This easy, moist and delicious lemon poppyseed cake is about to become your new favorite recipe! Light and bright cake full of lemon and poppyseeds, filled with creamy lemon curd, and topped with lemon cream cheese frosting. Basically? Heaven in a bite! (Or two, or three – I dare you to stop at one!)
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
Zest of 2 lemons
Lemon Curd Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
Juice and zest of 3 lemons
4 egg yolks
6 tablespoons butter
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
Cake Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line the bottoms of three 6″ cake pans with parchment paper. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, flour through poppy seeds.
In your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated, and scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just incorporated, being careful not to over mix. Add the buttermilk, lemon juice and zest, mixing until all ingredients come together.
Pour batter into the three prepared cake pans, and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for about 5-10 minutes, and then turn them out on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Lemon Curd Directions: Combine all ingredients except the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Be sure to whisk constantly so the mixture doesn’t burn. Cook about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remember that the curd will continue to thicken as it cools! Remove the curd from the heat, and melt in the butter. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting Directions:
Combine the butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Add the vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest. Beat for an additional 3 minutes on high speed. To frost, spread a layer of frosting onto the bottom layer. Use a small frosting tip to create a perimeter around the frosted cake layer. Fill the well with a thin layer of lemon curd. Repeat with remaining layers, and enjoy!
At its heart, Fresh Lemon Poppyseed Layer Cake is an irresistibly delightful treat that is certain to dazzle any crowd with its vibrant flavors and beautiful presentation. Perfect for any celebration or special event!
This delicious dessert features tart lemon flavor paired with subtle crunch of poppyseeds to produce an irresistibly refreshing taste experience. Each bite delivers a burst of zesty freshness perfectly balanced by light and airy cake layers.
What makes this recipe truly stand out is the use of fresh lemons. Their natural citrusy aroma and tart tang make each bite delightfully refreshing, providing an invigorating treat!
Layering of the cake not only adds visual beauty but also offers a delightful variety in textures. The velvety smooth lemon-flavored buttercream frosting between moist cake layers creates an harmonious union of flavors with luxurious mouthfeel.
This recipe showcases the versatility of lemon as a flavoring agent, pairing its bright, vibrant flavor perfectly with various fillings and frostings to allow you to tailor it perfectly to your cake preferences. From tart lemon curd fillings to decadent mascarpone frostings – your options for creating your dream lemon poppyseed cake are limitless.
Furthermore, this cake makes an impressive dessert choice for any special event from birthdays to weddings. From formal birthday celebrations to elegant wedding receptions, its exquisite taste and stylish presentation will never fail to leave an impressionful lasting impression. Poppyseeds scattered among its layers add an appealing visual accent while simultaneously elevating its overall presentation.
Fresh Lemon Poppyseed Layer Cake is a surefire hit with lemon enthusiasts and dessert enthusiasts alike, thanks to its lively flavors, tantalizing textures, and versatile nature. Treat yourself or someone special to this indulgent masterpiece today for a refreshing splash of lemon to brighten their day!