• Ree's Life
  • Food and Recipes
  • Home and Life
  • Holiday
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • News and Entertainment
  • Giveaways
  • Subscribe
  • New: Ree's Best Family Meals
  • The Pioneer Woman Products
  • About The Pioneer Woman
  • Newsletter
  • Follow
Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use
Skip to Content
Newsletter Sign UpNewsletter
sign in
Subscribe
Logo
sign in
Subscribe
Search
Logo
  • Easy RecipesDown
  • Occasions
  • Ree's Life
  • HomeDown
  • ShoppingDown
  • Just For FunDown
  • About Us
  • My RecipesMy Recipes
  • NewsletterNewsletter
  • Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use
x
tiktok
facebook
instagram
pinterest
sign in
Subscribe
  • Easy Recipes
  • Occasions
  • Ree's Life
  • Home
  • Shopping
  • Just For Fun
  • About Us
  • More
  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake

It's drizzled in a bright lemon glaze!

By Josh Miller; Recipe by Sloane LaytonPublished: Apr 7, 2022
Star FillStar FillStar FillHalf StarStar
3.3
3 Ratings
Arrow Circle Down IconJump to recipe
the pioneer woman's lemon poppyseed cake recipe
Will Dickey
Yields:
10 - 12 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins

You might say that lemon-poppy seed cake is an icon in the spring desserts Hall of Fame. Of all the beautiful Bundts out there, lemon-poppy seed takes the cake (haha)—it's easy to make, and even easier to decorate thanks to its quick whisk-and-drizzle glaze. So if you love lemon desserts, get ready: here's a delicious new recipe to add to the must-bake list!

Where do poppy seeds come from?

A popular ingredient in muffins, cakes, salad dressings, and more, poppy seeds come from the poppy flower (famously featured in The Wizard of Oz). While poppy plants can be used for medical purposes, the seeds are totally safe to eat. As far as baking is concerned, the only thing that poppy seeds add is a lovely speckled look and a tender crunch.

What's the secret to a beautiful lemon poppy seeds cake?

The trick to a beautiful Bundt cake is simple: don't butter and flour the pan. Instead, use nonstick baking spray with flour. Even though nonstick Bundt pans have come a long way, a little extra insurance is always a good bet! Nonstick baking spray is great for getting into all the nooks and crannies of the pan, while the classic butter-and-flour method has a higher margin of error. So spray away, and your cake will slide out of the pan with ease!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 5 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp. lemon zest, plus 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
  • Nonstick baking spray

For the Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions

    1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 350°. Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
    2. Step 2Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Stir together the buttermilk, poppy seeds, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
    3. Step 3Gradually add about one third of the flour mixture with the mixer on medium-low. Stir in half of the buttermilk mixture followed by another third of the flour mixture. Repeat with the remaining buttermilk and flour mixtures until all is incorporated. 
    4. Step 4Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. Pour the batter in the prepared pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. 
    5. Step 5Turn the cake onto a wire rack and cool completely, about 2 hours.
    6. Step 6For the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Let the glaze harden for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Serve this cake topped with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and fresh berries!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Cakes and Cupcakes

old-fashioned banana pudding

Grandma’s Best Desserts Will Take You Way Back

deep fried oreos with powdered sugar

The Sweetest Tailgate Desserts to End Game Day

Bowl of chocolate frosting with cupcakes on a cooling rack and a spatula.

Chocolate Buttercream

20 mins
pioneer woman coconut pound cake

Coconut Lovers Will Go Nuts for These Desserts

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
strawberry sheet cake topped with fresh strawberries

Sheet Pan Desserts That Are Perfect for Potlucks

the pioneer woman's triple chocolate zucchini bread recipe

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 hr 15 mins
creamy fruit pies

The Sweetest Blueberry Desserts to Try This Summer

the pioneer woman's old-fashioned banana pudding recipe

Everyone Will Crowd Around These Potluck Desserts

fall grandma recipes

Nostalgic Fall Desserts That Taste Like Grandma’s

chocolate cake

Chocoholics, These Cake Recipes Are for You

blackberry cheesecake squares

Take a Bite of These Blackberry Desserts

poke cakes

These Poke Cakes Are Melt-in-Your-Mouth Good

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Logo
x
tiktok
facebook
instagram
pinterest
SubscribeAbout The Pioneer WomanOther Hearst SubscriptionsNewsletter
A Part of Hearst Digital Media

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

©2026 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSitemap
Cookies Choices