Here’s a straightforward and delicious Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf recipe you can try at home:
Ingredients
For the loaf:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the glaze (optional but recommended):
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven:
Set to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. - Mix dry ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, poppy seeds, and lemon zest. - Mix wet ingredients:
In a separate large bowl, beat sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Add melted butter, yogurt, lemon juice, and vanilla, mixing until smooth. - Combine wet and dry:
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the loaf tender. - Bake:
Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. - Glaze (optional):
Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled loaf.
✅ Tip: For extra lemony flavor, brush the warm loaf with a little fresh lemon juice right after baking before glazing.
If you want, I can also give you a super moist version that uses oil instead of butter—it keeps the loaf incredibly soft for days. Do you want me to share that version too?
