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Lemon poppy seed cake sliced
Refreshing lemon poppy seed cake garnished with lemon and poppy seeds

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Mascarpone

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Cakes and Desserts
Poppy seed and lemon are a match made in heaven. The oily, nutty, earthy flavor of poppy seeds is perfectly lifted by lemon acidity. This cake is a modern take on classic Austro-Hungarian pastry, replacing heavy yeasted doughs with a lighter batter that still carries the richness of poppy seeds.
🕒 Prep Time 25 mins
🍳 Cook Time 35 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 hr 55 mins
🍽️ Servings 8 servings
🔥 Calories 450 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Central European

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Coffee grinder or spice grinder (for poppy seeds)
  • Cake pan (9-inch)
  • Sifter

Allergen Information

⚠️ Wheat
⚠️ Egg
⚠️ Milk

Instructions

1 ✓

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease the pan. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and ground poppy seeds.

Tip: Mix poppy seeds well with flour so they don't clump in the wet batter.
2 ✓

Beat eggs with sugar until pale and very thick (ribbon stage).

Tip: The air in the eggs will lighten the heavy poppy seed batter.
3 ✓

Add lukewarm butter, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla. Mix briefly.

Tip: Fat (butter) and acid (lemon) carry flavor.
4 ✓

Fold in flour mixture alternately with milk. Do not overmix!

Tip: Poppy seeds absorb liquid; milk hydrates them.
5 ✓

Bake 30-35 mins (toothpick test). Cool completely.

Tip: Dark batter makes browning hard to see. Rely on toothpick.
6 ✓

Slice layer in half. Mix Mascarpone with powdered sugar and a splash of lemon juice. Fill cake.

Tip: Creamy mascarpone balances gritty seeds.
7 ✓

Decorate with lemon and whole poppy seeds. Chill 1 hour.

Tip: Resting softens the sponge.

Recipe FAQ

Poppy seeds taste bitter.
Poppy seeds have high oil content and go rancid quickly. Always taste before use! Store in fridge or freezer.
Batter is gritty.
Seeds weren't ground enough. Cell walls must break to release flavor and oil.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 cup (+ 2 tbsp) Granulated Sugar
  • 4 large Eggs
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (melted, lukewarm)
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • 3/4 cup Ground Poppy Seeds
  • 3 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2 whole Lemon Zest
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 8 oz Mascarpone (for filling)
  • 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar (for filling)