas!
- Mom’s Best Banana Loaf
- Basic Chocolate Zucchini Loaf
- Lemon Zucchini Loaf
- Amazing Orange Loaf Cake
- Cherry Poppy Seed Loaf Cake
Happy Baking! If you have any questions leave them in the comments below!
Love,
Karlynn
Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/2 cup poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 °F. Heavily grease and flour two 9×5 inch loaf pans and set aside.
- Mix the poppy seeds, lemon juice, lemon zest and yogurt together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated.
- Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. in a medium sized bowl. Add into the butter mixture and mix until combined.
- Add the sour cream poppy seed mixture to the mixture. Mix until just blended.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake in the oven 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 – this will help prevent them from sticking in the pans.
- Glaze with Lemon Icing Glaze
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Jan Drabek says
Could you list the recipe for one loaf? It is just my husband & I now. There is no way we could eat 2 loaves. We have a son and his family (wife & his son) here in town with us but they don’t like lemon or poppyseed.
Shannon says
This loaf/cake is excellent! I only had vanilla yogurt and not quite enough so I did 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt and 1/4 sour cream. Cut back the sugar to 1.5 cups due to the sweetness of the vanilla yogurt. Plenty sweet enough with the glaze!
Great recipe and love that it makes 2 loaves.
Dee says
This was very tasty but it did not need 50 minutes in the oven. It was finished in less but mine burned in 45 min. The inside was still tasty and the icing helped. Next time I will be very cautious of the timing.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
I love lemon flavor! Love this! Surely must try!
Kimberly says
That looks so good, I want a huge slice right now!
Delaney | Melanie Makes says
This is perfect for summer!
Anna says
This lemon loaf cake will be perfect for a summer weekend afternoon tea! I wish I had a slice right now!
Demeter says
Such a classic dessert! Calling it a loaf allows you to eat more than one “slice” at a time too!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
I can’t wait to try your version! Lemon loaf cake is one of my favorites!
Chrissie says
I am definitely going to try this recipe! It looks stunning!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
I would love a slice of this lemon poppy seed cake!! It sounds aahhmmaaazing!!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
This looks lovely! Not much better than this classic, and the lemons are perfect right now!
Allyson Zea says
This is one of my favorite types of quick bread! I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Dee says
I would love a slice or two of this cake!
Des says
Hello spring! I am loving this and all the spring flavors 🙂
Elizabeth says
This is crazy, karlynn I get sick mixed up when I’m on one of your recipes , and can’t decide which lemon cake I want to bake …
So I went out got the ingredients for the poppy seed lemon cake got home
Went on your website to get recipe and saw the lemon bundt cake ……..
Twilight zone intro
well guess what happens????? Lol
I ended up making the bundt cake ( in the oven as we /I speak) and all my ingredients( poppy seed recipe) are sitting on my table with big frowns on them lol
Well kids theres always tomorrow right!!!!
Hahahha
You make me a happy girl today :))
Thanks again karlynn ?