Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

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Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This lemon poppy seed cake is amazing! It has two soft, fluffy layers with lemon flavor and poppy seeds mixed in. Each layer is topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. In short, every bite is absolutely delicious!

Servings: 14
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Cool time: 2 hours
Ready in: 3 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 3/4 cups (352grams) cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons (30g) poppy seeds
  • 3/4 cup (170grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 3/4 cups (366grams) Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest (from around 4 lemons)
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) canola oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups (315ml) buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Simple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 3/4 cup butter , preferably 1/2 cup unsalted and 1/4 cup salted at room temperature
  • 1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (16 oz) pkg. Wholesome Organic Powdered Sugar, sifted

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper rounds.
  2. Grease the parchment paper lightly and dust the pans with cake flour. Tap out any excess flour and set the pans aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds. Whisk them for about 20 seconds, then set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, cane sugar, and lemon zest until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
  5. Add the canola oil and mix it in, then blend in the eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition.
  6. Mix in the lemon extract and vanilla extract. In a liquid measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and lemon juice, and mix them together.
  7. Begin by adding 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined.
  8. Next, add in half of the buttermilk mixture and mix until just combined. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
  9. Mix in the remaining half of the buttermilk mixture, then add the last 1/3 of the flour mixture. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula and gently fold until the batter is evenly mixed.
  10. Divide the batter evenly between two prepared cake pans and spread it into an even layer.
  11. Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30-34 minutes.
  12. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the cakes to loosen them and invert them onto wire racks.
  13. While the cakes are still warm, use a pastry brush to brush them with simple syrup. About halfway through cooling, transfer the cakes to an airtight container to seal in moisture. Once completely cooled, frost the cakes with cream cheese frosting.

For the simple syrup:

  1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together lemon juice and cane sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved.

For the cream cheese frosting:

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar, then mix until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  3. If needed, freeze the frosting in 3-minute increments, stirring between each increment until it reaches your desired consistency.

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Savor the delightful combination of citrusy brightness and nutty richness with our Lemon Poppy Seed Cake, a refreshing treat that's perfect for any occasion. Picture a moist and tender cake infused with the vibrant zest of fresh lemons and studded with crunchy poppy seeds, creating a delightful texture and flavor contrast in every bite. Each slice is a burst of citrusy goodness, with the lemon flavor perfectly complementing the subtle nuttiness of the poppy seeds. Whether enjoyed as a light dessert after dinner or as a sweet indulgence with a cup of tea or coffee, our Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is sure to brighten your day and leave you craving more.