Zingy, sweet, and bursting with lemon and poppy seed flavor, this is such a fun cake for spring and special occasions.
Why you’ll love this cake
To be perfectly honest, I am not a huge fan of cake. I know that sounds crazy coming from someone who lives for dessert, but hear me out. Traditional cake is often dry and dense, and not very interesting from a texture or flavor standpoint. I’d take brownies, cookies, tarts, or pies over cake any day.
Except for THIS cake. I would happily bake and eat this cake every day if it wasn’t a surefire way to give myself early-onset diabetes. It’s light and fluffy, and moist and tender, and is definitely neither dry nor dense. Recently, my friends and I were talking about our favorite cake flavors, and I honestly couldn’t name one. I just said chocolate cake because, well, I love chocolate.
I’m happy to report that I now have a definitive favorite cake flavor: Lemon Poppy Seed, all thanks to this insanely delicious cake. Lest you think that I’m the only person obsessed with this cake, let’s just say that my partner, who is also a cake-skeptic, ate two (generous) pieces in in a period of seven minutes. Also, I brought a huge 13×9 pan of leftovers to the office, and the entire pan was gone in 15 minutes. So, yeah, this cake is a real crowd pleaser.
Now that I’m done tooting my own horn, let’s talk about what’s inside this cake! There are three main components to this cake: the Lemon Poppy Seed Layer Cake, the Blackberry Ginger Jam, and the Cream Cheese Frosting. Each layer is sufficiently important to merit its own section.
Layer 1: Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
First, the lemon poppy seed cake. The ingredients for this cake are remarkably simple and minimal: just 9 ingredients (excluding salt). A couple notes on ingredients here. And yes, we’re going to geek out on food science for a minute.
This cake calls for baking soda only, no baking powder. if you’re a baking aficionado, you may know that recipes that call for baking soda require some sort of acid. That’s because the combination of acid and baking soda is what creates carbon dioxide, which then causes the cake to rise. Baking soda is considerably stronger than baking powder, and the generous amount used in this recipe (2 teaspoons) is what’s partially responsible for this cake’s extraordinarily light and fluffy texture.
If two teaspoons of baking soda sounds like a lot, keep in mind that we are using A LOT of acid – 1/2 cup of lemon juice to be precise. Because this cake uses a relatively high amount of baking soda, you want to make sure you use the full amount of lemon juice. Otherwise, you’ll have an excess of baking soda leftover after the reaction, which will lend the cake an unpleasant soapy taste. Also, please use FRESHLY SQUEEZED lemon juice. Since this is a lemon cake, you must use fresh lemon juice to get that lovely, bright lemon flavor; no plastic bottles of juice!
My second ingredient note concerns the extra virgin olive oil. As this is a vegan cake, there will be no butter. Even before becoming I vegan, I preferred baking cakes with oil over butter (or mixing the two) because cakes baked with oil tend to bake up with a lighter, more even crumb and stay tender and moist compared to cakes baked with butter, which tend to dry out more.
If you’re curious about the science, it’s largely due to two factors. First, oil weighs less than butter, resulting in cakes with a lighter texture. Second, while all oils are 100% fat, most standard butters (at least in the U.S.) are only 80% fat and contain a significant percent of water; that water intensifies the gluten found in flour, resulting in denser, drier cakes.
Lastly, this cake in particular is best made with oil because it should be refrigerated (due to the cream cheese frosting). When butter cakes are refrigerated, they tend to firm up and dry out.
Since the only source of fat in this cake is the olive oil, I do recommend using a high-quality, fruity extra virgin olive oil. The light but buttery, slightly fruity flavor of a good extra virgin olive oil works magically with the lemon juice (just as it might in a lemon vinaigrette).
Layering the cake
Now for something less food science-y and more practical. I wanted this to be a show-stopping layer cake, which is why it has four layers. I waited until the two cakes (baked in 9-inch round cake pans) had cooled to room temperature and then wrapped them in plastic wrap and refrigerated for a few hours. Wrapping and refrigerating cakes makes it easier to slice them in half. To slice them, you’ll want to use a long serrated knife (Martha Stewart shows you how it’s done). Or you can get back into the food science game and use dental floss to slice the cake in layers. Yes, dental floss.
Admittedly, this whole process requires patience and good knife (flossing) skills. If you want to skip this step, and just make this into a two-layer cake, feel free to leave the two cakes unsliced and lather on the jam and cream cheese frosting.
Layer 2: Blackberry Ginger Jam
What can I say about this Blackberry Ginger Jam? It is so delicious and so easy to make. It’s so good that I would recommend making a double batch so you have extra jam to serve with breakfast throughout the week (it’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 10 days).
Feel free to use frozen blackberries, but I’ve started to see blackberries pop up at the grocery store and they have been oh-so-sweet! I love the zingy, slightly spicy notes from the fresh ginger, especially in contrast to the sweetness and richness of the cream cheese frosting.
Layer 3: Cream Cheese Frosting
This last layer, the Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, is what takes this cake from indulgent to straight out decadent. It is thick and rich, sweet and slightly tangy, like any good cream cheese frosting. It is by no means healthy, so please don’t fool yourself into thinking that it is!
If you are looking for a delicious dessert but trying to keep things on the lighter side (relatively speaking), you can omit the cream cheese frosting and the cake + jam combo will still be super delicious. Alternatively, you can make all three layers, but make only half the amount of cream cheese frosting. Another option is to use less powdered sugar in the frosting, as long as you’re okay with a runnier frosting.
A few notes to ensure you have a smooth texture and perfect cream cheese taste. First, you’ll want to bring your vegan cream cheese and butter to room temperature before mixing them. You can speed up this process by cutting each into small pieces instead of just leaving them on the counter in their packaged containers. Second, you’ll want to sift your powdered sugar (after you measure it). This ensures your frosting will be smooth and not have any weird clumps. Finally, my preferred cream cheese for a realistic cream cheese frosting taste is the Tofutti cream cheese. No, it’s not healthy, I know. But it tastes just like cream cheese (even better, in my opinion).
Final notes on this cake
As I mentioned earlier, you’ll want to store this cake in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese frosting. If you omit the frosting, you can store it at room temperature (be sure to cover it tightly regardless of which method you use).
I used two 9-inch cake pans, and baked these cakes for 32 minutes. If you are using 8-inch cake pans, they will be a bit thicker (less surface area), so you will likely need to bake them for a few more minutes.
If you’re looking for a more traditional lemon layer cake, this new Vegan Lemon Cake is an absolute dream with a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Finally, if you make this Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Layer Cake, be sure to leave me a comment below and tag me with your creations on Instagram!
Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Layer Cake
Ingredients
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
- 3 cups (~380g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups (~280g) organic cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest (about 2 medium lemons)
- 1 2/3 cups (~400 mL) unsweetened almond milk (for nut-free, use oat milk or soy milk)
- 1/2 cup (~120 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 medium lemons)
- 1/2 cup (~120 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons poppy seeds
Blackberry Ginger Jam
- 3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries (~425 - 450g)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger (use a bit more for a more prominent ginger flavor)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons or ~112g) vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 8 ounces (~227g) vegan cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans (or 8-inch round cake pans) with parchment paper to make removal easy.
- Zest the lemons until you get two tablespoons of zest. Then juice the lemons until you get 1/2 cup of lemon juice.
- Stir together the almond milk the lemon juice and set aside until it curdles like buttermilk.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and sugar until really well combined. Pour in the curdled buttermilk, olive oil, lemon zest, vanilla and poppy seeds. Use a large wooden spoon to mix the batter, just until the ingredients are combined. Avoid over mixing the batter, as it can cause the cake to become denser in texture.
- Pour the batter evenly between the two pans (I use a kitchen scale to weigh each pan to evenly distribute the batter). Arrange the cakes in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the center is set, and a toothpick inserted comes out with only a few moist crumbs. I baked mine for 32 minutes (you will need to bake them for a few minutes longer if using 8-inch cake pans).
- Remove the cake pans from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool completely before inverting them onto the cooling rack.
- To make the Blackberry Ginger Jam: Add the blackberries, ginger, maple syrup, and lemon juice to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. After 2-3 minutes, use the back of a wooden spoon or a fork to break down and mash the berries. Cook for 7-10 minutes or until the jam has reduced and thickened a little bit. Remove from the heat and then stir in the chia seeds to thicken. The jam will also thicken as it cools.
- To make the Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: To a large mixing bowl, add the softened butter and cream cheese. Beat on low speed with an electric handheld mixer (or stand mixer) until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla and lemon zest for a few seconds. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar in 1 cup increments, and mix on low speed until the icing is thick and spreadable. If your frosting is too runny, place the bowl in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- To assemble the cake: If you are making this into a traditional layer cake, you’ll need to slice each cake layer in half, horizontally, so you end up with four cake layers (see notes above underneath “Layering the cake” for tips). Spread 1/4 of the frosting over the first cake layer using a frosting spatula or silicone spatula, then spread 1/4 of the jam on top. Repeat with the remaining three cake layers. If you have any leftover frosting, lightly spread the frosting on the outside of the cake. If you don’t want to make this into a four-layer cake, simply add a generous amount of the frosting and jam on top of the first cake, top with the second cake, and then repeat.
Hi! Just wondering where you bought edible flowers for decorating the cake?
Hello! I just made this cake for my sister-in-law who is vegan and WOW!!! It was delicious! Even the whole non-vegan family loved it! The cake was so soft! Will definitely make this again.
Hi Nisha,
My daughter is vegan and I made this cake for her Birthday. It was delicious ! everyone loved it. I only have one question: what ingredients should I use for the non vegan recipe?Thank you very much,Claudia :0)
Hi Nisha,
The cake looks so delicious and beautiful, I can’t wait to try the recipe! I only have one question: what do you think, would raspberries be a good alternative for blackberries? I can’t find them in my local stores in any form.
Thank you for your wonderful recipes, now is the perfect time to try a few of them. :)
Hi Selma, yes raspberries would be great – they pair wonderfully with lemon :) I am so glad you enjoy my recipes. Happy baking!
Hi Nisha- thanks for this recipe! It’s delicious despite some substitutions. I halved the recipe and made it with Cup 4 cup gluten free flour, and added a few chia seeds and flax seeds to the batter since I didn’t have poppy seeds (quarantine). Still super delicious!
Hi Angela, so nice to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and were able to make it with gluten-free flour! I like your idea of subbing with chia seeds and flax seeds – it’s a great time to get creative and flexible in the kitchen :)
Hi Nisha,I made this cake for my mom’s birthday and it was a hit. It was delicious. Love the combination of lemon and blackberries! I only did two layers but still turned out great. Next time I will try to make it four layers.Thanks for all your wonderful recipes!
Hi Nisha
Wow this cake looks amazing! My partner is coeliac and so I would need to make it gluten free, have you tried making it that way and if so do you have any recommendations please?
Thank you Vera! I am glad you like it. While I haven’t tried this recipe GF, when I do make baking subs from recipes that aren’t gluten-free, I have the best results with a 1:1 all-purpose, gluten-free flour like this – https://amzn.to/2V4e2Vp
I have also made cakes with this variety of Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose GF flour with good results – https://amzn.to/2V1H6wZ
Hope that helps!
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I just made this for my mother’s birthday and it was devoured by the whole family. It turned out beautifully; I had just enough jam to swirl into the frosting on the top then finished it with a few whole berries and more lemon zest . It’s not only delicious — it’s one impressive cake, especially once you cut in. My mom isn’t even a big fan of blackberries yet kept raving about the filling. :) Thanks for the wonderful recipe, Nisha. It’s a keeper for sure!
Hi Barb! I am so grateful for your wonderful feedback! And so nice to hear you made it for your mother’s birthday – what a sweet daughter you are :) I love the way you presented it too. A little extra lemon zest is always a good idea!
Hi Nisha!
I’ve been wanting to make this for months and I’m so glad I finally did! Olive oil cakes are my new favorite thing! Thank you!
Hi Juliet, YAY! So happy you tried this cake – it is one of my all-time favorite cakes. Olive oils add such a nice lightness (but also smooth richness) to cakes!
Amazing cake!! The icing is really sweet so add less if you prefer cakes to be less sweet but the blackberry ginger jam is to die for, and the base lemon poppyseed cake is too good.
Hi Nivi! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your feedback. So happy you enjoyed the cake! If you make it again, you can add less sugar to the icing or just make half the amount :) Hope that helps!
I made this for my best friends birthday and everyone was flipping out at how beautiful and how delicious it was! I rarely bake and this was so easy to make! It was actually really fun to make! I would half the icing recipe as I only filled the 4 layers with the jam and only spread the outside with the icing. Modified the jam to have blackberries, cherries and blueberries in it. Going to make these into cupcakes this weekend so I can use up the rest of that icing!Thanks for this recipe :)
Aww Aneta! I appreciate you stopping by to leave a comment. So glad to hear that even though you don’t bake often it was easy to make! And appreciate the feedback on the amount of frosting – I sometimes go overboard for food styling and photography purposes lol. And I love the sound of the mixed berry jam especially since berries are coming into season!
I made this for Mother’s Day and it was so moist and flavorful! Everyone loved it! My daughter, who loves chocolate, requested this cake over a chocolate one for her birthday tomorrow!! Off to buy lemons 🍋 Thanks for this wonderful recipe😋
Hi Sandy! That makes me SO happy to hear. I especially love that your chocolate-loving daughter requested this cake. I myself am a chocolate fiend but this is my new favorite cake :) I hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday!
Super easy to make and freakin delicious! I opted to do the lazy route and just layer the two cakes together rather than cut into 4s and it worked well. Next time i will try cutting into 4s to get a better cake to jam ratio! Anyway, super great recipe, totally worth making!
Hi Sarah! Thank you for your lovely feedback and so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Nothing wrong with going the lazy route but sometimes the fancy presentation is worth it :)
Love lemon poppyseed everything! Making this cake today for my mom! I’m using mixed berries instead of only blackberries and layering with fresh strawberries! Hopefully turns out yummy!
Oh yay! I am so happy to hear that! Hope that you and your mom both enjoy it. Mixed berries + extra strawberries sounds like a delicious upgrade!
Hi :-) Im challenging mum to make this.In the last photo on this page where the cake is cut, the cake part looks quite wet. Is it a dry crumb? Is all that oil necessary?
Thank you :-)
Hi Jonathan,
Hope you and your mum will enjoy it! It’s a very fluffy, light cake and the crumb isn’t very dry but it’s also not wet. I haven’t tried making it with less oil, but given that there’s 3 cups of flour and no other source of fat (no eggs as in a traditional cake), 1/2 cup of oil seems about right. I’m sure you will still have good results if you reduce it by a little (like 1/3 cup), but can’t vouch for it since I haven’t tried it.
Sweetie that cake looks so so beautiful and delicious! Love everything with lemon and poppy seeds.Love Kathrin
Hi my friend! Thank you so much. So happy you like it. Lemon poppy seed is my favorite cake flavor!
I’m gluten free, will this recipe work with gf flour? (I use Pamela’s.)
Hi Arin,
I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t say for sure 100%, but I’ve had pretty good success using an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend in lieu of regular all-purpose flour in cakes. I wouldn’t use just a single gluten-free flour such as oat flour because it’s much denser than all-purpose flour. Just keep in mind, the cake won’t be as light and fluffy with a gluten-free flour.
I CANT WAIT TO MAKE THIS!! I’m not really someone who follows other people’s recipes because i just really love creating my own, but man oh man i can’t pass this one up!! I honestly can’t stop thinking about it since i saw it
Hey Monica! That makes me so happy to hear that! I love creating my own recipes too, which is why I rarely get around to making others as well, but so thrilled that this one made it onto your list!
I love making Layer Cakes! Especially, Lemon Cakes are one my favorites :-) Also, love these beautiful purple flowers! Great post, NishaLots of love, Bianca <3
And you are so good at making them, Bianca! Lemon poppy seed is my favorite cake flavor :) Thank you for stopping by, sweetie!