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Home » Desserts » Moist Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Moist Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

June 6, 2022 by Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life 15 Comments

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What do blueberries, lemons and poppy seeds have in common? They’re all in this impossibly delicious cake! This blueberry lemon cake combines three layers of ultra-moist blueberry poppy seed cake with a dash of creamy lemon curd and a generous helping of silky cream cheese frosting.

lemon blueberry poppy seed cake on a cake stand with drinks and plates around it.

If ever there was a cake that tasted like summer and liquid sunshine, it would be this cake.

And if that doesn’t have you sprinting towards your kitchen and/or local grocery store, consider this:
— Three ultra-moist layers of almond cake dappled with poppy seeds and oozing fresh blueberries
— Tart, silky lemon curd you’re going to want to eat straight from the jar
— Velvety smooth cream cheese frosting

So….. is your jacket on yet?

Here’s how to make this cake

First, make the lemon curd filling.

In a bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks for lemon curd. Place the bowl over a pot of boiling water and cook, whisking occasionally, until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency (about 10 minutes).

Remove the bowl from the pot of boiling water and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

Whisk in the cubes of butter until smooth. Cover and allow to cool completely in the refrigerator.

overhead view of citrus fruit around a bowl of lemon curd

Second, make the blueberry poppy seed cake.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the eggs and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). It’s important to give the egg/sugar mixture the benefit of a full whipping here as this is part of what will help your cake rise and give it that fluffy texture.

Whisk together the wet ingredients (vegetable oil, milk, sour cream and almond extract) in one bowl and the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda and poppy seeds) in another.

Add half of the dry ingredients to the egg/sugar mixture, and whip on low until just combined. Pour all of the wet ingredients into the batter and whip until just combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients and whip until just combined and the batter is lump-free.

Fold the blueberries into the batter. Pro tip: Crush a 1/2 cup of the blueberries to release some of the juices into the cake for extra flavor and moisture.

Divide the batter between three greased and parchment paper-lined 6″ round cake pans. The best way to ensure your cake layers are even is to measure out your batter. For this recipe, each layer should take about 14oz of batter.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.

overhead shot of blueberry cakes on a cooling rack.

Third, make the cream cheese frosting.

In a stand mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and almond extract until smooth (about 2-3 minutes on a medium speed).

Reduce your mixer’s speed to low and slowly begin to add the powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar has mixed into the butter/cream cheese, increase the speed to high and beat until smooth.

Fourth, assemble the cake.

If you’re cake layers didn’t bake up completely flat, use a bread knife to level the tops.

Spread a 1/2″ of frosting over your first layer of cake. Using the side of an offset spatula, carve about half of the frosting out of the center and fill it with the cooled lemon curd. Repeat for the second layer.

Add the final layer and cover the sides and top of the cake with a thin layer of frosting (a crumb coat). Refrigerate until set (about 10 minutes).

Once the crumb coat has set, frost the top and sides of your cake with 1/3″ of frosting. For tips on how to get a smooth frosting finish, check out my comprehensive post on how to frost a cake.

two layers of cake stacked and frosted with lemon curd in the center.

Finally, decorate your cake.

Below I’m going to share how I decorated this cake to look like it does in the photos. But if cake decorating isn’t your jam, you can create a similar feel by pressing blueberries into the frosting. Just know that this frosting crusts so you’ll want to add the blueberries before it sets.

To create this look, divide the remaining frosting between three bowls. Tint one yellow, one green (I used cypress and yellow to create this shade) and one dark blue (I used black and blue food coloring for this one).

Using a butter knife or offset spatula, dapple the sides and top of the cake with the yellow.

collage of cake decorating.

Dip the back of a palette knife into the green frosting. Press the frosting gently into the cake and pull away from the tip of the palette knife to create a leaf. Repeat as desired.

Spoon the dark blue into a piping bag with a small, round tip (like a Wilton 11 or 12). Pipe the blueberries onto the ends of the leaves. Allow the frosting to set until it forms a crust (about 10 minutes).

Use the handle end of a small brush or utensil to create an indent in the center of each blueberry. Spoon the remaining blue frosting into a bag with a smaller round tip (like a Wilton 3) and pipe small strings of frosting around the indent.

collage of cake decorating.

Expert tips

  • Measure your batter: Making even layers of cake start with measuring your batter. For this recipe, that means about roughly 14oz of batter per pan.
  • Testing for doneness: Although tempting to wait until the toothpick comes out clean, doing so will likely lead to over-baking your cake. Instead, you want your toothpick to come out without any raw batter and with some cooked crumbs still clinging to it.
  • Chill your cake: Cool cake is easier to cut and handle, so chilling your cake for a short while before use will make this process easier.
  • The trick to bubble-free frosting: Although this frosting whips up relatively smooth, you can beat out any air bubbles that might have worked their way in by beating the frosting on low for about 5 minutes.
  • Crumb coating: Crumb coating a cake means spreading a thin amount of frosting over the sides and top of an otherwise unfrosted cake in order to lock in the crumbs so they don’t get into the outer layers of the frosting. I recommend doing that for this cake.
  • The trick for smooth frosting: You’ll need a rotating cake stand and a bench scraper. Place the small end of the bench scraper on the cake stand, long end against the frosting and turn the table. Once excess frosting is removed, heat the scraper in hot water, wipe and drag around the outside of the cake.
  • Storage: This cake will keep in the refrigerator, uncut, for 2-3 days.
  • Storing cut cake: Once your cake is cut, you’ll want to protect the exposed cake area. The easiest way to do this is with a piece of plastic wrap or two.
slice blueberry lemon cake with a plated piece in the foreground.

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below. Better still, snap a photo and tag it on Instagram with #thesimplesweetlife. I love seeing your creations!

Print

Blueberry Poppy Seed Lemon Cake

lemon blueberry poppy seed cake on a cake stand with drinks and plates around it.
Print Recipe

This blueberry poppy seed lemon cake has three layers of blueberry poppy seed cake sandwiched with lemon curd and cream cheese frosting.

  • Author: Claire of The Simple, Sweet Life
  • Prep Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 16 slices 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the cake:

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 1/2 tsp poppy seed

For the lemon curd:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed

For the frosting:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, at room temp.
  • 8 oz (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp.
  • 2 lbs powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • Blue, yellow and green food gel coloring

Instructions

  1. For the lemon curd filling, whisk together the granulated sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and egg yolks and place over a pot of boiling water.
  2. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
  3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
  4. Whisk in the butter until smooth. Cover and allow the curd to cool completely in the refrigerator.
  5. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the eggs and granulated sugar for the cake until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
  6. In two separate bowls, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda and poppy seeds) and the wet ingredients (vegetable oil, milk, sour cream and almond extract).
  7. Add half of the dry ingredients to the egg/sugar mixture, whisk until just combined.
  8. Add all of the wet ingredients, again whisk until just combined and lump-free.
  9. Finally, add the remaining dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
  10. Fold in the blueberries.
  11. Divide the batter between three greased and parchment paper-lined 6″ round cake pans.
  12. Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean.
  13. In a stand mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and almond extract until smooth.
  14. On low, slowly add the powdered sugar until all the sugar has been added.
  15. Turn the stand mixer up to high and beat until smooth.
  16. Spread a 1/2″ of frosting over your first layer of cake.
  17. Using the side of an offset spatula, carve about half of the frosting out of the center and fill it with the cooled lemon curd.
  18. Fill the center with lemon curd.
  19. Repeat for the second layer of cake.
  20. Top with the final layer of cake and give the whole thing a thin crumb coat.
  21. Allow to chill in the refrigerator until the frosting crusts.
  22. Frost the cake with a 1/3″ layer of frosting around the sides and on the top.
  23. Divide the remaining frosting into three bowls.
  24. Tint one bowl light yellow, one bowl dark blue and the final bowl a dark green.
  25. Using an offset spatula, dab the yellow frosting onto the cake and gently spread it until smooth.
  26. Pick up a little green frosting using the back of a small palette knife and drag it across the cake to create leaves.
  27. Spoon the dark blue frosting into a piping bag with a small round tip and pipe blueberries at the ends of the leaves.

Notes

  • Measure your batter: Making even layers of cake start with measuring your batter. For this recipe, that means about roughly 14oz of batter per pan.
  • Testing for doneness: Although tempting to wait until the toothpick comes out clean, doing so will likely lead to over-baking your cake. Instead, you want your toothpick to come out without any raw batter and with some cooked crumbs still clinging to it.
  • Chill your cake: Cool cake is easier to cut and handle, so chilling your cake for a short while before use will make this process easier.
  • The trick to bubble-free frosting: Although this frosting whips up relatively smooth, you can beat out any air bubbles that might have worked their way in by beating the frosting on low for about 5 minutes.
  • Crumb coating: Crumb coating a cake means spreading a thin amount of frosting over the sides and top of an otherwise unfrosted cake in order to lock in the crumbs so they don’t get into the outer layers of the frosting. I recommend doing that for this cake.
  • The trick for smooth frosting: You’ll need a rotating cake stand and a bench scraper. Place the small end of the bench scraper on the cake stand, long end against the frosting and turn the table. Once excess frosting is removed, heat the scraper in hot water, wipe and drag around the outside of the cake.
  • Storage: This cake will keep in the refrigerator, uncut, for 2-3 days.
  • Storing cut cake: Once your cake is cut, you’ll want to protect the exposed cake area. The easiest way to do this is with a piece of plastic wrap or two.

Lemon curd recipe adapted from Miette’s
Cream cheese frosting adapted from Sugar Geek Show

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 654
  • Sugar: 84.6g
  • Sodium: 168mg
  • Fat: 30.4g
  • Saturated Fat: 15.8g
  • Carbohydrates: 94.8g
  • Fiber: .6g
  • Protein: 4.5g
  • Cholesterol: 140mg

Keywords: blueberry cake, lemon poppy seed cake, blueberry lemon cake recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thesimplesweetlifeblog on Instagram and hashtag it #thesimplesweetlife

If you liked this recipe, you might also like…

  • The best lemon poppy seed cake
  • Almond poppy seed apricot cake
  • Orange blossom bundt cake

Update Notes: This post was originally published in February of 2018 but was republished with an updated format, photos and tips in June of 2022.

Share Something Sweet!

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Filed Under: Cakes, Desserts

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Comments

  1. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says

    February 5, 2018 at 8:04 am

    I’m so over winter and this is calling my name! How gorgoues!

    Reply
    • oremployeeengagement says

      February 5, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      wow, so gorgeous and the recipes is making my mouth water. Can’t wait to try it!!

      Reply
  2. Sue says

    February 5, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    This is drop dead gorgeous and the flavors sound amazing! I want this 🙂

    Reply
  3. Rachel says

    February 8, 2018 at 11:57 am

    This cake is beautiful to look at and the combination of the blueberry, lemon and poppy seed sounds lovely!

    Reply
  4. Veena Azmanov says

    February 8, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    I love the sound of lemon and poppy sees with blueberries. You’ve done such an incredible job of making it look so pretty.

    Reply
  5. thegingeredwhisk@gmail.com says

    February 9, 2018 at 5:00 am

    Wow! This cake! It is simply stunning! I love the combination of blueberries with the lemon poppyseed, too!

    Reply
  6. cheddarben says

    February 9, 2018 at 5:27 am

    These are some beautiful photographs and that cake looks dang good!

    Reply
  7. Paige says

    February 9, 2018 at 8:55 am

    I love lemon curd in cake. It is perfect with the blueberries too.
    Pretty styling, and cute story!

    Reply
  8. Leslie Haasch says

    February 10, 2018 at 6:21 am

    This cake totally has me ready for warmer weather – so springy!

    Reply
  9. prasanna hede says

    February 10, 2018 at 10:06 am

    this is a gorgeous cake,with all the berries,lemon curd! ah,yum!

    Reply
  10. Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says

    February 10, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    This cake is such a showstopper!! Love that lemon/poppy combo, and the decorations here are absolutely gorgeous!

    Reply
  11. Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says

    February 10, 2018 at 6:34 pm

    First, your pictures are beautiful! I love the vibrant colors from the berries. This cake looks so good too! It definitely wouldn’t last long in my house

    Reply
  12. Rezel Kealoha says

    February 11, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    So here in San Francisco it’s been in the 70’s for the past week. Don’t hate me! 🙂 I love the ombre you got on the cake. It’s beautiful and such a nice flavor combo too!

    Reply
  13. Kristina says

    February 11, 2018 at 10:53 pm

    Poppy seeds are definitely underutilized in desserts!

    Reply
  14. Britt @ A Lil' Sweet, Spice, & Advice says

    February 12, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    This cake is absolutely gorgeous! I am loving the lemon and poppyseeds in this. I’ll be making this cake for sure in the springtime.

    Reply

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Hei på deg!

I'm Claire, the baker, blogger, sprinkle enthusiast, and cookie painter behind The Simple, Sweet Life. Whether you like simple sweets, comfort (baked) foods, or works of sugar art, you're sure to find something here to sweeten your day! Get to know me better here!

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