Ingredients
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
4 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk (120 ml)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (90 ml)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (344 grams), sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (350 grams)
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams), cubed
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup unsalted butter (112 grams), softened
8 ounces full-fat brick-style cream cheese (226 grams)
2 1/2–3 cups powdered sugar (275–330 grams), sifted
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon whipping cream (if needed)
Extra poppy seeds for decorating (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch metal pan.
2. Whisk together eggs, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, lemon zest, and sugar.
4. Add cubed butter to dry ingredients and mix on low until sandy texture forms.
5. Gradually beat wet ingredients into dry mixture until smooth.
6. Stir in poppy seeds.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
8. Bake 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
9. Cool completely in pan.
10. Beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until combined.
11. Add 2 cups powdered sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Beat until smooth.
12. Add remaining powdered sugar gradually. Add cream if frosting is too thick.
13. Frost fully cooled cake and optionally sprinkle with poppy seeds.
Notes
Use room temperature butter, eggs, and milk.
Do not overmix once wet ingredients are added.
Allow cake to cool fully before frosting.
Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 4 days.
Unfrosted cake can be frozen up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 45
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 44g
- Sodium: 227mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 84mg