Lemon Poppy Seed Bread (Gluten Free Option)

With both sweet and tangy flavors, this gluten-free lemon poppyseed bread is a refreshing recipe you’ll want to keep on hand for holiday gatherings, bake sales, and brunch. Made with gluten-free flour (or regular flour), yogurt, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and poppy seeds, this quick bread has a moist texture and a tender crumb. It gets topped with a sweet lemon glaze to make this an easy baked bread loaf that’s bursting with vibrant lemon flavor.

A Delightful Addition To Your Collection Of Quick Bread Recipes

If you’re looking for a sweet bread recipe with lemon poppyseed flavors, this lemon poppy seed bread is just right for you. Light and refreshing, it’s sweet enough to enjoy as dessert yet satisfying enough to serve as part of breakfast. Especially if you pair it with a hot cup of coffee and some protein. Quick to prepare, it’s great to make ahead of time and simple enough for the kids to lend a helping hand. The only hard part is waiting for it to finish baking! In fact, you probably want to go ahead and make a double batch, because this bread loaf tends to disappear fast. 

What Is Lemon Poppy Seed Bread Made Of?

Here are the ingredients to gather to make this recipe today and enjoy it throughout the week:

The Quick Bread Ingredients:

• Large eggs
• Yogurt – using yogurt in this quick bread gives it an extra tender crumb and perfect moistness. We recommend using regular (not Greek) yogurt in either plain or vanilla flavor
• Avocado oil – a great source of oleic acid and lutein (for eye and brain health), avocado oil is a fabulous healthy fat option that aids the absorption of other nutrients. Get 20% off of our favorite avocado oil with code REALFOOD20. May also substitute olive oil or melted butter or coconut oil.
• Vanilla extract
• Gluten-free flour blend – for gluten-free flour, we like to reach for Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour or King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. If you don’t need a lemon poppy seed loaf that is gluten-free, you can use an equal amount of unbleached all-purpose flour. We’ve tested this recipe with both, and both flours achieve great results
• Cane sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Fresh lemon juice and fresh lemon zest  – a good source of vitamin C and potassium, lemons provide a vitamin and mineral boost along with their zesty taste
• Poppy seeds – we use black poppy seeds for a more pronounced flavor, allowing them to be the main ingredient that sets this bread apart from other loaves

The Lemon Glaze Ingredients:

• Powdered sugar (a.k.a. confectioners sugar)
• Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest – we call for both fresh lemon juice and zest to get that wonderful pop of lemony flavor

For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include complete nutrition information, listing calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.

How to Make Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Here are the simple steps to make this lemon poppy seed bread:

1. Preheat: Set the oven to 350°F, and spray in a 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray before setting it aside.
2. Whisk the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, yogurt, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Mix the dry ingredients: In the same mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients except for the poppy seeds. Stir to combine. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, stirring until the batter begins to bubble a little.
4. Bake: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean.
5. Cool: Allow the lemon poppy seed bread to cool slightly in the pan before removing it and transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Glaze: In a small or medium bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the glaze. Drizzle it over the cool bread before slicing and serving.

When To Serve Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

We love to bake a loaf of this lemon poppyseed bread for many occasions, and we find that it’s appropriate to serve during many times of the day. However, we particularly love to serve it as part of a breakfast or brunch spread. It also makes for a crowd-pleasing addition to gatherings of all sorts, from baby and bridal showers to BBQs and holidays. 

Make it Dairy Free

To make this Lemon Poppyseed Bread dairy-free, substitute the yogurt for a non-dairy vanilla or plain yogurt.

Make It Gluten Free

To make this loaf gluten free, use gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour. Our favorite measure-for-measure gluten-free flours are Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend and King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.

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The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.

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