• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Printables
  • Farmhouse
  • Shop
    • Favorite Things
    • Shop My Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe

Home Sweet Farm Home logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Recipes

Published: Apr 24, 2023 · Modified: Jan 16, 2025

Easy Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This delicious and easy lemon poppy seed loaf recipe is moist, flavorful and perfect for any occasion.

Lemon poppy seed bread sliced on parchment paper and a wire rack. Knife and lemon slices next to loaf and rack.

Not only is this lemon poppy seed loaf easy to make, but it's also incredibly delicious. With a moist, tender crumb and a bright, zesty flavor, it's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Plus, the poppy seeds add a satisfying crunch that takes this bread to the next level.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Tips for Recipe Success
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage Instructions
  • Ingredient Swaps
  • Recipe Card
  • More Quick Bread Recipes

Why You'll Love This Recipe

If you're looking for a light and refreshing dessert or snack, look no further than this lemon poppy seed loaf recipe. This loaf is perfect for any occasion with its bright and zesty lemon flavor and crunchy poppy seeds. Here's why you'll love it:

  • It's easy to make: This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and comes together quickly. You don't need any special skills or equipment to make it.
  • It's moist and flavorful: This loaf is bursting with a tangy citrus flavor thanks to the lemon juice and zest. And the poppy seeds add a delightful crunch that keeps things interesting. The lemon glaze on top helps add to the bright, fresh lemon flavor while also adding moisture.
  • It's a crowd-pleaser: Whether you're serving this loaf at a party, bringing it to a potluck or just enjoying it at home with your family, everyone will love it. It's the perfect balance of sweet and tart and not too heavy or rich.
Lemon poppy seed bread slices stacked on parchment paper and a wire rack.

Ingredients Needed

  • large egg
  • granulated sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • plain yogurt Greek yogurt
  • buttermilk
  • vanilla extract
  • fresh lemons
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • poppy seeds

How to Make

It is so easy to make this moist lemon poppy seed bread!

  1. Beat the room-temperature wet ingredients until smooth in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Being careful not to over-mix.
  2. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. Slowly and carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
  4. Bake!
  5. Let the lemon bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, remove it from the pan, and let it cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
  6. Make the lemon icing and pour the glaze on top of the loaf. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?

Yes! While Greek yogurt gives this lemon bread a slightly tangier flavor and a denser texture, you can substitute regular yogurt if that's what you have on hand. You could also use sour cream.

Do I have to use a glaze?

Nope! While the glaze adds a lovely sweetness, a pretty finish and a little moisture to the bread, it's totally optional. Feel free to skip it if you prefer.

Can I use a different type of flour, like whole wheat or gluten-free?

You can certainly try, but the texture and flavor of the loaf may be different. All-purpose flour is recommended for the best results.

Can I use lemon extract instead of fresh lemon juice?

You can, but the flavor won't be as bright and fresh.

How much lemon juice is in one lemon?

There are about 3-4 tablespoons (roughly ¼ cup) of juice in one lemon. Before cutting and squeezing the lemon, roll the lemon on your countertop, gently pressing down as you roll. This will help you get more lemon juice from the lemon.

How much lemon zest from one lemon?

There is about 1 tablespoon of zest in a medium-sized lemon.

Can I freeze this bread?

Absolutely! This lemon poppy seed loaf freezes beautifully. Simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer zip-top bag. Store this lemon poppy seed pound cake in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Lemon poppy seed bread on parchment paper and a wire rack. Knife and lemon slices next to loaf and rack.

Tips for Recipe Success

  • Room temperature ingredients: Make sure to bring your ingredients to room temperature. To ensure a uniformly textured baked good, bring your cold ingredients, such as the egg, Greek yogurt and buttermilk to room temperature before starting. Warmer ingredients bond together more easily, resulting in a seamless batter with an even texture.
  • Zest first: Make sure to zest your lemons before juicing them, as it's much easier to do it that way.
  • Don't overmix: Just mix your batter until everything is incorporated to avoid a tough, rubbery texture.
  • Cool it down: Be sure to let your bread cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack. This will help prevent it from sticking and falling apart.

Serving Suggestions

This moist lemon poppy seed cake is delicious on its own, but it's also great served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can even toast slices of the bread and spread them with butter or cream cheese for a tasty breakfast treat.

Storage Instructions

Store your lemon poppy seed loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it fresher for longer, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Ingredient Swaps

If you don't have any poppy seeds, you can use sesame seeds or chopped nuts instead. You can also swap the lemon for lime or orange zest for a different flavor profile.

If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!

Recipe Card

Lemon poppy seed bread sliced on parchment paper and a wire rack. Knife and lemon slices next to loaf and rack.

Easy Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

This delicious and easy lemon poppy seed loaf recipe is moist, flavorful and perfect for any occasion.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon, loaf, quick bread
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories: 3355kcal
Author: Shannon

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ⅓ cup plain yogurt Greek yogurt at room temperature
  • ⅔ cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest about one medium lemon
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour spoon & leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup lemon juice about one medium lemon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest about one medium lemon
Prevent your screen from going dark.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Line an 8x4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick spray, set aside.
  • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, Greek yogurt, buttermilk, vanilla extract, lemon juice and lemon zest on low speed until combined.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds.
  • On low speed, carefully and slowly mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until the batter is smooth. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until an inserted wooden toothpick comes out clean. Loosely tent with aluminum foil halfway through.
  • Place on a wire rack to let the loaf cool completely.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add more lemon juice depending on how thick you want the glaze. Drizzle over the top of the cooled bread.
  • Slice and serve.

Notes

Cover and store leftover bread at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories: 3355kcal | Carbohydrates: 603g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 89g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 46g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 2158mg | Potassium: 846mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 399g | Vitamin A: 522IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 594mg | Iron: 14mg

* The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

More Quick Bread Recipes

  • Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Bread on cooling rack and parchment paper, silver knife, white plates, glass of milk, blue and white striped towel and bowl of chocolate chips.
    Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Made in One Bowl
  • two loaves of sliced spiced orange quick bread on a wire rack.
    Spiced Orange Quick Bread
  • Pear Pecan Quick Bread
    Pear Pecan Bread
  • Lemon Pistachio Loaf Cake with a lemon glaze cut into slices on a wire rack, next to a butter knife, cup of coffee and lemon juicer.
    Lemon Pistachio Loaf Cake
« Green Goddess Dip
How to Roast Spaghetti Squash in the Oven »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Roger says

    August 29, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    5 stars
    My partner and I made this for my mom's birthday brunch and it was a hit!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Author bio picture.

Hi! I'm Shannon and I live on a farm in Northern California where we enjoy a hard day’s work, home cooked meals and preserving the past. Oh yeah, we’re building a new (old) Farmhouse too! I created this blog as a way to journal our Farmhouse build and collect our family-favorite recipes.

More about me →

Popular

  • Fall kale salad with apples, pomegranates, pecans, bacon, and blue cheese in a wooden bowl.
    Fall Kale Salad
  • A wooden bowl filled with fresh spinach, sliced radishes, crumbled feta cheese, and pistachios, set on a neutral background with a gray-striped cloth.
    Radish Spring Salad
  • A top-down shot of the Greek tomato salad with wooden serving spoons beside it.
    Greek Tomato Salad
  • Vibrant arugula quinoa salad topped with oranges and chickpeas in a wooden bowl, shown from a top angle with a small pitcher of dressing nearby.
    Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 · Home Sweet Farm Home Privacy & Disclosure

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}