Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake
A lemon poppy seed pound cake baked in one loaf pan, with a tight, buttery crumb and no baking powder. Lemon zest is rubbed into the sugar for fragrance, and hot lemon syrup is brushed over the warm cake so every slice stays moist and tangy.
Best for a sliceable loaf cake for dessert or afternoon tea that keeps for days.
At a glance: This medium desserts recipe yields 8 servings in about 2h 25m (25 min prep, 60 min cook). It uses 10 ingredients — including gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, granulated sugar, unsalted butter — and walks through 7 steps. Updated . Browse more desserts recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.
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Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake: When preparing this desserts recipe, to prevent cross-contamination, always ensure your work surfaces, utensils, and baking pans are thoroughly cleaned. Be vigilant about checking labels on all ingredients, as even trace amounts of gluten can be present in unexpected products. In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.
Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake: Use a flour blend labeled gluten-free and check the vanilla label. Lemons, poppy seeds, butter, eggs, sugar and plain sour cream are naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients
Shop links on this page are for gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, granulated sugar, divided, pure vanilla extract. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.
Instructions
Nutrition (per serving)
Tips & Notes
- Room-temperature butter, eggs and sour cream matter more than usual: cold eggs make creamed butter seize, and the trapped air is the cake's only lift.
- Use a flour blend that already contains xanthan gum. If yours does not, whisk 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum into the flour.
- Wrapped tightly, the cake keeps 3 days at room temperature or 3 months frozen in slices; the lemon syrup keeps it from drying out.
- Plain whole-milk Greek yogurt can replace the sour cream at the same amount.
Common questions
Why does this lemon poppy seed cake have no baking powder?
It is made by the pound cake method: butter and sugar are creamed until fluffy and the eggs are beaten in, and that trapped air lifts the loaf. The result is a tighter, more buttery crumb than a muffin batter with baking powder.
Can I bake this pound cake in a round pan?
Yes. Use a greased and lined 8-inch round pan and start checking at 35 minutes; it usually needs 35 to 45 minutes at 325°F.
How do I know when a gluten-free pound cake is done?
A skewer in the center should come out with only a few moist crumbs, and the center should read about 205°F on an instant-read thermometer. Gluten-free cakes can look done on top before the middle has set.
Why did my pound cake sink in the middle?
Usually it was underbaked, the oven door was opened in the first 40 minutes, or the butter was too warm and greasy when creamed, so it could not hold air.
How long does Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake take?
Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake takes about 2 hours 25 minutes, including resting time: 25 minutes to prep and 60 minutes to cook, for 8 servings.
What should I check before making Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake with celiac disease?
Written with gluten-free ingredients. Use products labeled gluten-free, check labels, and ask your clinician about your own needs.
What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake?
Check gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, granulated sugar, divided, unsalted butter, softened before they go into Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake. To prevent cross-contamination, always ensure your work surfaces, utensils, and baking pans are thoroughly cleaned. Be vigilant about checking labels on all ingredients, as even trace amounts of gluten can be present in unexpected products. In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.
Which gluten-free swaps does Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake use?
Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake relies on a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Keep those gluten-free-labeled products in place of a gluten-containing flour or sauce. If the blend already lists xanthan gum, do not add a second binder unless this recipe says to.
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