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This incredibly easy Citrus Poppy Seed Cake comes together in just a few minutes with a handful of ingredients. Packed with the bright flavors of lemon and orange, this is a perfect wintery cake.

Sliced citrus poppy seed cake topped with glaze and citrus zest

My sweet Elle has been very into oranges lately. So much so that I have been buying them for her by the crateful at Costco.

She’s very particular about the way they are sliced, so I can basically supreme an orange with eyes closed at this point. But I’m happy to pump my girl full of vitamin c at this time of year.

Since we’ve had so many oranges on hand lately, I’ve been thinking of ways to use them in baked goods like this Citrus Poppy Seed Cake and we’ve even made several batches of Holiday Stovetop Potpourri.

The best thing about this cake is that it is super simple to make which is always a bonus at this time of year!

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Citrus poppy seed cake ingredients on a marble counter

Super easy citrus poppy seed cake

I love baking cakes from scratch. From my Cream Cheese Pound Cake to Hershey’s Chocolate Cake to Gingerbread Cake, there are so many times when I love pulling out all of the ingredients and measuring and sifting and mixing.

And sometimes I just need a cake. Fast.

Citrus cake batter in a white mixing bowl

Thank goodness for cake mixes, amiright?

As much as I love a scratch-made cake, I see absolutely nothing wrong with using a cake mix for a shortcut every now and then.

Citrus poppy seed cake batter in a white mixing bowl

Like with this Citrus Poppy Seed Cake. All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this simple cake:

  • Lemon cake mix
  • Orange juice
  • Vegetable oil
  • Eggs
  • Poppy seeds
  • Lemon and orange zest

With just a few minutes of prep time, you are well on your way to having a delicious bundt cake perfect for any occasion. Even just a random Tuesday when you are craving cake. 

Unbaked citrus poppy seed cake in a bundt pan

How to make this simple cake

This Citrus Poppy Seed Cake will only take you about 10 minutes to mix together. And that’s if you go slow. In fact, you might even have it mixed together before your oven can finish preheating!

Grab a hand mixer and beat together the orange juice, vegetable oil, and eggs in a large bowl. 

Glaze being poured over a citrus poppy seed cake on a white cake stand

Add in the cake mix and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Fold in the poppy seeds and the zest from 1 orange and 1 lemon. Even though we’re getting lemon flavor from the cake mix and orange from the juice, the zest from each adds a lot of brightness to the cake.

Bake in a greased bundt cake pan for about 35 minutes.

Glazed citrus bundt cake on a marble counter

Once the cake has cooled, whisk together a simple icing with powdered sugar and orange juice. Drizzle the glaze over the cake and garnish with more orange and lemon zest. 

You could also follow the baking instructions in my doctored cake mix recipe to try turning this into a layer cake or cupcakes instead. Top with homemade buttercream frosting flavored with some lemon or orange for a different twist. 

Two slices of citrus poppyseed cake on a white plate next to a fork

More easy cake mix recipes to try

Since we’re on a roll with this Citrus Poppy Seed Cake, let’s explore a few more delicious cake mix recipes to keep in our back pocket, shall we? After all, you never know when you’re gonna need to whip together a simple cake on the fly!

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Easy Strawberry Cupcakes

4.51 from 183 ratings
Easy Strawberry Cupcakes use a simple method for doctoring cake mix to make cupcakes that are bursting with strawberry flavor. Top them with strawberry buttercream for double the sweetness!
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Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Cherry pie filling, pineapple, coconut, and pecans come together for an easy and delicious dessert in this Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake.
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Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Pumpkin Crunch Cake is brimming with fall flavors. Top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and chopped pecans to create the perfect pumpkin dessert.
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Apple Dump Cake

Made with just a handful of pantry staples, this Apple Dump Cake may just become your new easy go-to dessert recipe!
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Homemade Devil’s Food Cake Mix

Homemade Devil’s Food Cake Mix is quick and easy to make. Ditch the boxed mix and whip up this simple freezer-ready cake mix recipe.
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Peanut Butter Banana Bundt Cake

Peanut butter and banana is one of those classic flavor combinations you just can’t beat, and when you add peanut butter icing and mini chocolate chips into the equation, YUM! This peanut butter banana cake is great for any occasion, and easy enough for new bakers.
View Recipe
Sliced citrus poppy seed cake on a marble counter
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Citrus Poppy Seed Cake

By: Jamie Lothridge
4.40 from 23 ratings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
This incredibly easy Citrus Poppy Seed Cake comes together in just a few minutes with a handful of ingredients. Packed with the bright flavors of lemon and orange, this is a perfect wintery cake.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 15.25 oz lemon cake mix
  • 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
  • Zest from 1 orange and 1 lemon

For the icing:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
  • Orange and lemon zest

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the orange juice, oil, and eggs until combined. Add in the cake mix; mix until moistened, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. 
  • Fold in the poppy seeds and zest from 1 orange and 1 lemon. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
  • Whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice. Spoon the icing over the cake and top with additional orange and lemon zest.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 336kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 337mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 41g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

4.40 from 23 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Lori Lyle says:

    One of my favorites, been making for years! Making fir Easter. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Jamie says:

      Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Lori! Happy baking.
      -Jamie