Grandma's best poppy-seed cake: one-cup, quick, and made from a few ingredients

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Grandma's best poppy-seed cake: one-cup, quick, and made from a few ingredients recept

Name: Grandma's best poppy-seed cake: one-cup, quick, and made from a few ingredients
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 cup plain flour; 1 cup ground poppy seeds; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¾ cup granulated sugar; 1 cup milk; 2 tablespoons oil; 2 eggs; cherry jam (small dollops on the surface); peanut butter for spreading after baking

Easy to prepare
8 portions
40 minutes

Jan, 17. 12. 2025

Print recipe

A treat not to be forgotten. You can make a moist poppy-seed cake “by the cup” without a scale and in a few minutes. The batter is mildly sweet, excellent on its own or with dollops of cherry jam on top. After baking you can spread a thin layer of peanut butter for a light nutty note.

For 8 portions

Ingredients

Batter:

1 cup plain flour
1 cup ground poppy seeds
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons oil
2 eggs

Topping (optional):

cherry jam (small dollops on the surface)
peanut butter for spreading after baking

Preparation procedure

Dry ingredients In a bowl, mix the flour, ground poppy seeds, and baking powder.
Wet mixture In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until lightly foamy (a whisk is enough, about 2 minutes). Pour in the milk and oil and mix again.
Mixing the batter Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until a smooth, lump-free batter.
Baking Grease and flour a 25 × 40 cm pan or baking tray. Pour in the batter and smooth the surface. Optionally, place small dollops of cherry jam evenly over the surface (don't overdo it so the batter can rise well). Bake in an oven preheated to 170 °C for about 30 minutes, until golden. A skewer inserted into the center should come out dry.
Finishing While still warm, you can lightly spread peanut butter over the cake. Let cool, cut into squares.

Total preparation time 40–45 minutes (10–15 minutes prep + 30 minutes baking)

Number of servings 16–20 squares (tray approx. 25 × 40 cm)

Note 1 cup = 400 ml

Tips for guaranteed results

Place the jam in small dollops evenly over the surface so the cake doesn’t become heavy and rises nicely
For a fresh note, add a teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest to the batter
The cake is great simply dusted with powdered sugar or served with yogurt

Conclusion

Grandma’s poppy-seed cake is exactly that simple “one-cup” recipe worth keeping on hand. Minimal ingredients, quick preparation, and a reliably moist result. In its basic version it tastes great; with a bit of jam or peanut butter it gains a lovely flavor accent. An ideal dessert for everyday or for Sunday coffee.