Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf (Printable)

Moist and zesty loaf bursting with fresh lemon flavor and crunchy poppy seeds.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tbsp poppy seeds
03 - 1 tsp baking powder
04 - ¼ tsp baking soda
05 - ¼ tsp salt

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
09 - ⅓ cup whole milk
10 - ⅓ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
11 - Zest of 2 lemons
12 - ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Lemon Glaze

14 - ½ cup powdered sugar
15 - 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
05 - Mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, milk, and sour cream until combined.
06 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
07 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
08 - Bake for 45–55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over cooled loaf before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly moist without being dense, thanks to the perfect balance of butter and dairy
  • Fresh lemon zest and juice create layers of bright flavor that wake up your palate
  • Those tiny poppy seeds add the most delightful little crunch in every bite
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your loaf tough and dense, stop as soon as the flour disappears
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together much better than cold ones, plan ahead
  • The toothpick test is your friend, underbaked centers are disappointing but overbaked is worse
03 -
  • Brush the warm loaf with simple syrup for extra moisture and a subtle crunch
  • Add an extra tablespoon of lemon zest if you really love that bright citrus punch
  • A light dusting of powdered sugar looks elegant without the effort of glaze

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