Description
Follow these detailed steps to bake a very moist lemon poppy seed loaf cake topped with a bright, zesty lemon glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar
- For the Glaze: 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds. Set this dry mixture aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix only until just combined; do not overmix.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the loaf cools, prepare the glaze: Whisk the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice together until smooth. Add more powdered sugar or lemon juice, one teaspoon at a time, to reach a thick but pourable consistency.
- Once the loaf is completely cool, drizzle the zesty glaze evenly over the top. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For extra moisture, you can substitute sour cream for the milk in the batter.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the brightest flavor in both the loaf and the glaze.
- To prevent the top from browning too quickly, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil halfway through baking.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg