4.9 from 87 votes
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Citrusy, moist, and oh so fluffy vegan lemon poppy seed cake with sweet vanilla icing or glaze! It’s a fuss-free, one-bowl snack cake that always brings a little sunshine to the dessert table.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 220 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups of granulated sugar
- ½ cup of vegetable oil
- Juice and zest of 2 small lemons
- ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of water
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ⅓ cup of poppy seeds
- Storebought or homemade vanilla frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, applesauce, and vanilla extract until well-combined. Add water and mix thoroughly.
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and stir until just combined. (Your batter may have a few small lumps and that's okay. You don't want to overmix.)
- Fold in the poppy seeds.
- Pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until the edges are golden and begin to pull away from the pan. Take a toothpick, insert it into the middle of the cake and make sure it comes out clean. If it doesn’t, bake in 5 minute increments until it does.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Measure the flour accurately: To avoid adding too much flour and ending up with a dense cake, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off the excess on top with the back of a knife. DO NOT scoop the cup into the bag of flour.
- Don’t overmix the cake batter: Use a silicone spatula to gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until the dry mix is just incorporated. A few lumps left behind are okay!
- Use room temperature ingredients: Place all of the wet ingredients on the kitchen counter for at least 30 minutes before baking so they have time to come down to room temperature.
Nutrition Information
Calories
220kcal
(11%)
Carbohydrates
35g
(12%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
5g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.05g
Sodium
285mg
(12%)
Potassium
48mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
16g
(32%)
Vitamin A
1IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
35mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 220
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 220kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 35g | 12% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.05g | 3% |
| Sodium | 285mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 48mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 1IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.