High Altitude Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Lemon Glaze Icing
This High Altitude Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Lemon Glaze Icing is a burst of sunshine in every bite. Moist, tender, and kissed with the perfect balance of sweet and tart, this loaf will have your kitchen smelling like a citrus dream. There’s something magical about the combination of bright lemon and the subtle nuttiness of poppy seeds.
Whether you’re enjoying it with a cup of tea or as a quick treat to brighten your day, this bread is irresistibly good.

Looking for other quick bread recipes? Try out these other HIGH ALTITUDE RECIPES…fresh Apple Bread with Cinnamon Streusel, Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips, Pumpkin Bread with Streusel topping, and moist Sour Cream Banana Bread.

High Altitude Baking:
I make this Lemon Poppy Seed bread at 8,000 ft elevation. If you are making this recipe at a higher or lower altitude than check out HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING ADJUSTMENTS for tips on adjusting this original recipe for your altitude.
For baking at sea level, I would suggest the following changes:
- Increase SUGAR to 1 cup
- Decrease LEMON EXTRACT to 1 teaspoon
- Decrease BUTTERMILK to 1 cup
- Decrease ALL PURPOSE FLOUR to 2 1/4 cup
- Increase BAKING POWDER to 2 teaspoons
- Decrease OVEN TEMPERATURE to 350° F
- Increase BAKE TIME to 55-60 minutes
Please realize that I have not made this recipe at sea level, these are simply suggestions on how I would adjust the recipe.

What is poppy seed bread?
Poppy seed bread is a type of quick bread that contains poppy seeds. Quick breads are breads made without yeast and don’t require any resting or kneading. The poppy seeds in the bread add a subtle nutty flavor and speckled appearance.
Poppy seed breads often include a citrus flavor, such as lemon or orange in the form of zest and juice.
Poppy seed bread is often served at breakfast or brunch and paired with tea or coffee for the perfect morning treat.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- FRESH LEMON FLAVOR balanced with nutty poppy seeds
- PERFECTLY MOIST TEXTURE adapted for baking at higher elevation
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS and easy-to-follow directions
- SWEET LEMON GLAZE adds a professional, bakery-style finish
- PERFECT RECIPE that makes a beautiful gift or centerpiece for brunch gatherings

Recommended tools:
- LARGE BOWL and a whisk or bowl of a stand mixer to prepare the bread batter
- SMALL BOWL to combine the icing in
- WIRE RACK to cool the bread before icing and cutting it
- ZESTER or the smallest side of a box grater for fresh zest
- CAKE TESTER or a simple toothpick to check if the bread is done
- OPTIONAL: PARCHMENT PAPER to line the bread pan or simply use butter and flour to prevent the bread from sticking
See below in the FAQs section on how to grease your pans with butter and flour
Ingredients:
Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf:
- ALL PURPOSE FLOUR creates the base for the loaf of bread. NOTE: I have not tried this with any other kind of bread.
- WHITE SUGAR to balance the tangy citrus with a bit of sweetness
- MELTED BUTTER and BUTTERMILK for a richness and tender texture
- LARGE EGGS to hold the bread batter together. For best results the eggs should be at room temperature.
- LEMON ZEST, FRESH LEMON JUICE, LEMON EXTRACT for the beautiful citrus flavor throughout the whole loaf. NOTE: bottled lemon juice works also
- BAKING POWDER and BAKING SODA for the perfect rise without any sinking
- SALT helps to enhance and balance all the flavor
- POPPY SEEDS for a subtle nutty flavor
Check out how to make your own buttermilk below in the FAQ section
Lemon Icing Glaze:
- POWDERED SUGAR is the base of the icing
- LEMON JUICE adds the moisture and creates the perfect flavor
See the recipe card below for a full ingredients list

How to make Lemon Poppyseed Bread:
Lemon Poppyseed Loaf:
- Position your oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350° F
- Prepare the bread pan with parchment paper or butter and flour (see below in FAQs for directions)
- Whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon extract and buttermilk.
- Slowly add the remaining dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Blend the ingredients together only until they are all incorporated. Don’t overmix. The mixture will be thick and creamy.
- Gently fold the poppy seeds into the batter by hand.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until the top of the bread is golden brown and slightly cracked.
- Test the center of the bread by inserting a cake tester into the middle of the bread. The cake tester should come out clean when the bread is done.
- Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack before adding any icing
Lemon Glaze Icing:
- In a small bowl add the powdered sugar and lemon juice. NOTE: add the lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the right consistency is reached.
- Spread over the cooled loaf.
- For a finishing touch add thin slices of fresh lime to the top of the loaf.

FAQs:
How to grease and flour a pan:
Use a pastry brush or a paper towel to spread a thin layer of butter to the entire inside of the pan. Be sure to get the corners for best results. Then add a small amount of flour to the pan. Evenly spread the flour by gently tapping and tilting the pan until the flour has coated the entire pan. Tap any excess or loose flour out of the pan.


How to make buttermilk at home?
Buttermilk is incredibly easy to make at home. All you need is milk and white vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice. This recipe calls for 1 1/4 cup of milk or buttermilk.
- Grab a measuring cup.
- Pour 1 1/4 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into the measuring cup.
- Pour the milk into the measuring cup until it measures 1 1/4 cup.
- Stir the milk and lemon juice or vinegar then let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will allow the milk to become acidic and can be used in place of buttermilk.
How long is poppy seed bread good for:
If stored properly, poppy seed bread is for up to 1 week. First allow the poppy seed bread to cool completely then place in an airtight container and store at room temperature.
How to freeze poppy seed bread:
Poppy seed bread can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to wrap the cooled bread tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or place in a freezer Ziploc bag. Thaw the bread overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Why put poppy seeds in bread?
Poppy seeds add a unique flavor and texture to bread. They have a subtly nutty flavor that enhances a bread’s flavor, especially with citrus flavored breads. Poppy seeds also add a very slight crunch for a more interesting texture.
Do you have to soak poppy seeds before baking?
No, it is not necessary to soak poppy seeds prior to baking. Soaking poppy seeds in warm water or milk will soften the outer layer of the poppy seed. Often poppy seeds are added to recipes for an added texture of the slight crunch when eaten.

Variations and Substitutions:
Orange Poppy Seed Bread
Easily exchange the lemon juice, zest, and extract for a whole new Orange Poppy Seed Bread.
Vanilla Glaze Icing
If you prefer a plain or vanilla glaze icing for your poppy seed bread, simply exchange the lemon juice with milk. For the added vanilla flavor, simply add just a splash of vanilla extract.
How to thicken or thin the sweet glaze:
In a small bowl add the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add the lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the right consistency is reached. To thin the glaze add additional lemon juice. To thicken the glaze add additional powdered sugar or simply don’t add in all the lemon juice.

Other high altitude recipes:
High Altitude Breakfast Recipes
- Blueberry Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping
- Blueberry Muffins
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Easy Crepes with Dairy Free Option
- Fluffy Pancakes
- Dutch Baby Pancake
High Altitude Bread Recipes
- No-Knead Artisan Bread
- Fail-Proof Flaky Biscuits
- Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping
- Banana Bread
- Sandwich Bread
High Altitude Dessert Recipes
- Blueberry Pie with Frozen Berries
- Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
- Fresh Peach Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Texas Sheet Cake with Frosting
- Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Oreo Cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache


High Altitude Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Lemon Glaze Icing
Equipment
- Large bowl and whisk
- Small bowl
- Wire rack
- Zester or box grater
- Cake tester or toothpick
- Parchment paper optional
Ingredients
Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup minus 2 tbsp white sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tbsp lemon zest packed, 2-3 medium lemons
- 3 tbsp lemon juice fresh or bottled
- 1 ½ tsp lemon extract
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp poppy seeds
Lemon Glaze Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-4 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf
- Position the oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Prepare the bread pan with parchment paper or lightly coat the inside of the pan with butter then flour.
- Whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon extract and buttermilk.
- Slowly add the remaining dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Blend the ingredients together only until they are all incorporated. Don’t overmix. The mixture will be thick and creamy.
- Gently fold the poppy seeds into the batter by hand.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until the top of the bread is golden brown and slightly cracked.
- Test the center of the bread by inserting a cake tester into the middle of the bread. The cake tester will come out clean when the bread is done.
- Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack before adding any icing or slicing the bread..
Lemon Glaze Icing
- In a small bowl add the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add the lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the right consistency is reached.
- Spread or drizzle over the cooled loaf.
- For a finishing touch adds thin slices of fresh lime to the top of the loaf.
Notes
Nutrition
If you make this delicious High Altitude Lemon Poppy Seed Bread recipe leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. If you have any questions, post them below and I would love to help you out.