What do Easter, spring, lemons, flowers, seeds, a book, strawberries, and a salad have in common? They are all parts to the story behind this Strawberry Poppy Seed cake. It begins with a simple theme for the Bundt Bakers group; bake a cake for Easter or spring. Plowing through my cookbooks and cake recipes gave the first impulse of one to make. It would be lemon. Yep, that was it. Well, until I went out and saw the first signs of growth on my poppy plant. It would not be long before those lovely flowers would be blooming. It inspired me to add poppy seeds to the cake. Lemon poppy seed cake became the plan.
A little voice in the back of my head questioned using lemon. While it is a common pairing for poppy seeds, something else might be more adventurous. Once again I checked in the ultimate recipe development resource book, The Flavor Bible
, and saw strawberries listed under poppy seeds. Immediately my thoughts went back to the early 90's when a friend brought a strawberry poppy seed salad to a potluck. Oh how I enjoyed that salad. The flavors went so well together. The cake plan changed again, this time for good.
How is the strawberry poppy seed cake? The strawberry part is very subtle. There is a hint of it in the background against a nutty seed flavor. The color of the cake is not the expected pink or red. Only the glaze gives a clue as to what is inside.
It is a moist cake with an airy texture. Poppy seeds give a touch of crunchiness to each bite. There should be enough glaze to save for serving or you can make extra. A drizzle over a slice adds a pop of color. Plus it is a bonus to those who love glaze and frosting.
What cakes do you enjoy for Easter or spring? The bundt bakers have some mighty tasty recipes to share for this month's theme. Getting to them is only a click away. Scroll down to find details on how you can join in the monthly Bundt Bakers fun. And big thanks to Tara of Noshing with the Nolands for hosting this month. For more spring or Easter recipes look at Lemon Parsley Cocktail and Coconut Cupcakes.
- Strawberry Poppy Seed Cake by Magnolia Days
- Babka with Bittersweet Chocolate Chunks by The Spiced Life
- Bursting-With-Berries Lemon Curd Bundt Cake by All That's Left Are Crumbs
- Lemon Coconut Bundt Cake by Basic N Delicious
- Easter Pound Cake by Sew You Think You Can Cook
- Easter Bunny Bundt by Jane's Adventures in Dinner
- Bunny Nest Carrot Mini Bundts by Food Lust People Love
- Colorful Spring Bundt Cake by Varada's Kitchen
- Mini Lemon Spring Bundts by Noshing With The Nolands
- Pineapple Pale Ale Bundt Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze by Melanie Makes
- Carrot Tea Cake by My Catholic Kitchen
- Hot Cross Mini Bundts by Passion Kneaded
- Easter Swirl Cake by Tea and Scones
- Lemon & Elderflower Bundt Cake by Box of Stolen Socks
- Strawberry Lemon Bundt Cake by From Gate to Plate
Strawberry Poppy Seed Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 16 ounce container frozen sliced strawberries with sugar thawed*
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
For the glaze:
- 1 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons strawberry purée
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Milk as needed
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10- or 12-cup bundt pan.
- Put the strawberries and juice into a blender. Blend until puréed.
- Whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla and beat to combine.
- Combine buttermilk and ¾ cup strawberry purée.
- Add flour mixture in three additions, alternatively with buttermilk/strawberry in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and spread batter evenly in the pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick when inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out cake on to a wire rack. Cool completely.
- Drizzle glaze over top of cake. Transfer cake to serving plate.
- Keep cake refrigerated when not serving.
For the glaze:
- Stir together confectioners sugar, strawberry puree, vanilla, and salt in a small bowl. Add milk, about a teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached (should be pour-able but not too thin).
- Extra or leftover glaze can be used for serving.
Notes
What is Bundt Bakers? It's a group of Bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundts with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Bundt Bakers Pinterest board for incredible bundt cake recipes and inspiration. Stacy of Food Lust People Love heads up our group and has a #BundtBakers page where you can find information and links to the recipes for each month.
How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.
Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, send an email to Stacy at [email protected] or ask to join our private Facebook group.
Wow what a cake! The texture is perfect, just like I love a bundt! I have this bookmarked... I adore cakes like this for everyday.
Thank you Jamie and thanks for bookmarking it too. I hope you will enjoy making and eating it soon.
Strawberry bundt happiness takes over the world! I love this cake!
Thanks Christine and you made me smile with your comment.
What a gorgeous looking bundt Renee, love the poppyseeds, that is something that is under used in this house and I love them!!
I've found that recipes for poppy seeds to be not that common either. I also need to use them more often.
I love your explanation of the theme! Gorgeous bundt C:
Thanks Jane! I loved the theme and the cake so much it was easy to write about both.
As usual, a not-as-usual beautiful Bundt, Renee! I love the combination of strawberries and poppy seeds and that pink glaze is gorgeous!
Thanks Stacy and I'm glad you like my not-as-usual bundt.
That's one pretty bundt cake and I'm totally ready for summer fun fruits. Love it!
I can't wait for the local strawberries to be ready for picking. Almost, but not yet.
What a lovely story about how the flavors of this cake were developed. The cake turned out great.
Thanks Varada
I love your write up! And the cake sounds delicious. I recently made a strawberry poppy seed dressing so I can contest to the combination being a success.
Thanks Lauren and I'd love to have the recipe for that dressing.
Your cake looks wonderful Renee! The color of the glaze is so subtle and elegant. I love the story behind your creative process.
Happy Easter!
Thank you Maria and Happy Easter to you too!
What a great flavor combination - love the use of poppy seeds here!
Thanks! I'm so glad I remembered the flavor combo and used it for this cake. I see more baked goods and even dressings with it too.
Your Bundt sounds delicious and easy! I cant wait to make it for my family.
Thanks Veronica and I hope your family will enjoy it.
That looks delicious! And it's been too long since I've had the old Bundt pan out, so ...
Now don't let the old bundt pan sit for too long. Time to get baking...
Renee your cakes are always so pretty, and I really love the flavor combination you chose for this month. I really do need to add The Flavor Bible to my library.
Yes, definitely get The Flavor Bible. I don't know what I would do without it now.
Gorgeous bundt! Love the flavour combo.
Thanks Kelster