Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
31 Comments
Posted: 04/15/18
Updated: 10/14/23
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This Lemon Poppy Seed Cake starts with a box lemon cake mix and is dressed up with the addition of lemon pudding mix and a delicious lemon glaze. It’s light, fluffy and delicious, plus it’s easy! No one will know it started with a box mix.
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
This delicious Lemon Poppy Seed Cake recipe is so simple and so delicious. Plus, I love that it’s fancy enough to serve company for dessert, brunch or coffee! That lemon icing is the perfect ending to a light, fluffy lemon cake. It’s just the perfect amount of sweetness. You’ll have a hard time stopping with one piece of this cake!
When I think of lemon I envision spring, tulips popping up, freshly mowed grass, and the buds on the trees. To bad I haven’t seen any of those things this spring. I’m still making lemon and praying that it will turn to spring at any time.
A few of your all time favorite lemon recipes are Lemon Cream Turnovers, Blueberry Lemonade and Lemon Sugar Cookies!
Poppy Seed Cake
This poppy seed cake just the perfect lemon flavoring in my opinion. Not to much, but not to little.
I actually tried out this recipe when I had a local magazine publication coming over to interview me. They were doing a series on food bloggers in the area and they wanted to photograph me while I was taking food photos. Therefore I needed a subject.
I didn’t want to waste this opportunity, so of course I tried a new recipe. A little daring aren’t I?
My back up plan was totally to go to the grocery store and grab a box of premade cookies and throw them on a platter.
Good thing it didn’t come to that! This Lemon Poppy Seed cake was amazing! Quick, easy and bursting with flavor.
I’m still kind of hurt the photographer and editor interviewing me didn’t take a slice to try….
Not sure what the says about my baking!
How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Icing:
First of all this Lemon Poppy Seed Cake recipe is so simple because it starts with a box of lemon cake mix. Gasp. I know. I’m sorry if that’s not your thing then go onto the next recipe. Personally, I’m all about short cuts.
You are going to combine the cake mix with lemon pudding mix, eggs, water and canola oil. After that’s done mixing you will fold in the poppy seeds. Then pour it into a greased and floured 9” x 13” pan.
Pop it in the oven and let it do it’s thing for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
Now at this point you can flip it over onto a serving tray or just leave it in the pan. Either works, it’s just which look you prefer.
Mix up your lemon icing ingredients. Three ingredients that’s it! Then drizzle it over the top of the cake.
Easy, Peasy, Lemon Squeezy as Miss K likes to say!
MORE LEMON DESSERT RECIPES:
- Lemon Cream Turnovers
- Lemon Coconut Cake
- Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes
- Lemon Bundt Cake with Lemon Frosting
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
- Glazed Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
- Honey Cranberry Bread
- Lemon Muffins
- Lemon Blueberry Muffin bread
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
This Lemon Poppy Seed Cake starts with a box lemon cake mix and is dressed up with the addition of lemon pudding mix and a delicious lemon glaze. It’s light, fluffy and delicious, plus it’s easy! No one will know it started with a box mix.
Ingredients
Cake
- 15.25 oz lemon cake mix
- 3.4 oz instant lemon pudding mix
- 4 eggs
- 1 c. water
- 1/2 c. canola oil
- 1/4 c. poppy seeds
Lemon Icing
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9” x 13” baking pan. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil. Beat with mixer for 30 seconds on low. Turn mixer to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Fold in poppy seeds.
- Transfer to prepared 9” x 13” baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes in preheated oven.
- Cool cake completely.
- In a small bowl mix together icing ingredients.
- I flipped cake out onto a platter and drizzled the icing on top, but you can also drizzle it on the cake in the pan.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 269kcal (13%), Carbohydrates: 46g (15%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 8g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Cholesterol: 32mg (11%), Sodium: 196mg (9%), Potassium: 43mg (1%), Sugar: 32g (36%), Vitamin A: 50IU (1%), Vitamin C: 0.6mg (1%), Calcium: 93mg (9%), Iron: 0.9mg (5%)
Barb kupnik says
Very moist and delicious ! Easy to make
Brooke Kill says
Thats what we were going for! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed!
April says
Made this today, sooooooo moist just love it and so does my husband
Brooke Kill says
Yay! I’m glad you both enjoyed!!
Linda says
Made this cake today and we loved it!’ It was easy to make!!
Sarah Hill says
Love to hear that! Glad to hear you all enjoyed it!
Jamela says
I made this and it’s fluffy and lemony good!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Alison LaFortune says
We love lemon desserts in our house! The pudding made this cake so delicious. Definitely making this again!
Julie says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Malinda says
I took this to a friend’s house the other day for a get together and came home with an empty pan!! Everyone just loved it!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m glad it was a hit!
Danielle Green says
Finally decided to give this recipe a try and it was fantastic! Fresh out of the oven it was to die for.
Julie says
Awesome! I’m glad you tried it!
Alison LaFortune says
Love cake mix cakes! Really simplifies the recipe. Will definitely be making this again– super yummy.
Julie says
Perfect! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Melissa Howell says
That’s so cool that you got to be in a magazine! And this was the perfect recipe to showcase! So bright and sunny!
Julie Evink says
It was fun!
Danielle Green says
Mmmmm lemon poppy seed cake – a staple for many gatherings! Delicious!
Julie Evink says
Yes this is one of those long time favorites!
Bethany says
Looks like the perfect lemon cake!
Julie Evink says
Thanks so much Bethany!
Malinda Linnebur says
How could they not take a slice?!?! Well, I certainly would have…I love lemon!
Julie Evink says
Right? I will never understand!
Albert Bevia says
This cake looks really good and easy to make, nothing wrong with using out of the box stuff sometimes! that is awesome you got interviewed about your blog, I can´t believe they did not taste your cake!!!!
Julie Evink says
I can’t either! Thanks so much Albert 🙂
Linda S says
Just want to check is the pudding an instant or regular cooking one? Thanks. I plan on making the cake sounds good and we love lemon cakes
Maggie says
I bake this in a Bundy pan. And I use instant pudding. My family loves it.
Julie Evink says
Good to know!
Karen Brabec says
how long did you bake it in the bundt pan?
Julie Evink says
Sorry! Instant!