Delicious lemon poppy seed pound cake with lemon glaze. If you like tangy lemon desserts then follow my recipe to make this cake as moist as a pound cake with a tender texture, rich in butter and the good lemon flavor.
Best lemon poppy seed pound cake
For all the lemon lovers out there, here is my best lemon poppy seed pound cake recipe. This lemon cake has nothing to envy to the classic lemon pound cake.
This lemon and poppy seed pound cake also has a wonderful soft, moist texture like a pound cake, thanks to the sour cream and that delicious lemon flavor.
My lemon poppy seed pound cake comes with a lemon juice flavored glaze that is very easy to make and that adds a nice topping on this cake in addition to the little seeds poppy seeds that add style to this lemon cake and give it a light crunchy texture in the mouth.
This lemon poppy seed pound cake is quick and easy to make and is sure to please anyone who loves tangy desserts. Add some red fruits, raspberries or blueberries with whipped cream and you have a fabulous dessert for your summer lunches.

Composition of the lemon and poppy seed pound cake
The recipe for lemon and poppy seed cake is very easy to make and with simple ingredients that we all have in our cupboards. It has a texture very similar to pound cake recipes, very rich in butter and melting in the mouth.
Follow the recipe and all my instructions to make a success of your lemon poppy cake and keep all its softness.
Ingredients you need for this recipe
- Butter: Soft butter or use melted and cooled butter.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar should not be used in place of flavored sugar, as it may alter the flavor of the lemon.
- Fresh Lemon juice and lemon zest: Use untreated and preferably organic fresh lemon juice.
- Eggs: medium size and at room temperature
- Vanilla: Pure, liquid vanilla extract that can be replaced with a packet of vanilla sugar.
- Sour cream : The acidity of the crème fraiche plays an important role in the softness of this cake. You can replace it with fermented milk or plain yogurt.
- Flour: white wheat all purpose flour.
- Baking powder : For the softness or replace with baking soda.
- Salt: essential to bring out the flavors.
- Poppy seeds: Poppy seeds are added mainly for the decorative side of the cake, but they also add an extra texture in the mouth.
- Confectionner's sugar : To make the sugar glaze use confectioners' sugar instead of sugar.
Optional
- Streusel or crumble: Add a crunchy topping to your cake. It is made with a mixture of sugar, flour, butter and almond meal. You can find the recipe on my pumpkin bread recipe.
- Fruit: red fruits, raspberries or blueberries. Add them at the end of the preparation of the batter for a fruity touch.

How to make lemon and poppy seed pound cake
- In a large bowl, place softened butter, granulated sugar and lemon peel.
- With an electric mixer, mix at medium speed for about 3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Add vanilla and eggs in 2-3 additions, mixing well between each addition, still using a mixer at medium speed, until well incorporated with the other ingredients.
Tip: Use an electric mixer to make the mixture or your stand mixer.


- Add the sour cream and fresh lemon juice and mix again to incorporate them.
- Finish by adding the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, pinch of salt and poppy seeds.
- Mix with a flexible spatula until the mixture is homogeneous.
Tip: To incorporate the dry ingredients, do not use a mixer or you will over mix the batter and lose the softness of the cake.


At this stage the mixture may seem lumpy but that's normal, it's just the excess liquid that gives this texture.

Baking the pound cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C and line with parchment paper a 10 inch loaf pan to make it easier to unmold.
- Then pour the cake batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with the back of a tablespoon to distribute the batter evenly in the corners of the tin.
- Bake the lemon cake in the oven for about 50 to 55 minutes until it is golden brown on top.
- When removed from the oven, let the cake cool completely in the pan before unmolding.
Tip: Check to see if the cake is properly baked inside with a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean.


Store and freeze your cake
Room temperature: You can store your lemon poppy seed cake at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place it in a storage box with an airtight lid to keep it soft and prevent it from drying out. Or you can place it directly in the refrigerator and keep it for a week.
In the freezer: Keep your lemon poppy seed pound cake in the freezer for even longer. Once baked and completely cooled, cut into slices and place in a box or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Other recipes with lemon
- Lemon Blueberry and Streusel Muffins
- Lemon Meringue tarts
- Key lime pie from
- Lemon Bundt Cake
- Lemon cupcakes with mascarpone icing

You will also like
- Chocolate mousse and whipped cream pie
- New York Cheesecake
- French strawberry tart
- Chia pudding with strawberry
- Seeds and chocolate cookies

Did you like this recipe? Don't forget to rate it and leave me a review in comments! And to not miss any recipes follow @sweetlycakes on Instagram and tag me to share it if you make this recipe 😊!
Print
Lemon poppy seed pound cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices
Description
Easy recipe for lemon poppy seed pound cake, very soft and moist (for a 10 inch / 25 cm loaf pan 10 - 12 slices)
Ingredients
Lemon poppy cake
- 210 g (1 stick + ½ cup) Butter - softened
- 200 g (1 cup) Sugar - granulated
- 2 lemon zests
- 100 ml (½ cup) lemon juice - about 2 large lemon
- 4 eggs - room temperature
- 2 tsp liquid vanilla
- 1 tsp baking powder or baking soda
- 120 g (½ cup) Sour cream - or yogurt
- 220 g (1 ¾ cups) flour - all purpose
- ½ tsp of salt
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
Sugar glaze
- 100 g (¾ cup)Confectioner's sugar
- 1 - 2 tsp lemon juice or water
Instructions
Lemon poppy cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C and line a 10 inch/ 25 cm long loaf pan with parchment paper or grease it with butter.
- Place the softened butter in a large bowl with the sugar and the lemon zest.
- Mix on medium speed with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes until smooth.
- Add the vanilla, then the eggs in three additions while running the mixer on medium speed until well incorporated.
- Then add the sour cream and lemon juice and mix again to incorporate them.
- Finish by adding the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds and mix this time with a flexible spatula until the mixture is homogeneous and a bit grainy.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake in the oven for about 50 to 55 minutes, check the cake by sticking a knife or a toothpick in the center of the cake, if it comes out clean without liquid batter is that it is cooked otherwise extend the cooking time by a few minutes.
- Let the lemon poppy cake cool completely in its mold before unmolding it.
Lemon glaze
- Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl with the lemon juice or water and mix with a fork until the mixture is smooth. If the mixture seems too liquid, add more confectioners' sugar and if it seems too thick, add water in small drops.
- Pour the lemon glaze over your lemon poppy seed cake and decorate with lemon zest.
Notes
Storage: At room temperature or in the refrigerator for 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: cake, dessert
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Lemon poppy seed pound cake, poppy seed cake
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