Poppy Seed Bread

OK, we’re having a tough time with this recipe. And not because it’s hard to make. In fact, this orange poppy seed bread recipe could not be much easier. We’re stuck because we’re not sure whether we should be calling it a bread or a pastry—it really is a little like both. You can enjoy it alongside a plate of eggs and bacon, or with a scoop of ice cream.

Come to think of it, considering the recipe yields two loaves of poppy seed bread, why not do both? Enjoy it in the morning with breakfast and coffee, and have another slice after dinner with ice cream. Any way you slice it, you’ll be doing it right with this recipe for poppy seed bread.

Ingredients for Poppy Seed Bread

• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour is the humble hero of this recipe, as it is with so many baked goods. It provides the backbone that lets all the other flavors shine.
• Sugar: There is certainly no shortage of sugar in this bread, which is why you may think of it more as a pastry treat than an everyday eat.
• Baking powder: If there were ever an ingredient more humble than the aforementioned flour, it’s baking powder. Without baking powder, that flour can’t rise to the occasion, so to speak, achieving the delightful texture you’ll enjoy in this poppy seed bread.
• Eggs: You’ll want to bake with room-temperature eggs. Bringing eggs to that temp can take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the temperature of your fridge and your home, so allow for that time when prepping this recipe.
• Whole milk: Whole milk is ideal in this recipe, but 2% is also fine, if that’s what you have. Or, you can go nondairy (more on that later).
• Canola oil: We recommend using canola oil because of its neutral flavor profile, but of course a different oil works fine as well. Grape seed oil would be a good substitution.
• Poppy seeds: You can’t make poppy seed bread without plenty of poppy seeds. Measure them with care, though, as you don’t want to overdo it.
• Butter flavoring, almond extract and vanilla extract: Each of these flavoring additions brings much to the table, but the almond extract arguably provides the biggest flavor assist. You might even think of this as an almond poppy seed bread once you taste it.

Glaze:

• Confectioners’ sugar: The glaze sweetens things up even further, and it also offers you a chance to switch up the flavor profile.
• Orange juice: Orange juice adds a delightful sweetness and tanginess to this fine bread.
• Butter flavoring, almond extract and vanilla extract: No, this isn’t a mistake! You’ll use these same ingredients again here in the glaze.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, mixing them well.

Step 2: Add the wet ingredients

In a separate small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil, poppy seeds, butter flavoring, and almond and vanilla extracts. Stir the wet blend into the dry ingredients, mixing until just moistened.

Step 3: Bake the loaves

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Transfer the dough to two greased and floured 9×5-inch loaf pans, then bake the bread until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Let the loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Make the glaze

Combine the confectioners’ sugar, orange juice, butter flavoring, almond extract and vanilla extract. Drizzle the glaze over the warm loaves.

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Poppy Seed Bread Variations

• Make it lemon: Instead of the orange juice, add a bit less than 1/4 cup lemon juice and a splash of water when you make the glaze for a lemon and poppy seed bread.
• Go dairy-free: You can use almond milk, soy milk or another nondairy milk alternative to make this bread dairy-free.
• Use real butter: Taking things in the other direction, you can skip the butter flavoring and use real melted butter in this bread. If you use a flavored butter, that will add a richness to the taste.

How to Store Poppy Seed Bread

This recipe for poppy seed bread will keep fine all day long uncovered on the counter. If it will be around for more than a day, place it in an airtight container or in storage wrap and store it at room temperature for three to four days. It will keep in the fridge just fine for up to six days.

Can you freeze poppy seed bread?

Slices of this bread can be frozen for three to four months. Ideally, freeze portions that have not been glazed, but don’t worry if it’s already been coated. It will still keep just fine in airtight wrapping or containers.

Poppy Seed Bread Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

What is butter flavoring?

Butter flavoring is an artificial flavoring compound that gives food the taste and smell of butter without adding fat and, in many cases, without dairy. It’s often made by isolating compounds like diacetyl, acetyl propionyl or acetoin from butter, from soybeans or from other oils, then mixing them with water and other ingredients.

Can I make this recipe without the glaze?

By all means, skipping the glaze means this poppy seed bread will eat more like, well, a bread than a pastry. You can even cut out a bit of the sugar in the bread itself if you want it less sweet.

What goes well with this bread?

As we mentioned, breakfast foods and ice cream are all great sidekicks here, but you can also serve this poppy seed bread recipe with fresh fruit for a lighter and healthier snack.