This Lemon Poppy Seed Bread is incredibly moist and full of bright, refreshing lemon flavor. With a delicate citrus note and a tender crumb, it’s a quick bread you’ll find yourself making again and again.
Poppy seed bread is one of my favorite quick breads because it combines simple ingredients with a wonderfully satisfying texture. Recently I’ve been leaning into lemon flavors, so I adapted my favorite poppy seed bread to highlight bright citrus notes without overpowering the loaf.
The glaze soaks into the top as the loaf rests, adding moisture and intensifying the lemon taste in every bite. The result is a tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth bread that balances sweet and tangy beautifully.
If you’re looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe, this one belongs on your must-try list. It mixes up quickly, bakes reliably, and will likely become a new favorite at home.
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/8 cups oil
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- Glaze
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until combined.
- Whisk in the oil and milk until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest, and poppy seeds; whisk until evenly distributed.
- Stir in the flour, salt, and baking powder until just combined—do not overmix.
- Divide the batter between two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans or five greased mini loaf pans.
- Bake at 350°F for 40–50 minutes for full-size loaves (less for mini loaves), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Combine the glaze ingredients—sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla, and salt—in a medium saucepan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. While the loaves are still warm, poke holes across the tops with a fork and spoon or drizzle the glaze evenly over each loaf so it soaks in.
Enjoy!