Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
This Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake features a rich, buttery lemon cake infused with fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and poppy seeds, topped with a creamy lemon cream cheese frosting. If you're looking for the best lemon Bundt, this is it!
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a Bundt pan thoroughly and set it aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar and lemon zest. Rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is fragrant and the lemon zest releases its oils. Add the butter and beat until light and fluffy using a hand mixer for 3-4 minutes.
Add the oil, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the lemon juice and vanilla extract until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients in batches, alternating with the sour cream, and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. (Mine was exactly 50 minutes)
Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then carefully invert it onto a wire rack and let it cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest, and mix until smooth. Add a splash of vanilla and salt. Adjust the consistency as needed.
Transfer the lemon cream cheese frosting to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Once the Bundt cake is completely cool, pipe the frosting over the top. Garnish with lemon zest, poppy seeds and fresh mint, if desired. Slice and serve.
Notes
Grease the Bundt pan well, coating all crevices to prevent sticking. I used PAM Baking Non-Stick Cooking Spray (with Flour).
Don’t overmix the batter; it keeps the cake soft and tender.
Cool the bundt cake completely before frosting because warm cake will melt the frosting.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Fridge: This lemon poppy seed bundt cake keeps well at room temperature for a day. You can also store it in the refrigerator (loosely covered, because of the cream cheese frosting) for up to 4 days.
Make-ahead: You can bake the cake a day in advance and frost it the next day. It actually gives the lemon flavor a little more time to settle in.
Tools You Need
Mixing bowls
Measuring spoons and cups
Hand mixer
Bundt Cake Pan (I recommend a 9.5” outer diameter,9” inner diameter, and a 3” height pan)