Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (2024)

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This bright and delicious Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake recipe will bring a ray of sunshine to your kitchen. The sweet, lemony, and moist cake is easy to make with just a few ingredients and tastes amazing.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (1)

Raise your hand if you love lemon desserts. I have to admit for the longest time, I thought I didn't like lemon. Sour things give me the shivers, so chocolate and peanut butter were my go to.

I didn't avoid it completely, but it definitely wasn't my first choice. Then a friend asked me to create a recipe for Lemon Bars that she could use in her bakery, and I jumped at the chance to help out.

Either I grew up and my taste buds evolved, or I just realized that lemon is delicious. Whatever the case, I have a new found love for lemon treats. Well, in small doses and loaded with lots of sugar. LOL!

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (2)

Over the years things like these Lemon Coconut Cupcakes and these Mini Lemon Cheesecake Pies have turned me into a lemon lover. Ok, so maybe that's stretching it slightly.

Peanut butter cups still get my first vote every time. But at least I don't shy away from using lemon anymore, so there's that.

Before we moved last month, I challenged myself to use up as many pantry items as I could. Mainly because I didn't want to pack them and transport them to the new house.

I had a lone lemon cake mix that I had picked up months ago just because I wanted a lemon bundt cake. The poppy seeds were an extra addition at the last moment. Mainly because I realized I had two containers in my spice bin. The white chocolate curls on top were also a happy find at the back of the sprinkles bin.

It was a good feeling to be able to use what I had on hand instead of running to the store. Maybe I should bake like that more often...

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (3)

Let's talk about making a bundt cake. They are so much fun to bake and share because of their shape and presentation. I can honestly say bundt cakes are probably my favorite type of cake to bake.

Baking a bundt cake does come with a few challenges though.

Tips for baking the perfect Bundt Cake:

  • Grease the pan thoroughly. Use butter or shortening to coat the entire surface inside the pan. Make sure you get in every crevice or cranny. Then sprinkle flour in the pan and tap and rotate the pan until there is a thin layer all over. Flip the pan over and tap out the excess flour. An easier method is to use a nonstick baking spray. Be sure to spray a generous coating all over the inside.
  • Fill the pan. Too little batter will result in a thin cake, but too much batter will result in a mess. A good rule of thumb is to fill the pan ⅔ full. PRO TIP: Fill your pan with water, counting the cups as you go to see what size pan you have.
  • Do not open the oven door until it is time to check for doneness. The loss of heat can result in the cake falling if it is not finished baking.
  • Cool the cake in the pan for a short time. Most cakes need 10-15 minutes in the pan to cool and release from the sides of the pan. If you allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, the cake can potentially stick to the pan and not fall out in one piece. Tap the pan gently on the counter, then place a plate on top of the cake. Slowly flip the cake over and shake gently until you feel the cake fall out. Lift off the pan and let it cool.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (4)

How to make a Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake:

  1. Prepare the bundt pan and set it aside. (full recipe at bottom of post)
  2. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and milk in a mixing bowl. Beat on low 1 minutes; then beat on medium for 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in the poppy seeds gently and pour the batter into the pan.
  4. Bake and cool as directed.
  5. Whisk together the lemon glaze ingredients and spoon over the top of the cooled bundt cake. Sprinkle with white chocolate curls, if desired.

How many slices will a bundt cake yield?

Most bundt cakes will serve 12-16 people, depending on how small or large you cut the slices and how large your pan is.

Other ways to decorate a lemon bundt cake:

  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Sprinkles
  • Lemon slices
  • Fresh Berries - raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries

Can I freeze a bundt cake?

Yes, you can. Bake the cake ahead of time and make sure it is completely cool. Wrap the unfrosted cake in two tight layers of plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.

When you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature while still wrapped. Add the glaze and toppings before serving.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (5)

More easy bundt cake recipes you may like:

  • Pina Colada Bundt Cake
  • Coconut Cream Bundt Cake
  • Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake
  • Carrot Cake Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake

Other lemon desserts:

  • Lemon Strawberry Poke Cake
  • Lemon Cream Fruit Dip
  • Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Lemon Mousse Fruit Parfaits

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (6)

Recipe

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (7)

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Yield: 14 slices

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This bright and delicious Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake recipe will bring a ray of sunshine to your kitchen. The sweet, lemony, and moist cake is easy to make with just a few ingredients and tastes amazing.

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 1 lemon cake mix
  • 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant lemon pudding
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup oil
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 Tablespoons poppy seeds

For the Topping

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • ¼ cup white chocolate curls

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick spray.
  2. Beat the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and milk for 1 minute on low speed, then increase the speed to medium and beat 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in the poppy seeds gently. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
  4. Remove and cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes, then flip the cake out onto a plate and cool completely.
  5. Stir together the powdered sugar, lemon zest, juice, and milk until creamy. Slowly spoon over the top of the cooled cake.
  6. Sprinkle with the white chocolate curls and let set before cutting into slices.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 14Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 353Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 328mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 34gProtein: 5g

Did you make this recipe?

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Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (11)

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake (2024)

FAQs

Why is a Bundt cake better than a regular cake? ›

The bundt pan allows more of the cake to be in contact with the edges of the pan, and therefore the heat is transferred more evenly. If you put pound cake into a regular round cake pan, it will not cook in the center or it will burn on the edges.

What happened to Bundt cake mixes? ›

By the 1990s, the Bundt cake had faded from popularity and with the downturn in sales, Pillsbury eliminated the Bundt cake mixes and grandma's Bundt pan was officially relegated to the back shelf.

Are bundt cakes more moist? ›

A Bundt cake is baked in a fluted tube pan that is circular with a hole in the middle. It resembles a doughnut. Bundt cakes are deeper than regular cakes. The Bundt cake needs to be more moist than a regular cake because the cake mold heats faster than a regular round or square cake pan.

What makes a Bundt cake special? ›

What is a bundt cake? A bundt cake is a cake made in a bundt pan. Because of how the pan is designed, the cakes usually come out very thick and moist, without much expansion going on during the baking process to make them light and airy like other cakes.

Why do nothing bundt cakes taste so good? ›

All Nothing Bundt Cakes products are baked fresh daily on-site. “We use all real ingredients, such as in our real butter and cream cheese frosting. It's not icing and you can taste the difference,” Jannette said.

Are you supposed to flip a Bundt cake? ›

When you remove your cake from the oven, don't flip it out of the pan right away! Instead, let the cake cool for ten minutes in the pan. Then, placing the wire rack over the base of the cake, invert the pan.

Can you put 2 boxes of cake mix in a Bundt pan? ›

A box cake mix can be baked in a Bundt cake pan, but if made in the 12 cup pan the cake will turn out a bit on the short side. Two boxes of cake mix will create a taller cake. Just be sure to only fill the cake pan until it is ⅔-¾ full. If there is any leftover batter use it to make cupcakes.

Why did my lemon Bundt cake fall? ›

You used too much leavening.

It seems counterintuitive, but too much leavening can actually cause your cake to fall. This is because the leavening activates too quickly during baking, which causes a turbocharged, too-fast carbon dioxide reaction.

What flavor of Nothing Bundt cake is discontinued? ›

Why this petition matters. Nothing Bundt Cake, a renowned bakery chain, has discontinued their marble flavored bundt cakes. This unique flavor was a beloved choice among the customers for its distinct taste and texture. The discontinuation has left many fans of this flavor disappointed and longing for its return.

Is oil or butter better for bundt cake? ›

Butter is 18% water, so when the batter is baked, some of its liquid evaporates. Replacing the water from the butter with oil means there's more fat left in the cakes to ensure tenderness.

What is a fun fact about bundt cake? ›

8 fun bundt facts
  • The bundt pan was named after the German word “bund,” which means a gathering of people.
  • Two out of every three American households have at least one bundt pan in their kitchen.
  • More than 70 million pans have been produced in Nordic Ware's Minneapolis factory.
Jan 15, 2017

Can I leave cake in a Bundt pan overnight? ›

Make sure you are using a non stick bundt pan. Do not cool your cake overnight in the pan.

What is a secret ingredient for cake? ›

To summarize, applesauce is a secret weapon for creating moist and healthier cakes. Its natural sweetness and moisture make it a great substitute for high-fat ingredients like oil or butter. So go ahead, embrace the power of applesauce and elevate your cakes to new levels of deliciousness!

What is the most common Bundt cake size? ›

Bundt pans come in different sizes. Unless you have a favorite bundt cake recipe that specifies a different size, a 9.5- to 10-inch bundt pan with a 10- to 12-cup capacity can be used for most recipes. It is possible to bake a smaller bundt cake in a larger pan, but it will come out flatter.

Why does a Bundt cake have a hole in the middle? ›

In order to get the European style dessert they loved, the women knew they needed a special pan with a hole in the middle. This type of pan helps bake all the batter and prevents the under-cooking of dense batter that occurs in a traditional baking pan.

What is a fun fact about Bundt cake? ›

8 fun bundt facts
  • The bundt pan was named after the German word “bund,” which means a gathering of people.
  • Two out of every three American households have at least one bundt pan in their kitchen.
  • More than 70 million pans have been produced in Nordic Ware's Minneapolis factory.
Jan 15, 2017

Does a Bundt pan cook differently? ›

Because Bundt pans are so deep and hold so much cake, Mark says you will have to lengthen the baking time. The oven temperature does not have to change. Most Bundt cake recipes are baked for 60 minutes or more. Check for doneness at the 45-minute mark.

Do bundt cakes take longer? ›

After you place the pan in the oven, access your inner-patient person (if you have one), as Bundts can take a long time to bake (typically 55 to 65 minutes, but this can vary). Once baked, test the cake for doneness with a long wooden skewer.

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