Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf (Printable)
A tangy loaf infused with lemon zest and poppy seeds for a bright, crunchy treat.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
07 - Zest of 2 lemons
08 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
10 - ½ cup whole milk, room temperature
11 - ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ For the Glaze
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest. Rub together with your fingers until fragrant and the oils are released.
04 - Whisk melted butter into the sugar mixture. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
05 - Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until combined. Do not overmix to ensure a tender crumb.
06 - Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice until smooth and pourable. Adjust consistency with additional juice if needed.
10 - Drizzle the glaze over the cooled loaf. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The butter crumbles into sugar like tiny magic pearls creating pockets of melt in your mouth tenderness
- That moment when warm lemon hits the counter is something your entire household will pause for
02 -
- Overmixing once flour is added makes the texture tough and dense instead of tender
- The glaze needs the loaf to be completely cool or it will melt right off instead of setting beautifully
03 -
- Zest your lemons before juicing them, it is so much easier to handle the whole fruit while it is still firm
- A light dusting of extra poppy seeds on top of the glaze makes this look bakery professional