This Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is tender, buttery, and calmly citrusy—simply the way in which I prefer it. It’s made with ricotta for further moisture and simply sufficient lemon to offer it a clear, brilliant taste with out being too bitter.

**This put up was initially revealed on July 2014. It has been up to date to be extra useful.

How To Make Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Start by preheating your oven and prepping your Bundt pan—ensure that to grease it rather well so the cake releases cleanly.

Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and soda in a bowl and put aside. This step makes it simpler so as to add them later with out overmixing.

Cream the butter till it’s good and fluffy, then beat within the sugar till it appears gentle and clean. Make positive to scrape the edges of the bowl to combine all substances.
Add the eggs separately, then stir within the lemon zest, lemon juice, and ricotta. This combo retains the cake tremendous moist.
Now convey all of it collectively—add the flour substances and with a rubber spatula fold within the poppy seeds. Don’t overmix right here!

Now convey all of it collectively—add the flour substances and proceed to combine with the mixer. Add the poppy seeds and fold in with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into your pan and bake till golden and absolutely set within the heart.

Let the cake cool within the pan for a bit, then flip it out onto a rack to chill fully.
Finish with the glaze—simply whisk all the pieces till clean and pour it over as soon as the cake has cooled.

Sprinkle poppy seeds on high and also you’re set! The cake is able to be loved!
I like mine with some tea however others want with espresso or milk. What’s your desire?


Baking Tips
- Ricotta retains the crumb tender and wealthy—don’t skip it! For substitutes you should utilize bitter cream, full fats Greek yogurt and likewise use requesón instead if you happen to’re in Mexico.
- Make positive your Bundt pan is well-greased to forestall sticking.
- Mexican lime juice works too however is a bit stronger.
- Want extra lemon taste? Add extra zest or juice as talked about within the recipe card notes.
How to Store
- Room Temp: Cover loosely and preserve at room temperature for as much as 3 days.
- Fridge: Store in an hermetic container for as much as per week. Let it sit at room temp earlier than serving for finest texture.
- Freezer: Wrap slices individually and freeze for as much as 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or microwave for just a few seconds.

✏️ Final Notes
- Poppy seeds will be swapped for chia seeds or ignored fully.
- The glaze provides a pleasant end, however the cake continues to be nice with out it if you would like one thing much less candy.
- To give it a enjoyable Mexican twist, add a teaspoon of orange blossom water to the glaze.
Print Recipe:

Prevent your display from going darkish
Make the cake
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Prep the pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan properly.
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Mix dry substances: In a medium bowl, whisk collectively flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set apart.
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Cream butter & sugar: In a big bowl, beat the softened butter with a hand or stand mixer till gentle and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat once more till fluffy and properly blended.
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Add eggs: Beat in eggs separately, then combine within the yolks. Stir in lemon zest, juice, and ricotta.
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Combine & fold: Add the flour combination and blend simply till mixed—don’t overmix. Fold within the poppy seeds with a spatula.
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Bake: Pour the batter into your ready pan and clean the highest. Bake for 50–60 minutes or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear.
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Cool: Let the cake relaxation for 10 minutes within the pan, then invert onto a wire rack and funky fully.
If you want a extra intense lemon taste I’d suggest you improve the lemon juice by 2 tablespoons or 1/2 tablespoon of lemon zest.
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 513kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 329mg | Potassium: 37mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
FAQ’s
You don’t have to soak poppy seeds earlier than baking, however it will possibly assist soften them a bit and produce out extra of their nutty taste. For this cake, it’s completely fantastic to skip the soaking step—simply toss them proper into the batter and also you’re good to go.
Poppy seeds add each! They convey a lightweight nutty taste, nevertheless it’s fairly refined. Most of the time, they’re extra about including a bit of crunch and that signature speckled look than a daring style.
Poppy seeds can go rancid over time, particularly in the event that they’ve been sitting round for some time. The best technique to inform is by smelling them—in the event that they odor musty, bitter, or simply “off,” it’s time to toss them. Fresh poppy seeds ought to have a gentle, nutty scent. You may style a tiny pinch—in the event that they style bitter as an alternative of nutty, they’re no good.
“Why I Wasn’t a Fan of Lemon Desserts Growing up”
Here is an fascinating remark for you. Quite a lot of my Mexican associates don’t like lemony desserts. After speaking with a pal final week about this identical subject, I made a decision to ask different associates about their desire on lemony desserts. 4 out of 5 mentioned they don’t like every dessert made with lemons; key lime pie, lemon bars, lemon cake, and many others. You get the thought. We all concluded that it’s because of the truth that we put lime/lemon juice in most of our savory dishes!! Yes we correlate limes & lemons with savory meals. Not sweets. It was truly fascinating to listen to I used to be not alone!

