Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake Recipe
This lemon poppy seed cake is light and fluffy, perfectly sweet and studded with crunchy poppy seeds. It’s a simple, classically delicious cake to make whether you are expecting guests or just want something sweet.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 325kcal
Author: The Carefree Kitchen
Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1½ teaspoons lemon zest (2-3 lemons)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1½ tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Lemon Soaking Syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
Lemon Glaze
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-10 cup bundt cake pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, oil, poppy seeds, vanilla, and lemon extract.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and then add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Stir until combined.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
While the cake is baking, combine the 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar in a small pan and heat over medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is smooth. Set aside to cool.
Once the cake has finished baking, transfer to a wire rack. Use a pastry brush to liberally brush the lemon soaking syrup onto the bundt cake. Let the cake cool to room temperature and then transfer the cake to a cake stand or decorative platter.
Finishing the Bundt Cake
Make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon extract and vanilla extract. Add more lemon juice if necessary to reach your desired consistency. You want a pretty thick glaze. It shouldn't be runny but more of the consistency of glue.
Drizzle the glaze over the cake and let it set up. Garnish with extra poppy seeds and slice into 10-12 pieces. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
- To store: Wrap any unfinished cake in aluminum foil, or a cake carrier with an airtight lid, and stored for up to 2 days at room temperature, or up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezing: Wrap your unglazed bundt cake well with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Place in a larger freezer bag if it will fit, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Once you are ready to eat, pull from the freezer and store at room temperature, or in the fridge, overnight. Glaze at least an hour before eating so it has a chance to set.
- One way to know whether your glaze is a good consistency is to lift the whisk out of the glaze. The glaze should take just a moment to melt back in.
Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 188IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg