LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, stir in the poppy seeds, and set aside at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly spray the inside of a Bundt pan with the baking spray and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 cups of the granulated sugar on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, the vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Sift the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into a medium bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the lemon juice to the buttermilk mixture. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is well mixed. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, place the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and the remaining 1/2 cup of lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Set aside. When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a baking rack set over a large plate. Spoon the warm lemon syrup slowly over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed into the cake. Set aside for at least 30 minutes to cool.
• For the glaze, whisk the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl, adding a little more sugar or lemon juice to make a smooth, thick, but pourable glaze. Drizzle over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Transfer to a flat cake plate and serve at room temperature.

LEMON POPPY SEED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a 4-cup (8x4-inch) or six-cup loaf pan, line the bottom with parchment or waxed paper, and grease and flour the paper. Or grease and flour a fluted tube pan.
• Lightly combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the lemon zest and poppy seeds.
• Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend.
• Then add the butter and half the egg mixture. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Increase the speed to medium (high if you are using a hand mixer), and beat for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Gradually add the remaining egg mixture in two batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the surface with a spatula. The batter will be almost 1/2 inch from the top of a 4-cup loaf pan.
• Bake, covering the pan loosely with buttered aluminum foil after 30 minutes to prevent over browning, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes (35 to 45 minutes in a fluted pan). To get an attractive split down the middle of the crust, wait until the natural split is about to develop (when cake has cooked for about 20 minutes), and then use a lightly greased sharp knife to make a shallow mark about 6 inches long down the middle of the cake. (This must be done very quickly so that the oven door does not remain open very long, or the cake will fall). When the cake splits, it will open along the mark.
• Shortly before the cake is done, prepare the Lemon Syrup: In a small pan over medium heat, stir the sugar and lemon juice together until the sugar has dissolved.
• As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the pan on a wire rack, poke the cake all over with a wire tester or wooden skewer, and brush it with half the syrup.
• Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes.
• Loosen the sides of the cake with a spatula, and invert it onto a greased wire rack.
• Poke the bottom of the cake with the wire tester, brush it with some syrup, and re-invert it onto a greased wire rack.
• Brush the sides with the remaining syrup and allow the cake to cool completely.
• Store the cake for 24 hours, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap (to give the syrup a chance to distribute evenly). Serve at room temperature. *Note*: Tightly wrapped, the cake will keep for 3 days at room temperature, 1 week in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer.

LEMON POPPY SEED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium bowl lightly combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients, including the lemon zest and poppy seeds, and mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend. Add the butter and half the egg mixture. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed (high speed if using a hand mixer) and beat for 1 minute to aerate and develop the cake's structure.
• Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the remaining egg mixture in 2 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. The batter will be almost 1/2 inch from the top of a 4-cup loaf pan. (If your pan is slightly smaller, use any excess batter for cupcakes.) Bakes 55 to 65 minutes (35 to 45 minutes in a fluted tube pan) or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cover loosely with buttered foil after 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning. The cake should start to shrink from the sides of the pan only after removal from the oven.
• To get an attractive split down the middle of the crust, wait until the natural split is about to develop (about 20 minutes) and then with a lightly greased sharp knife or a single-edged razor blade make a shallow mark about 6 inches long down the middle of the cake. This must be done quickly so that the oven door does not remain open very long or the cake will fall. When cake splits, it will open along the mark.
• Shortly before the cake is done, prepare the Lemon Syrup:
• In a small pan over medium heat, stir the sugar and lemon juice until dissolved. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the pan on a rack, poke the cake all over with a wire tester, and brush it with 1/2 the syrup. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides with a spatula and invert it onto a greased wire rack. Poke the bottom of the cake with the wire tester, brush it with some syrup, and reinvert onto a greased wire rack. Brush the sides with the remaining syrup and allow to cool before wrapping airtight. Store 24 hours before eating to give the syrup a chance to distribute evenly. The syrup will keep the cake fresh a few days longer than a cake without syrup.
• **Note:**This cake is very attractive made in individual portions. A 6-cake Bundt-lette pan is the perfect size. This recipe will make 6 individual cakelettes, which require about 20 minutes to bake.
• Finished Height: In a 4-cup loaf: 2 1/4 inches at the sides and 3 1/2 inches in the middle. In a 6-cup loaf: 1 3/4 inches at the sides and 2 1/2 inches in the middle. In a 6-cup fluted tube: 2 1/4 inches in the middle.
• Store: Airtight: 3 days room temperature, 1 week refrigerated, 2 months frozen.
• Complementary Adornment: A simple dusting of powdered sugar.
• Serve: Room temperature.
• Pointers for Success:
• • Use cake flour that does not already contain leavening. Do not use self-rising cake flour.
• • Use superfine sugar for finest texture.
• • Use fresh baking powder.
• • Measure or weigh ingredients carefully.
• • If using a hand-held mixer, beat at high speed.
• • Use the correct pan size.
• • For very even layers and maximum height use Magi-Cake Strips.
• • Check for accurate oven temperature.
• • Use correct baking time; do not overbake.
• • Be sure to use a wooden toothpick to test for doneness. The cake will spring back when pressed lightly in the center even before it is done. If the cake is underbaked, it will have tough, gummy spots instead of a fine, tender crumb.

LEMON POPPYSEED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, lightly combine the milk, eggs and vanilla. In a large mixing bowl, preferably with the whisk beater, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, lemon zest and poppy seeds. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend. Add the butter and half the egg mixture. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed (high speed if using a hand held mixer) and beat for 1 minute to aerate and develop the cake's structure. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Gradually add the remaining egg mixture in 2 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. The batter will be almost a 1/2-inch from the top of the 4-cup loaf pan. Bake 55 to 65 minutes at 350 degrees (35 to 45 minutes in a fluted tube pan) or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Be sure to use a wooden toothpick to test for doneness. (The cake will spring back when pressed lightly in the center even before it is done. If the cake is under baked, it will have tough, gummy spots instead of a fine, tender crumb.) Cover loosely with buttered foil after 30 minutes to prevent over browning. The cake should start to shrink from the sides of the pan only after removal from the oven. To get an attractive split down the middle of the crust, wait until the natural split is about to develop (about 20 minutes) and then with a lightly greased sharp knife or single-edged razor blade make a shallow mark about 6 inches long down the middle of the cake. This must be done quickly so that the oven door does not remain open very long or the cake will fall. When the cake splits, it will open along the mark.
• Shortly before the cake is done, prepare the Lemon Syrup: In a small pan over medium heat, stir the sugar and lemon juice until dissolved. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, place the pan on a rack, poke the cake all over with a wire tester and brush it with 1/2 the syrup. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides with a spatula and invert onto a greased wire rack. Poke the bottom of the cake with a wire tester, brush it with some syrup and reinvert onto a greased wire rack. Brush the sides with the remaining syrup and allow to cool before wrapping airtight. Store 24 hours before eating to give the syrup a chance to distribute evenly.
• Slice with a thin sharp knife into thin slices. Serve with Fresh Blueberry Glaze and lightly whipped cream.
• Rinse the berries and allow them to dry thoroughly on paper towels. Place the berries in a bowl. In a medium saucepan, stir together the arrowroot and sugar. Stir in the water and lemon juice and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is clear and thickened. With arrowroot this will happen before the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the blueberries all at once, tossing until coated with the glaze. The berries will turn a bright blue. Empty the berries into a colander or strainer to drain away any excess glaze not clinging to berries.

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine cake and pudding mix. Add the water, oil, eggs and extracts. Beat for 30 seconds on low speed. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in poppy seeds. Pour into a greased 10-in. fluted tube pan. , Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack., Combine confectioners' sugar and lemon juice; brush over warm cake. Cool. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar if desired.

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the bottom and sides of a fluted tube pan (such as Bundt® generously.
• Beat sugar and butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until light; beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Reduce mixing speed and add poppy seeds, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
• Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in another bowl. Beat in flour mixture slowly, alternating with buttermilk.
• Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 65 to 75 minutes.

LEMON POPPY SEED POUNDCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-inch loaf pan.
• In a bowl, combine lemon zest and sugar and rub with your fingers until it looks like wet sand. Whisk in buttermilk, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and eggs. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into the batter, then whisk in oil and poppy seeds.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan until warm to the touch, then turn out onto a baking rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Turn cake right side up.
• Whisk together remaining 4 teaspoons lemon juice and the confectioners' sugar. Use a pastry brush to spread glaze evenly over top and sides of cake. Cool completely before slicing.