Poppyseed Cake with a Simple Orange Glaze
SERVES: 2+ LOAVES | PREP TIME: 5 MIN | COOK TIME: 40 MIN
This poppyseed cake recipe comes from my mother-in-law.
Legend has it that when my husband and his sister were little, they asked to make a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. In an attempt to be as historically accurate as possible my mother-in-law found this recipe, a simple poppyseed cake, and has been making it every year since. I appreciate this story for a few reasons:
1. How cute were they? A birthday cake for Jesus. Aww.
2. They definitely weren't eating confetti cupcakes back in the day. My mother-in-law successfully wove a food history lesson into this sweet (no pun intended) moment. I just love that.
3. Simply put, I love this cake/loaf. It's one of my favorites and I'm thankful that it's part of a staple in our family!
So what should you know about this recipe that I haven't already told you? Well, it's NOT supposed to be a lemon poppyseed cake.. so no, there isn't a missing ingredient. Also, butter extract has been randomly hard to find for me. I didn't see it at Whole Foods or Shaw's and I ultimately found it at my third stop at Hannafords (equal to like a stop n' shop, publix, etc.). I wonder if Target sells it? Lastly, don't make my mistake... I almost always have a loaf or cake pan out with a friend, so I inevitably have fewer baking tins than what is really needed for the amount of batter this recipe produces. I almost always end up over-filling and thus baking a slightly too brown bottom. I think you could get away with at least three different cakes/loafs/etc. and never fill more than half way.
On that note.. I love this as a loaf to be enjoyed with coffee or tea, as cupcakes for on-the-go, or in cake form for a special occasion (like Christmas Eve). It's mild enough to be enjoyed any time of the day.
Substitutions
I've tried to make this cake with a different glaze, usually based on whatever fruit juice I have in my fridge. My opinion is that orange is the best, but you could make any other glaze recipe that you have!
Poppy Seed Cake with Orange Glaze
SERVES: 2+ LOAVES
PREP TIME: 5 min | COOK TIME: 40 min
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKEPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pans with parchment paper.
Combine ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix for about 2 minutes.
Pour into prepared pans and bake until top rises and cracks. Roughly 30 to 40 minutes.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GLAZEBring to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves.
Generously drizzle hot glaze onto the hot cake
INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/8 cup flavorless oil, such as canola oil
1 1/2 tsp butter extract
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
INGREDIENTS FOR GLAZE1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp butter extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract