Moist Lemon Poppy Seed Cake has a little zing of sweet lemon freshness. It looks like a bread but tastes like a cake.
Poppy seed cake is just so beautiful. The lemony yellow color speckled with tiny little poppy seeds in intriguing. The only thing that you probably need to buy for this recipe is a jar of poppy seeds and possibly a lemon.
We live in the dessert and are swimming in citrus this time of year. I happily have an orange a day and there are lemons galore. Unfortunately, some extremely cold days got our grapefruit trees so we are hoping they come back. If not, have no fear, we will replant.
You will love yourself and your family will give you sparkling smiles if you make this cake. So … go for it. Nothing is more satisfying than turning out something special with so little effort.
Moist Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 3/4 cup sugar organic
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice , you can also fresh, substitute grapefruit juice
- 2- 4 tablespoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Lightly grease a loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, sugars, baking powder and salt.
- Add the water, coconut oil, almond extract, lemon juice.
- Mix well.
- Fold in the poppy seeds.
- Pour into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake at 350° for 1 hour.
- The edges are lightly golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Carefully turn out on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Amalia! Yes, you can use cane sugar and any oil that you like, The same measurements. The water is used for moisture of course. You can certainly use any dairy-free milk if you like. I was keeping the flavor very clean without a chance of almond or coconut coming through. It is delicious.
Hi! I’m planning to try out this recipe tomorrow… it looks great! But, do you know if I can substitute the coconut sugar for raw cane sugar? and, do you know a good substitute for the coconut oil? I was also wondering about the water… I’ve never made a cake recipe with water in it! What’s the purpose of the water there? Thanks a lot! 🙂
Thank is great and you are very welcome Stephanie! 20 Muffins is such a good idea. I want one right now 😀
I made the recipe as 20 muffins at 20 minutes in the oven and they were fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It will certainly be a new staple in my vegan home 🙂
No Alissa, that is not alright. That is duplicate content and copyright infringement. It would be trouble for me and for you. You have to create your own recipes, take your own photos and write with your own words.
HI Ginny!
First of all, I love your lemon poppy seed recipe!!
I also have my own blog. It isn’t quite finished yet; I still need to post my first blog. I thought your lemon poppy seed cake recipe was perfect for my first blog. I was wondering if it was alright if I posted your recipe on my blog? I would give full credit to you, of course. If not, I totally understand! Have a great day, Alissa.
That will work! It will be a little different from the original but should be great. I think sweeter (cane sugar) and the applesauce (if not sweetened) and lemon zest should add to that nice tart contrast. Sounds wonderful and thanks so much for your feedback!
I’m trying this now with a bit of a difference. I used 1 cup of cane sugar and substituted the oil for apple sauce to reduce the fat and sugar intake. I also added a teaspoon of lemon zest because I love the taste it gives and seeing the specs of zest in the cake. Tastes delicious so far, haven’t had a proper slice yet, just (a few) crumbs while it cools!
It surprises me that it was a lot darker. I am so sorry. I know that in photography you sometimes have to lighten the picture to compensate for light but your cake shouldn’t be that much darker than the photo. White flour and white granulated sugar? I am stumped – again I apologize.
Hello! My cake turned out a lot darker than yours, i.e close to ginger bread! The coconut sugar and the sugar itself being brown, how do you come up sith a white batter? Apart from that very nice cake. Thanks
Yes Holley but cut the sugar back by 1/4 of a cup. So use 1 1/4 cup. That should work.
I don’t have coconut sugar, could I just use a cup and a half of regular Lara sugar?
Hahaha! Coconut Oil in the shower is excellent. Now for the poppy seed cake :). A light olive oil will work great and you could also melt dairy-free butter.
Hi there!
8′ about to make this but realized my coconut oil has been sitting in my shower. What do you recommend using in place of coconut oil?
Wonderful Melanie! That makes me feel so good and thank you for telling me 🙂
Hi Ginny! I made this lemon poppy seed cake for my family this afternoon and they LOVED it! Thank you so much for a great recipe.
That is fantastic Heather! Whole grain flour – excellent. Thanks for letting me know!
Made this last night using whole grain flour and lemon juice concentrate…AMAZING! I have no idea how there is any left in the fridge.
That does get hard Lisa. I have to drive 40 minutes sometimes for ingredients but the internet is amazing for some things. Enjoy your new town!
I am so sorry Rose – my notes say 2 cups. I have changed the recipe. Thank goodness you knew to add more liquid.
I am out of cocunut sugar so am glad I can substitute with no issues. We just moved to a town that has ZERO vegan ingredients… not sure what I’m going to do about that. Hope I can order mail delivery for most things. Can’t wait to have this melting in my mouth!! Thanks, Ginny!
Hi there, is 3 cups of flour correct? I have a feeling it should be 2 cups because mine turned out like bread dough…and then I had to add more liquid to salvage the cake – don’t know if it’ll be ok yet as it’s baking in the oven right now but just thought I’d let you know.
Hi Sonya! Coconut sugar is a Trader Joe’s, Sprouts and natural food stores like that. Yes, you can use regular sugar and oil without any problem.
and where do u find coconut sugar can I just use regular sugar and regular oil
I have actually not eaten too many things with poppy seed and never have baked with it but I know I would love this! Looks delicious!
Mmmm Lemon Poppy Seed Cake reminds me of home!! I wish I had a slice with my afternoon coffee 🙂
Love that you used coconut oil and coconut sugar in this bread. It looks delicious!
I still remember the first time I tried lemon poppyseed cake, and I have been a sucker for it ever since. This looks wonderful!
I hear this ships really well. *wink wink*
I love lemon so this has to happen. Asap. It’s so pretty, which is just a bonus.
You don’t even want to know what I’d do for a slice of that lemon poppyseed cake right now–it’s my favorite quick bread/cake.
I love the hint of almond extract in this! It makes it extra-special.
This looks fantastic Ginny! I’m not sure if I have it for breakfast or dessert…but, I would sure enjoy that lemon, poppy seed combo!
Lemon poppy seed cake has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl…it’s one of the first cakes I learned how to bake! Now to make your fantastic vegan version!! (saw the comment about the dairy ads…I think they’re gone now!!) xx
I soooo want to wake up to the smell of this cake. Ohh and plus a cup of tea 🙂 wow! that would be amazing
Ugh! Thems is fightin words! I will go and give it a try and see if they can block some ads. Thanks for letting me know.
I love lemon poppy seed anything. I could go for a slice of this for breakfast!
Looks delicious! BUT, do you have any control over who advertises on your blog? At the bottom of the second photo of the cake slices there’s a banner ad for Dairy Farmers of Washington “Milk, There Is No Substitute, Choose Natural”…. For a vegan site, them are fightin’ words!!!
I’ve always wanted to make this…not sure why I haven’t
Oh this looks so good! You’re right that poppy seed cakes always look so pretty 🙂
Oops, I fixed the recipe. No vinegar for this cake. 🙂
Thanks! Can’t wait to make it!
What is the measurement for the amount of vinegar in the Poppy seed cake recipe please ?