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KeepItSimpleAnnaSue

Lemon Poppy Seed Streusel Bread

This lemon poppy seed streusel bread is soft, bursting with lemon flavor, and topped with the perfect buttery crunch. Lemon is one of my favorite things!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Streusel
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. white granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp. poppy seeds
  • 1½ tbsp. cold butter
Bread Batter
  • 1¼ cups white granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp. lemon zest
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. poppy seeds
  • ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Equipment

  • 8 ¼ x 4 ½ in. bread loaf pan

Method
 

Streusel
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together ¼ cup flour, 2 tsp. sugar, and 1½ tsp. poppy seeds.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-streusel-.jpg
  2. Cut in the 1½ tbsp. cold butter using two forks or a pastry cutter. You want the mixture to turn crumbly. I think that just getting in there with your hands is just as easy. Maybe easier!
  3. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  5. Spray your bread pan with non-stick spray with flour. You can line it with parchment paper too. Just let the parchment hang over the sides. It actually helps to keep the streusel in.
Bread Batter
  1. I recommend using a stand mixer. Mix 1 ¼ cups sugar, 3 tbsp. lemon zest, and butter for 4 minutes. Scrape the bowl as needed.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-with-graded-lemon-zest-and-sugar-in-a-large-bowl.jpg
  2. Add eggs, one at a time and beat for one minute after adding each one. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-with-butter-and-sugar-creamed-in-a-large-bowl.jpg
  3. Mix in the vanilla and beat for one minute.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-with-eggs-butter-and-sugar-creamed-together-in-a-large-bowl.jpg
  4. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1½ tbsp. poppy seeds, 2 tsp. baking powder, and ½ tsp. salt.
    lemon-poppy-seed-bread-with-flour-poppy-seeds-baking-powder-in-a-large-red-bowl.jpg
  5. Gradually add in the flour mixture. Pour in a little of the flour mixture and then a little of the buttermilk and keep alternating. Do this just until combined each time.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-butter-milk-and-lemon-juice-in-a-small-bowl.jpg
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it around.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-with-flour-and-wet-mixture-combined-in-a-large-mixing-bowl.jpg
  7. Help the batter to settle by taping the pan on the counter. Put a dish towel down so it wont be loud or damaging.
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-batter-in-a-pan-lined-with-parchment-paper.jpg
  8. Top the bread with the streusel. (Yum!)
    lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-topped-with-streusel-in-a-pan-lined-with-parchment-paper.jpg
  9. Bake for 20 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 350°.
  10. Bake for about 50 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Let it cool for 15 minutes.
    baked-lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-on-a-wire-cooling-rack-with-a-blue-towel-and-fresh-lemons.jpg
  12. Remove it from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack.
    baked-lemon-poppy-seed-streusel-bread-on-a-wire-cooling-rack-with-a-blue-towel-and-fresh-lemons-1.jpg