Poppy seed cake is a favorite family recipe. It has almond flavoring and topped with a sugar glaze. This cake is delicious for breakfast or as a simple dessert.

If you like loaf cakes be sure to try this easy cake mix banana bread and zucchini bread.

Delicious Moist Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

When I visited my aunt over the summer, she gave me a copy of our Nana’s recipes. I have mentioned Nana in previous posts but just to reiterate, she was a great cook!

This is her poppy seed cake recipe. When I was little I thought that she named this after our “Poppy”, our grandfather. Come to find out it was the name of an ingredient. Oh well, I will still pretend it was named after him. 

Poppy Seed Almond Cake ingredients

• flour
• baking powder
• milk
• sugar
• poppy seeds
• eggs
• vegetable oil vanilla
• butter extract
• almond extract and orange juice

How to make this Poppy Seed Cake Recipe from Scratch

Scroll to the bottom for full, printable recipe and ingredient list. 

This loaf cake recipe makes two loaves, one for you and one to give away or freeze for later.  

1. Preheat: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Mix: Mix together eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, butter and almond extract. Stir in milk. 
3. Combine: Add in flour, sugar and baking soda. 

• Separate: Divide batter into 2 prepared loaf pans.
• Bake: Bake for 1 hour. 

How to make the glaze for this Poppy Seed Cake

• Combine: Mix together sugar, orange juice, almond extract, vanilla extract and butter extract in a saucepan. 
• Heat: Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves. This usually takes about 5 minutes. 
• Glaze: Pour over cakes while they are still warm. 

The recipe calls to take the bread out of the pan and pour the glaze on. You can remove it or keep in in the pan for less mess.

How to store Almond Poppy Seed Cake

Can you freeze this Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

Yes you can freeze this loaf cake! Allow the cake to completely cool and then wrap tightly with plastic wrap. I wrap a couple times to ensure the cake stays moist and keeps all of those yucky freezer smells out. Next wrap in foil and then place in the freezer. It lasts about 4 weeks in the freezer. Simply leave out on the counter to thaw when you are ready to eat. 

Poppy Seed Almond Cake recipe tips

• Make sure to either coat the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper so that you can easily remove the cake.
• Add the glaze on when the cake is warm. 
• Try not to over mix the batter to keep the cake light and moist. 
• Can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. 

Poppy Seed Cake Recipe FAQs

Do poppy seeds go bad?

They do not go bad but can start to loose flavor over a long period of time.

Is is safe to bake with poppy seeds?

Yes, it’s safe to bake with poppy seeds.

Do I need to soak poppy seeds before baking?

No, they do not need to be soaked.

I like to bake my loaf cakes in a glass loaf dish but metal works too. 

More easy and delicious cakes

• Pineapple Cake – This is a great cake for summer! Filled with pineapple bits and topped with pineapple glaze. 
• 7Up Cake – 7-up is the secret ingredient in this classic cake. 
• Orange Poke Cake – Tasty cake with orange JELL-O.
• Apricot Nectar Cake – One of the most popular cakes on the blog. 
• Chocolate Sheet Cake – A classic chocolate cake with a delicious chocolate frosting. 

***If you made this recipe, please feel free to leave a comment and star rating below.