Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is a spectacular cake. It has a strong lemon essence in both the batter and the glaze. I’ve baked Lemon Poppy Seed Cake for desserts as well as for a breakfast coffee cake. The flavors can’t be beat–especially if you enjoy lemon and poppy seeds.
Follow Me On Instagram!
It has a wonderful texture, and each bite is moist and flavorful. I made this up a couple of weeks ago and put it in the freezer. Then I pulled it out the following week to share with our Vacation Bible School teachers and workers. I make up snacks (some healthy and some not so healthy 🙂 that they can enjoy. They usually need a snack break from three very demanding hours working with young kids.
Years ago I found this quick and easy recipe either in a magazine or on the back of a box. I have been making it ever since. Unfortunately, I can’t remember where I actually found the recipe to give proper attribution. I’ve had it since the late 70s or early 80s, though.
It’s a luscious coffee cake-type bundt cake filled with a wonderful lemony taste. It’s so easy because you start with a lemon cake mix and lemon gelatin. Poppy seeds fill the batter. Then you can leave the cake plain (which I’ve done most of the time because it is plenty sweet enough without a glaze). Or you can ice it with a lemon-powdered sugar glaze (which I have done here).
If you’re in the mood for a luscious lemony bundt cake with poppy seeds then let me recommend this delicious cake. You’ll love the easiness of the recipe and the wonderful outcome. It’s a great cake for company, or to serve for special occasions and brunches. This lovely cake is not only attractive to look at but fabulous to the taste buds! (I’ve had a few desserts over the years that looked a whole lot prettier than they tasted. This isn’t one of them!) Lemon Poppy Seed Cake delivers on taste, texture, and appearance!
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is one of the best lemon cakes and best poppy seed cakes I’ve ever tasted.
Yum, this cake is scrumptious!
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is moist and delicious. If you like a nice lemony flavor, this cake sure provides it! Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is a great coffee cake for breakfast, brunch or special occasions
Here’s what I did.
Place one box of lemon supreme cake mix in a large mixing bowl. Add a box of lemon gelatin and eggs.
Add canola oil, cream or half-and-half. (This makes the cake richer than just using water.) Add lemon juice and poppy seeds. Mix ingredients with a wooden spoon until combined.
Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Add cake batter.
Bake 45 minutes at 350 or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. This is one of the few bundt cakes that actually cooks in less than an hour!
Cool cake completely. Invert onto serving plate.
Make lemon glaze: Pour powdered sugar into a bowl. Add lemon juice. Add water – just enough to get a spreading consistency. Don’t use too much or the icing will become thin and dissolve into the cake rather than lay on top of the cake like a glaze.
Whisk the glaze ingredients together.
Drizzle icing ingredients over top the cake with a spoon. I just used the whisk!
Add some lemon zest. Put on as much as you want for decoration and taste. (Be sure to wash the lemon first!)
Allow the icing to dry at least 15 minutes before cutting so the icing sets.
It’s really hard to stick to just eating one piece! Cut down the creases of the bundt cake to serve. You should get 16-20 slices or so.
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is a great dessert cake too. I’ve always been a cake lover, and this cake has always been one that’s been on my radar to eat frequently!
Here’s the recipe.
LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE
(Recipe adapted from a magazine or the back of a package, circa early 1980s)
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Equipment
- 1 bundt pan
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 whisk
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 lemon zester or grater
- 1 bamboo skewer or knife to check cake for doneness
Ingredients
CAKE:
- 1 box lemon supreme cake mix
- 3 oz. pkg. Jello lemon gelatin
- 3/4 cup canola oil or use avocado oil or coconut oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 3/4 cup cream or half-and-half
- 1/4 cup poppy seeds
LEMON GLAZE:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 6 tbsp. water
- 1 tbsp. lemon zest
Instructions
CAKE:
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon and pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until knife or bamboo skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool cake completely.
- Invert onto serving plate.
- Drizzle lemon glaze over top.
LEMON GLAZE:
- Mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and enough water to stir so glaze is still thick.
- Drizzle glaze over cake.
- Grate some lemon peel and sprinkle over top of the icing as desired.
Notes
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
- 1 box Duncan Hines lemon supreme cake mix
- 3-oz. pkg. Jello lemon gelatin
- ¾ cup canola oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp. RealLemon lemon juice
- ¾ cup cream or half-and-half
- ¼ cup poppy seeds
- Combine all ingredients with a wooden spoon and pour into a greased and floured bundt pan (or spray the bundt pan with Baker’s Joy Cooking Spray).
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool cake completely.
- Invert onto serving plate.
- Drizzle lemon glaze over top.
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 6 tbsp. water
- lemon zest
- Mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and enough water to stir so glaze is still thick.
- Drizzle glaze over cake.
- Grate some lemon peel and sprinkle over top of the icing as desired.
Doesn’t Lemon Poppy Seed Cake look gorgeous?
This cake has always satisfied my sweet tooth!
The nice thing about Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is you start with a cake mix and gelatin package. It only takes about 5 minutes to whip this cake together. If you like the taste of lemon, this cake is for you!
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Equipment
- 1 bundt pan
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 whisk
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 lemon zester or grater
- 1 bamboo skewer or knife to check cake for doneness
Ingredients
CAKE:
- 1 box lemon supreme cake mix
- 3 oz. pkg. Jello lemon gelatin
- 3/4 cup canola oil or use avocado oil or coconut oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 3/4 cup cream or half-and-half
- 1/4 cup poppy seeds
LEMON GLAZE:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 6 tbsp. water
- 1 tbsp. lemon zest
Instructions
CAKE:
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon and pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until knife or bamboo skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool cake completely.
- Invert onto serving plate.
- Drizzle lemon glaze over top.
LEMON GLAZE:
- Mix powdered sugar, lemon juice and enough water to stir so glaze is still thick.
- Drizzle glaze over cake.
- Grate some lemon peel and sprinkle over top of the icing as desired.
11 Comments
Deb Schadek
October 23, 2021 at 8:15 am
can I bake this lemon poppy seed cake in a 9×12 ……if so how long to bake
Teresa
October 24, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Hi Deb. I’ve never tried it that way, but I would start checking it around 30 minutes or so, depending on how much it fills the pan. For a 9×13″ dish, check with a toothpick rather than a knife. If the dish is really full, it may take 45 – 60 minutes.
Idrissa
June 19, 2017 at 6:10 am
This cake was delicious! I made it in a sheet pan and it was perfect for our Father’s Day brunch.
Everyone raved about this cake!
Teresa
June 19, 2017 at 9:20 am
Oh, Idrissa, thanks so much for letting me know. I’m so glad your family enjoyed it! 🙂
70 Easter Dessert Recipes – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 9, 2016 at 12:53 am
[…] Lemon Poppy Seed Cake […]
Holiday Breakfast and Brunch Ideas – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
January 18, 2016 at 12:50 pm
[…] Lemon Poppy Seed Cake […]
Mother's Day Brunch Ideas – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen
May 2, 2015 at 8:14 am
[…] Lemon Poppy Seed Cake […]
Orange Poppy Seed Cake – Can't Stay Out Of The Kitchen
January 27, 2015 at 3:59 pm
[…] Lemon Poppy Seed Cake […]
65 Fabulous Holiday Breakfasts – Can't Stay Out Of The Kitchen
November 5, 2013 at 9:07 pm
[…] Lemon Poppy Seed Cake […]
Shari Kelley
July 20, 2013 at 3:50 pm
What a pretty cake! My mom would love this.
Teresa
July 21, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Thank you so much! Yes, it’s really delicious.