Poppy seeds make wonderful ingredients for many recipes. Not only do not they add taste to the recipe, but also benefit you with a number of health benefits. These kidney shaped seeds are actually harvested from opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and they are high in various useful vitamins and minerals. Poppy seeds are extensively used for baking cakes, cupcakes, chicken salads, etc. So, do you want to learn a recipe to make poppy seed cake from scratch? Here are some recipes to make poppy seed cake in various flavors. Poppy Seed Cake Recipes from Scratch Orange-Pumpkin Poppy Seed Cake Recipe Ingredients

• Poppy seeds - 2 tablespoons
• Pure pumpkin - 1 (15 ounce) can
• Orange cake mix - 1 (18.25 ounce) package
• Eggs - 3
• Orange juice - 2/3 cup

Procedure First preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit. Take a 9 inch cake pan and grease it with cooking spray. Then, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine cake mix, orange juice and eggs. Beat the mixture properly with help of an electric mixer on low speed. Beat until the mixture moistens completely. Now, increase the speed to medium and combine pumpkin to the mixture. Then, add the poppy seeds and finally pour the cake batter into the greased pan. Divide the batter properly and bake it in the preheated even. Bake the cake for 28 to 30 minutes and then leave it to cool on wire racks. Cream Cheese Poppy Seed Cupcakes Recipe Ingredients

• Softened butter - 5 tablespoons
• Flour - ½ cup
• Salt - 1/8 teaspoon
• Powdered unrefined cane sugar - ½ cup and one teaspoon (for dusting)
• Large egg-1
• Egg yolk - 1
• Vanilla extract - ½ teaspoon
• Cream cheese (room temperature) - ¼ cup
• Poppy seeds - 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon

Procedure To prepare this poppy seed cake recipe from scratch, first preheat the oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit. This recipe yields 4 cupcakes, so, place the cupcake papers into 4 ramekins or 4 muffin tins. Take a medium-sized mixing bowl and combine flour and salt. Then combine butter with help of electric mixer. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and continue creaming the mixture with electric mixer. Blend the mixture until it becomes soft and fluffy. Then, add egg, egg yolk and vanilla one by one. Lower the speed of the mixer and combine poppy seeds to the flour mixture. Your cupcake batter is ready, spoon this into the cupcake cups and divide the batter evenly into all the cupcake cups. In a small bowl combine 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar and cream cheese. Blend them properly to attain a smooth texture. Then, spoon this cream mixture over each cupcake and then sprinkle poppy seeds. Bake the cupcakes for 25 minutes and cool them for 5 minutes after baking. Dust powdered sugar over them while serving. Almond Poppy Seed Cake Recipe Ingredients

• Sugar -1¼ cups
• White shortening - ½ cup
• Eggs - 2 large
• All-purpose flour - 2 cups
• Baking soda - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - ¼ teaspoon
• Buttermilk - 1 cup
• Almond extract - 2-3 teaspoons
• Vanilla - ½ teaspoon
• Poppy seed - 1/3 cup
• Sliced almonds - ½ - ¾ cup
• Butter (softened) - ½ cup
• Cream cheese (softened) - 1 (8 ounce) package
• Vanilla - 2 teaspoons
• Whipped cream - 2 tablespoons
• Confectioners' sugar - 3½ cups
• Frozen whipped topping (thawed) - 1 cup

Procedure This recipe makes almond poppy seed cake with fluffy cream cheese frosting. Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit and then grease a 9 by 13 inches baking pan. Take a large mixing bowl and combine shortening and sugar. Beat the mixture for about 2 minutes and then add eggs, almond extract and vanilla extract. Beat the mixture properly at high speed. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add this mixture to the mixture in large bowl along with buttermilk. Combine the ingredients until they are just mixed and then add poppy seeds. Bake the batter for 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven. To prepare the cream frosting, combine butter, vanilla, whipping cream and cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl. Beat the mixture to attain light and fluffy texture. Add in confectioners' sugar and again beat the mixture. Then add the whipped topping and blend the mixture completely. Spread this topping over the baked cake and garnish with chopped almonds. Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Ingredients

• All-purpose flour - 2 cups
• White sugar - 3/4 cup
• Poppy seeds - ¼ cup
• Baking powder - 2 teaspoons
• Baking soda - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - ½ teaspoon
• Eggs - 2
• Lemon flavored yogurt - 1 cup
• Vegetable oil - ¼ cup
• Grated lemon zest - 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice - 1/3 cup
• White sugar -3 tablespoons

Procedure Preheat the oven to 400 degree Fahrenheit and then grease a muffin tin with cooking spray. Take a large mixing bowl and add flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ¾ cup white sugar. Combine the ingredients properly. In another bowl, combine eggs, yogurt vegetable oil and lemon zest. Blend the mixture properly and mix it with flour mixture. Mix the mixtures until just combined and see that you do not over-mix. Now, spoon this batter evenly between the muffin cups and bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. In small bowl combine lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of white sugar and stir to dissolve sugar completely. When the muffins are baked, pierce their tops with toothpick several times. Then, gently pour one tablespoon of lemon juice over each muffin. Let the lemon poppy seed muffins cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes. You can prepare poppy seed cake with lemon filling in similar manner. Try making these recipes and enjoy the delicious taste of this dessert. Happy Cooking!