This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy
Poppy Seed Cake – a quick and easy cake recipe that comes together in minutes. Moist, delicious, and great for dessert, or with a cup of coffee.
Easy desserts are a must. You need a few of those recipes that you can go-to when you have last minute guests, or are invited to something last minute. This is one you are going to want to print out and hang on to! Poppy Seed Cake starts with a box cake mix and turns into something extra special!
Plus it is topped with a light glaze that brings it all together and makes it super tasty.

Poppy Seed Cake starts with a box cake mix, and then you just add a couple of ingredients to help turn it into something different. Sour cream is added and the cake is so moist and tender! Skip the directions on the back of the box and just use the mix in this recipe.
Poppy Seed Cake Ingredients
- Butter Cake Mix
- Vegetable Oil
- Sugar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Eggs
- Sour Cream
- Poppy Seeds
Glaze Recipe
The glaze for this cake is optional, but I kind of think it is required. It is so easy to make. It isn’t like a full on frosting, just a light glaze that adds something extra to the cake. I use almond extract in the glaze, so it gives the cake just a little more flavor.
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Almond Extract
How To Make Poppy Seed Cake
- Using an electric mixer add all of the ingredients to the bowl and mix until it is well combined. It will take about 2 minutes to really get it to come together.
- Pour into prepared bundt pan and bake for 45-60 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 10-15 minutes to cool slightly. Turn it over onto a wire rack to let it cool completely.
- If use the glaze, mix everything together. Pour over completely cooled cake.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Make sure to really grease the cake pan well, so that it comes out clean after it bakes. See below for tips on making sure your cake comes out clean.
- Cake mix sizes have changed in the past few years, so if you made this cake years ago you may think this is different. And it is, we had to add a little more flour to make it still come out with the smaller size cake mix.
- The glaze is optional, you will want to wait until the cake is completely cool to drizzle it on if you are using.
- Store leftover cake at room temperature, covered up to 4 days.
- Vegetable oil is called for in the recipe, you can use any neutral flavored oil. You could even use melted butter, but it will affect the taste of the cake and make it a little denser.
Preparing A Bundt Pan
You really need to make sure you well grease a bundt pan so that the cake comes out clean. Another trick that I have found is to dust it with sugar! The sugar does something to help the cake rise up the sides and bake up well. Plus you get a nice sugary coating on the outside.
This is such a great cake to make for a get together or even have as a snack with a cup of coffee. Trust me, it is one of those really easy desserts that everyone is going to be asking for the recipe.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Strawberry Crumb Bars
- Strawberry Poke Cake
- No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake
- Lemon Blueberry Cake
- French Silk Pie
- Boston Cream Pie Parfaits
- Strawberry Cake
Poppy Seed Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 15.25 oz Duncan Hines Butter Cake Mix
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 whole eggs
- 1 8 oz container sour cream
- 1/4 cup poppy seeds
Glaze, optional
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan very well. Also dust with a coating of granulated sugar.
- Mix all of the ingredients for the cake together in an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
- Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn over onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- If use the glaze, mix everything together until it is a consistency you can drizzle.
- Pour over completely cooled cake.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
.
So moist! A unique and delicious cake, love that it starts with a box mix.
I LOVE this Poppy Seed Cake! It looks incredibly delicious!
This cake looks SO delicious!! I would love a slice with my coffee! YUM!
A slice of this cake plus a cup of hot coffee is pure heaven to me! Thanks for the fabulous recipe.
Such a delicious dessert! This cake was so good everyone loved it!
I love poppy seed cake and this recipe is perfection!
This is on my next to try cake recipes! My whole family loves poppy seeds!
Thank you for posting this recipe. I have made this cake for years- recipe given to me by my grandmother who made it every Easter since I was a kid and I now make it for my kids. It’s a family favorite! However the last few years I have had trouble with it sinking in the middle and concluded that Duncan Hines like so many other companies changed their ingredients. The extra 1/2 cup of flour has saved this family tradition!