Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

One bite of this irresistible lemon poppy seed cake will have you second-guessing the simplicity of the recipe. Made with a combination of lemon cake mix and lemon pudding mix, this cake is moist, bright and delicately sweet. It features a dusting of confectioners’ sugar as a garnish, and it can be enjoyed in the morning as a breakfast treat, or as a summer dessert served with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Feel free to make this cake well in advance too—it freezes exceptionally well.

Ingredients for Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

• Lemon cake mix: You’ll be using a premade lemon cake mix; choose your personal favorite.
• Lemon pudding mix: It’s important to use an instant pudding mix for this lemon poppy seed cake recipe.
• Wet ingredients: The wet ingredients in this recipe are water and oil, room-temperature eggs, lemon extract, almond extract and the juice of one fresh lemon.
• Dry ingredients: Aside from the cake mix, the dry ingredients include poppy seeds and confectioners’ sugar.
• Topping: This is optional, but a nice addition. Keep a small amount of confectioners’ sugar to the side to dust over the top of the cake at the end.

Directions

Step 1: Make the batter

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and pudding mix. Add the water, oil, eggs and extracts. Beat for 30 seconds on low speed, then for an additional two minutes on medium speed. Gently stir in the poppy seeds, then pour the batter into a well-greased 10-inch fluted tube pan.

Step 2: Bake and cool the cake

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Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack.

Step 3: Glaze and garnish the cake

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Combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice, then brush the mixture over the warm cake. Let the cake cool completely, then dust it with additional confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

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Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Variations

• Swap out extracts: This recipe calls for lemon and almond extracts, but you can use coconut or orange along with the lemon, if you’d prefer.
• Add a glaze: Lemon poppyseed cake isn’t meant to be too sweet, but if you’d like to create more of a sweet-style cake, you can add a glaze to the top. We’d recommend making this homemade glaze, but subbing out the vanilla extract for lemon.

How to Store Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container, either in the fridge or on the counter. Additionally, you can store lemon poppy seed cake in the freezer, as long as you store it in a completely airtight container.

How long does lemon poppy seed Bundt cake last?

If you store your cake on the counter, you should enjoy it within three days. Otherwise, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week, and in the freezer for up to three months.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Tips

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How long do poppy seeds last?

Well-stored poppy seeds will be safe to consume for three to four years. The best way to keep them fresh is in a lidded jar in the fridge, or in an airtight jar on a cool, dark pantry shelf. If you’re looking for ideas on what to do with the extra seeds, here are our favorite poppy seed recipes.

Do I need to soak my poppy seeds before baking?

While you don’t have to soak poppy seeds before baking with them, doing so does allow them to soften and also makes them easier to digest. Aim to soak them for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight.

What should I serve with lemon poppy seed cake?

Similar to a lemon poppy seed muffin, this cake recipe is light, fresh and loaded with versatile citrus flavor. Its slight tartness makes it the ideal breakfast cake and thus yummy alongside a warm cup of coffee. Its versatility, however, means you can also enjoy it with frosting smeared on top and a side of homemade ice cream.

What kind of lemons should I use for lemon poppy seed cake?

While this cake gets lemon flavor from both the cake mix and the pudding mix, you can add fresh lemon zest to the batter too. If you’re curious, here’s how to zest fresh lemons. (You can then juice the same lemon for your glaze.)

Can I make lemon poppy seed cake in a different kind of pan?

Don’t have a tube or Bundt pan? No problem! You can convert pretty much any kind of tube or Bundt cake recipe to use in whatever pans you have in your kitchen, and our guide to Bundt pan substitutes is here to help.