Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Grapefruit Glaze

Lemon Poppyseed Cake

Cake.

  • 2 cups sugar

  • ¾ cup butter, room temperature

  • 3 eggs

  • Zest of 3 lemons

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons poppyseeds

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

  • ½ cup sour cream

Drizzle.

  • Juice of ½ red grapefruit (about 1/3 cup juice)

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

  • 2 cups powdered sugar

  • red food coloring, a drop or two (optional, but it enhances the color nicely)

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease two loaf pans and line with parchment paper so it hangs over the edges.

In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar for several minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the lemon zest.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and poppyseeds. In another bowl, combine the milk, lemon juice and sour cream. Add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the wet, starting and ending with the dry; mix just until combined. Divide the batter between the pans.

Bake for about 50-60 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, or with moist crumbs clinging to it. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes, then remove and set on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

For the glaze, squeeze the juice through a fine mesh strainer into a saucepan. Add the granulated sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a simmer, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Whisk in the powdered sugar and bring to a simmer again; whisk vigorously to smooth out any lumps.

Immediately pour the hot glaze over the cake. Garnish with thin lemon slices and poppyseeds. The glaze will set within a few minutes, but allow the cake to cool for about an hour before slicing.

Yields 2 loaves

Recipe from Curly Girl Kitchen