Oh hiiiii all my lemon lovers! For some reason, a lot of AK readers go absolutely nuts over lemon. I say this because every time I post something lemony, it tends to go viral; this leads me to the conclusion that there are A LOT of you who simply LOVE lemon.
This lemon poppy seed bread was something I dreamt up a few summers ago, and couldn’t stop making over and over again. I had to reshare it this season because it’s just that good! It’s SO moist (I said it), gluten free, easily dairy free, healthy thanks to a mix of oat flour and almond flour and perfectly naturally sweetened with honey. I MEAN FLUFFY, TENDER AND OH SO GOOD with a little butter or extra drizzle of honey on top. Perfection.
Add this to your brunch menu or just celebrate spring & summer with a gorgeous loaf.
What you’ll need to make healthy lemon poppy seed bread
This delicious and easy lemon poppy seed loaf is made with better-for-you ingredients than your traditional one, yet it still tastes just like a moist lemon cake! We’re not using any oil, butter or refined sugars. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Plain or vanilla greek yogurt: for a delicious boost of protein and moisture. Feel free to use your favorite dairy free yogurt if you’d like. We love siggi’s dairy free coconut plant based cups!
- Eggs: you’ll just need 2 eggs for the whole loaf.
- Honey: this bread is naturally sweetened with honey.
- Lemon juice & zest: for the ultimate, bright lemon flavor.
- Almond extract: a bit of almond extract truly gives it that traditional lemon poppy seed flavor.
- Flours: we’re using a mix of gluten free oat flour and fine, blanched almond flour to keep the bread gluten free. See below for an easy way to make your own oat flour at home!
- Poppy seeds: what’s a lemon poppy seed bread without the poppy seeds? You can also sub chia seeds if you’d like.
- Baking soda & salt: for proper baking.
- For the lemon glaze: we’re using some powdered sugar and more fresh lemon juice, plus almond extract if you’d like. However, the bread is amazing without it too!
How to make homemade oat flour
You can easily make your own gluten free oat flour by simply placing gluten free oats into a blender and blending or pulsing until they’re smooth and resemble flour. This is a super easy & affordable option. Get my full tutorial on how to make oat flour here, and be sure to measure out 1 cup of your oat flour after making it! It’s also important to make sure your oat flour is VERY fine. Feel free to check out all of our recipes using oat flour.
Can I use different flour?
If you don’t have oat flour, I think regular flour or 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour would work well. Please do not sub another flour for the almond flour. The almond flour contains moisture and fat which helps give the bread proper flavor and texture.
What makes this lemon poppy seed bread healthy?
As I mentioned before, traditional lemon poppy seed bread recipes tend to be made with extra oil, butter and refined sugars. We’re giving this one a makeover with easy swaps to make it the BEST healthy lemon poppy seed loaf ever!
- Oil free. There’s zero oil in this bread! It’s moist from the protein-packed greek yogurt and contains healthy fats thanks to almond flour.
- Naturally sweetened. It’s naturally sweetened with just honey!
- Gluten free. This bread is gluten free thanks to the combo of almond and gluten free oat flour.
- Easily dairy free. You can easily make it dairy free using your favorite dairy free yogurt. We love siggi’s plant based cups.
- Healthy fats + protein. There are additional healthy fats from the almond flour, and a boost of protein from the yogurt and eggs.
Trust me when I say this lemon poppy seed bread tastes just as indulgent as that loaf you’ve been eyeing at Starbucks, but it’s nutritious enough for breakfast or a snack.
How to make lemon poppy seed bread (in one bowl!)
The best part about this bread? It’s made in just one bowl! Here’s how to do it:
- Prep your pan. Preheat your oven and line an 8×4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. I also recommend spraying it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix the wet. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients until well combined.
- Add in the dry. In the same bowl, mix the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Bake it up. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake it up until a toothpick comes out clean! Be sure to let the bread cool in the pan and then on a wire rack before adding the glaze.
- Add the glaze & serve. Mix your glaze together in a medium bowl. You may need to add in more lemon juice if it is too thick (start with a teaspoon at a time). Pour over bread and spread with a spoon if necessary. Top with a little extra lemon zest if you have any for a pretty effect and enjoy!
Our best tips for baking quick bread
- Follow the recipe. The best way to ensure the success of this lemon poppy seed bread is to follow the recipe and use the exact ingredients as written (unless I note specific substitutes).
- Pack your almond flour. Be sure to pack your almond flour as you would do with brown sugar. Do not pack your oat flour.
- Use fresh baking soda. If your baking soda is older than 3 months, I suggest grabbing a new one for best baking results.
- Line your loaf pan. I recommend lining your loaf pan with parchment paper AND spraying it with nonstick cooking spray so that your bread comes out easily.
Storing & freezing tips
- To store: this healthy lemon poppy seed bread should be kept well-covered in foil or plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, then I recommend transferring it to the fridge or freezer.
- To freeze: this loaf freezes well! Simply wrap in plastic, then tightly in foil and finally place in a reusable bag or freezer friendly bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature once you are ready to eat. You can also feel free to freeze individual slices for a quick on-the-go treat. Feel free to freeze it without the glaze and then top it once it is thawed out.
More delicious bread recipes
- Paleo Orange-Kissed Loaf with Dark Chocolate Glaze
- Pistachio Poppy Seed Orange Yogurt Bread
- Fresh Strawberry Shortcake Bread with Strawberry Glaze
- Paleo Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Good Morning Almond Flour Blueberry Muffin Bread
Get even more of our bread recipes here!
If you make this healthy lemon poppy seed bread recipe, be sure to leave a comment below and rate the recipe! You can also snap and picture and post it on Instagram using the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen. xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Healthy Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
Ingredients
- Wet ingredients:
- ½ cup (113g) plain or vanilla greek yogurt (or sub plant based yogurt of choice such as almond or coconut yogurt)
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup (112g) honey
- zest from 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Dry ingredients:
- 1 cup (92g) oat flour, gluten free if desired
- 1 cup (112g) packed blanched fine almond flour
- 1 tablespoon poppyseeds (or sub chia seeds)
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the glaze:
- ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the following ingredients until well combined: yogurt, eggs, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and almond extract.
- Add dry ingredients to the bowl: oat flour, almond flour, poppyseeds, baking soda and salt; mixing with a wooden spoon until well combined. pour into prepared loaf pan. bake for 35-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool bread in pan for 5 mins then remove and transfer to a wire rack; allow bread to cool completely before adding the glaze.
- Make the glaze by adding powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and almond extract in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. You may need to add in more lemon juice if it is too thick (start with a teaspoon at a time). Glaze should be somewhat thick. Pour over bread and spread with a spoon if necessary. Top with a little extra lemon zest if you have any for a pretty effect. Cut bread into 8 slices and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on July 20th, 2020, republished on February 25th, 2021, republished on April 14th, 2022, republished on May 15th, 2023, and republished on April 10th, 2024.
249 comments
Amazing!!!
Glad you like it!!
Hi Monique, is it possible to skip the almond extract?
Hi! That should be fine – it will just have a slightly different flavor.
Hi! Can flax eggs be used instead?
Hi! I haven’t tried it, but I saw that a reader had success using them 🙂 let me know if you try it!
Super jum recipe though we had to modify for dietary reasons. Flaxseed eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water= 1 replacement egg) worked great as a replacement for the real eggs. Lovely <3
Perfect! I’m glad the flax eggs worked out well 🙂
Wow, this was fantastic! I used a container of Siggis nonfat vanilla and only used 1/3 cup honey since the yogurt sweetened it a little bit. I normally don’t even crave lemony desserts but my fiance asked me to make him something lemony so I’m glad I went with this recipe. I intended on making the glaze but it doesn’t even need it. So good.
Perfect! So glad you both enjoyed!
Ive made this twice in two weeks and its so so good! perfect light, not too sweet, lemony bread! thanks!
The perfect loaf! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This bread is so good! My husband liked it too. I cut back on the honey a little since the vanilla yogurt I used had a lot of sugar. I’m gluten and dairy free so I’m always happy to find a good recipe to keep around.
Perfect! So glad you both enjoye!
So good and moist!
Glad you loved it!
This lemon poppy seed bread is amazing! It doesn’t even taste like a “healthier” version. The only issue I had is that my loaf fell a lot in the middle. I’m wondering if it’s because I opened the oven to rotate it halfway through? Or maybe I didn’t cook it long enough. Either was it is delicious though!
Hmm did you measure everything properly? And what kind of yogurt did you use? Was it greek yogurt? Also, was your baking soda fresh? Glad you enjoyed regardless!
Looks amazing! Qs- can I sub maple syrup for the honey?
Yes, that should work!
This is so delicious! The texture is perfectly moist without being dense/wet. The crumb is lovely and the glaze just adds that extra something. Will be making again for sure! The top middle slightly sunk but maybe this is normal? Otherwise, excellent.
So happy you loved it! It can sink when there is too much liquid, so just make sure your baking soda is fresh and that you measured everything accurately!
Hi! I don`t have almond flour in my kitchen, so i was wondering if i could replace it with more oat flour or coconut flour? which one would be the best and how would the measurements be? or if this wouldn`t work haha 🙁
I haven’t tried it and probably wouldn’t recommend as the almond flour is the only ‘fat’ in this recipe, which helps to add texture, flavor and moisture!
OMG, this was so delicious, moist and perfect! I made this for a weekend trip with friends and everyone raved about it and couldn’t believe it was gluten-free! I would love to make them as muffins next time. I’m thinking 18-23 min at 350 degrees, Monique?
So happy you loved it! And that sounds about right! 🙂
I make this at least once a week. Seriously my favorite recipe. So delicious and allows me to satisfy my sweet tooth with healthy nourishing ingredients! Thanks Monique!
Love that! Perfect treat or snack 🙂
Such a delicious lemon bread!! Tastes so yummy you don’t even miss any oil or sugars that most lemon breads have. Must make!!
Absolutely! My fav 🙂
This is one of my favourite recipes. My husband is so addicted that I can’t keep up baking more.
I’m so glad!
This was delicious and so simple! I used greek yogurt and subbed maple syrup for honey, subbed vanilla for almond extract because I’m out. I didn’t have oat flour so I just zapped some in the blender and it turned out great. The glaze was way too thin, I kept adding powdered sugar and ended up starting over. I would add the powdered sugar to the bowl and then gradually add the lemon juice until it looks right. Definitely will make again, I think I’ll try an orange almond combo for the holidays. Thank you for this delicious and guilt free treat 💗
So glad you enjoyed! Hmm very strange about the glaze – it definitely shouldn’t be super thin with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and just 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice. I hope you were able to make it work!
Holy mother of! This was so good! The flavor was intense and you could not tell one bit this was gluten free bread other than it was a little flat (but expected). If you love lemon, make this!!
Haha so glad you loved them!!
Wow this is delicious! It came out perfectly moist and has the best flavor and texture! I love the hint of almond
So happy to hear that!
This recipe is one of my favorite breads to make ever! I love how fresh the lemon zest makes the kitchen smell. I use vanilla extract instead of almond and I still love it!
So happy to hear that! One of my favs, too 🙂
can i substitute the almond flour with oat flour and if so by how much?
I haven’t tried it so can’t be certain. I’ve only tested the recipe as is. Also, since an almond flour is a nut flour and oat flour is a grain flour, I wouldn’t recommend subbing them out
This bread is UNREAL! Seriously, do yourself a favor and make it. Absolutely delicious!
Glad you love it!
I have never left a comment on any website before. I tested this recipe and followed the instruction
exactly as written. The crumb was dense and not moist and very little lemon flavor.
That’s so strange considering there’s lemon zest and lemon juice in the loaf. next time you could always try using a lemon yogurt or a lemon extract for more lemon flavor!
This was a hit in my household. My two kids nearly ate the entire loaf for breakfast (and probably would have if I hadn’t made them save me some).
Such a great snack or breakfast!
This was so delicious. The lemon is very bright but not overpowering. I didn’t feel like making oat flour so I subbed with tiger nut flour. Also the parchment paper is a MUST! I didn’t have any and just greased the pan so the bottom stuck. It made a delicious mess. I skipped the icing and topped with raspberry jam. I think my oven may have been a bit hot. It got very dark on the outside and was just baked on the inside.
I’m glad it was still delicious! Hope you can give it another try lowering the temp a bit (the tiger nut flour may have also changed the consistency a bit).
I bought some whole wheat flour for another recipe on this website – can I use it instead of Oat flour? What is a general rule for substituting flour?
I think a regular flour (or a whole wheat pastry flour) would work, just note that a fully whole wheat flour might make the bread a bit dense. Every baked good I make varies in terms of the flour & liquid ratios so I would always suggest making the recipe as-is unless I specify ingredient swaps!
Deeelish.
I added an extra quarter cup of milk and made pancakes instead of baking in a loaf.
I used a tablespoon of lemon extract in place of the lemon zest.
I’m glad that worked out well!
This is so delicious! I made it last weekend for coffee with my in-laws who are vegan and gluten free. It was a hit and we gobbled it all up. I used flax eggs and plant based yogurt. I’m going to make it again today with regular eggs and I know it will be delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
Perfect! Glad everyone enjoyed!
Can these be made into muffins ?
Yes!
Hey! Can you use whole wheat flour instead of almond flour?
I wouldn’t recommend it – sorry! The texture will be much different.
Oh, okay! Thanks! 🙂
Easy to make and will make a again for sure! I had to sub AP flour for oat because I didn’t have any. Texture is perfect but I love more of a lemon punch so next time I’ll add a bit more lemon juice to the batter, maybe 1 more tbsp.
I’m glad that worked out well! And yes feel free to add some extra zest, too, if you’d like.
Has anyone made these into muffins? If so, how many does it make and how long did you bake it for? (Assuming at 350F) Thanks!
I made about 8-10 muffins
20 minutes to bake at 350
Yes a few readers have! I would suggest around 18-23 minutes.
Amazing! I used maple syrup instead of honey and it turned out perfect 😊
Love it!
I love this lemon poppyseed bread!! Used lemon greek yogurt and added a dash of lemon extract. This recipe makes my heart so happy!
So happy to hear that!!
Absolutely love this bread! I made it vegan and it turned out delicious. Thanks for another great recipe Monique!
So happy to hear that!
Would maple syrup work instead of honey?
That should work!
This is amazing! We made it for breakfast/snacks for the week and of course had to taste test. The perfect balance of lemon and almond without being overly sweet. Followed the recipe as directed and used chia seeds instead of poppy seeds. Will definitely make again!!
The best! Glad it was a hit 🙂
Hands down, one of my favorite recipes of yours! And I don’t even like lemon in my desserts/sweets. It’s so delicious, moist and healthier! We didn’t even put the powder sugar icing on it and it was still SO delicious. 2 thumbs up!
So happy to hear that! One of my favs, too 🙂
Substituted regular flour for oat flour and turned out really good! Next time going to double the amount of lemon zest—maybe my lemons weren’t in their prime. So good!!
Glad you enjoyed! And yes, feel free to up the lemon if you’d like 🙂
SO SO good!! The bread is almost gone in a couple days and I already want to make it again! Love the texture of using both oat and almond flour and just the right amount of sweetness too.
Isn’t the texture amazing? Glad you loved this one!
Another great recipe from AK. Sub’ed all purpose flour for oat and still came out perfect. Not too sweet, not too dry. A very easy recipe to follow and nail on the first try
I’m glad that worked out well! Perfect snack or breakfast 🙂
Delicious! Made these into muffins but otherwise made recipe exactly as written. The kids loved them too. Winner!
Perfect! So happy to hear that.
This was DELICIOUS! I substituted flax eggs and the texture was great. Thank you!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
FANTASTIC! Excellent texture, light but filling. And I don’t feel guilty eating for breakfast! Used maple syrup because I didn’t have honey and omitted poppy seeds. Bread tastes faintly sweet and great on its own but the glaze melts in and makes it perfect!
So glad you loved it!
Amazing! This did not last 48 hours in the house.
I was out of almond extract, so I subbed vanilla and it still tasted incredible.
Perfect! Glad it was a hit!
Just made this and it is absolutely delicious!! Followed ingredients and directions exactly and it came out perfect. Just wondering though – best way to store bread for the next 5ish days?
So glad you love it! Check out the full post for storing & freezing instructions 🙂 this loaf should be kept well-covered in foil or plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, then I recommend transferring to the fridge or freezer.
Hi. I made this last night and ate it this morning for breakfast drizzled with vanilla almond yogurt (Kite Hill) and topped with fresh blueberries. It was so delicious and my entire family loved it! I used Nancy’s vanilla oatmilk and faba bean yogurt and vanilla extract and baked it in a glass loaf pan for 35 minutes. I know the glaze would take it to the next level, but it was great without it! I also warmed up a piece of it for dessert tonight and topped it with Cado ice cream. Yum!
That sounds amazing! Glad those little swaps worked out well!
My dairy- loving, gluten craving- boyfriend even said this was the best lemon bread he ever had.
So happy to hear that!!
So tasty! How do you think this would turn out made as muffins?
They should turn out well!
I was expecting this to taste really healthy, but it was surprisingly good! And I mean that in the best way possible. 😉 My boyfriend loved it too! It’s a great healthier way to enjoy lemon poppy seed cake. Will definitely make this again, maybe also as muffins.
Amazing! So glad you both enjoyed!
Hi, I made this just now but when I added the day to the wet ingredients it eventually turned too thick I couldn’t stir anymore. So I added some almond milk to get to ur consistency. I followed the instructions and used the same type of stainless steel measuring cup for the honey, yogurt, almond flour and oat flour. Please let me know what I did wirong. Thx! Btw it turned out ok but not too sweet.
Hi! that’s strange! So sorry you had an issue. We do have a video for helpful tips, but my biggest one is to make sure to NOT pack the oat flour.
YUM! My whole family LOVES this bread! Definitely going to be a new addition to the regular rotation of AK baked goods. I added about 1 tbsp maple syrup instead of honey and skipped the glaze, but it is still super delicious! We keep the loaf in the fridge and then warm individual slices up in the microwave for breakfast or a snack. Love it as is or topped with peanut butter, regular butter and even cream cheese!
So happy to hear that! Love this with some cream cheese, too 🙂
For some reason it will only let me leave 4 stars, I would happily leave it 5 and tried to do so! This was amazing. I am super impressed. I didn’t feel like I was eating gluten free. The only change I made was to the glaze, and that’s only because I am not eating white sugar right now. I did make a glaze out of maple sugar and drizzled it on there. But didn’t necessarily need it. So good!
So glad you loved this one! Perfect treat 🙂
Can i make mini cupcakes? Instead of loaf
Sure, that would be fun!
My husband and I love this bread!! I want to make it for my son but don’t want to give him any added sugar yet… if I leave out the honey and don’t sub with maple syrup will it change the consistency?
So glad you both loved it! If you leave out the sweetener the recipe won’t be quite the same, I’m sorry!
I made this wonderful bread tonight. I used Silk soy vanilla yogurt (to eliminate the dairy). I also substituted agave syrup for the honey, and reduced the amount to 1/4 cup.
For fun, I added 1/4 cup of pomegranate arils on top of the batter, after pouring into loaf pan – & barely swirled with a knife. Everything else I made according to directions, except used half the amount of glaze suggested in the recipe.
My husband said it’s the best bread I ever made !😁
Perfect! Sounds delicious. Glad it was a hit!
This recipe is great for Spring! It’s moist and the flavor is so bright and delicious. I love that it’s gluten free so everyone can enjoy! Thank you for another hit.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
I made this recipe as a breakfast snack to bring home to family I was visiting. Everyone loved it! It’s very moist and the lemon flavor comes through wonderfully. I can’t wait to make it again!
So happy to hear that!
Omg this is just heavenly good even without glaze😋 the half was gone before it cool down so I didn’t have time to put a glaze on. Will be making another one soon 😁
So delicious! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Delicious. I love the combination. of oat and almond flour and hope you have more recipes with that combo in the future!
I do, too! Check out my oat flour recipes here (a lot of them have almond flour!)
This was delicious! I’ve been really impressed with recipes combining oat and almond flour for their texture – thank you!
Also, it’s nice to have a GF/healthy option that’s not banana based, I love banana bread but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up!
Absolutely! I’m loving the oat flour & almond flour combo right now 🙂 Glad you enjoyed!
Sooo good! Highly recommend!
Glad you loved it!!
This recipe is delicious. Don’t skip the glaze as it adds a lot. I was impressed to find a recipe with no oil in it but you don’t even miss it!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Adding a rating!
This is delish! I used wholemeal flour instead of oat flour and it was so yum. Didn’t even need the drizzle. Thank you 🙏
I’m glad that worked out well!!
Delicious bread! Not overly moist or mushy like some GF breads. All easy ingredients, would definitely make again. I’m sure these would make great mini muffins too
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
So delicious! Everyone in our house loved it, kids included! Used flax eggs and subbed maple syrup. Came out perfect 🙂
Perfect! So happy to hear that 🙂
this recipe is so easy and it makes the most DELICIOUS bread that I don’t feel awful eating. I’ve made it three times now and love it more every time.
Such a great snack or treat! Glad you enjoyed.
Next time I make this, I am hiding it from my husband. We both loved it and it was gone in a day! Yum!
Haha it’s too good! Glad you both enjoyed 🙂
OMG YUM. I made this with Siggi’s plain whole milk yogurt, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND (both in this recipe and just in general, lol). I also added an extra Tbl each of poppyseeds, lemon juice and lemon zest because I love things super seedy and super lemony, and it was perfect for me.
Lastly, I decided to be super extra and use some homemade thyme-infused honey that I’ve been infusing for several months in place of plain honey here. WOWWWW!! I am honestly impressed with myself…and very grateful for this recipe, Monique!!
Perfect! That sounds amazing!!
Made these tonight as muffins, got 10. Left out the poppyseeds, used vanilla extract instead of almond, no glaze (trying to cut calories) and used an extra 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice. Took out of the oven, ate 1 almost immediately….delicious!! I didn’t see anyone mention how lemony these make your house smell while they’re baking. Wonderful!!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
This is a fabulous recipe! I really searched to find a gluten free recipe that used honey, and this one is just perfect. I love lemon and poppy seed so I zest an extra lemon and add an addition 1 – 2 tbsps of poppyseeds. Thank you so much for creating and posting this!
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Excellent recipe. The loaf is flavourful with a nice, moist texture. It is just sweet enough without being cake-like.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
I’ve never been disappointed by any recipes from Ambitious Kitchen and I would highly recommend this recipe as well! It tastes like a classic lemon poppyseed loaf :]
So happy you loved it, Jocelyn! Yay!
Just made it for friends coming over to have an afternoon coffee. So quick and easy and sooooo yummy. My friend wants to make it, too. Thanks for the great recipes!!
Greetings from Madrid
Hi, Christine! So happy to hear you guys loved it! 🙂
I want to make this recipe as muffins for easy grab and go breakfast – would you adjust the baking time for that?
Hi, Jackie! Yes, they’ll probably need to bake for less time. I’m not exactly sure how long, but check them after about 20 minutes, and just bake them until a toothpick/tester comes out clean 🙂
DELICIOUS. Forever a favourite at our house.
Sooooo delicious!!!! I keep making it over and over again!!!!
Amazing!!! I did not have eggs or oat flour, so I substituted 1 mushed banana and used chickpea flour instead along with using blueberry flavored greek yogurt and added blueberry jam to the glaze. My bread turned out delicious and I feel a bit better eating the whole thing knowing it’s ~healthy~ 🙂
Oh my gosh! I don’t usually write comments or anything… but had to do it for this! This is so yummy! I replaced all lemon things with orange things (LOVE me some orange poppy seed cake), and it is delish! So moist. 🙂 Thank you!
Oooh that sounds amazing with the orange! Happy you loved this recipe and thanks so much for the review 🥰
Great recipe, I used store bought almond yogurt which I cant say I loved how it tasted but this recipe is perfect use for it! I also used maple syrup insteaf of honey, pretty easy recipe too! Thanks!
Nice, happy you could use up the yogurt in this recipe and that it turned out great! 🙂
Absolutely love this cake (I’m calling it a cake). It always turns out delicious and moist. I use Meyer lemons which add some sweetness. I never have oat flour so I substitute it with gluten free plain flour. Always a winner with my family, even with my dad who has the biggest sweet tooth.
I’m very sad 🙁 2 tablespoons of lemon juice is definitely not enough. It does not taste like lemon at all! Even with the zest the flavor is completely absent. However, the texture of the bread is very soft! If I make this recipe again, I will double the amount of almond extract and lemon zest, and add lemon extract so it taste like lemon!
I’m surprised to hear that — I find it really lemony! I wonder if the lemons you got weren’t super flavorful? Not sure! Thanks for sharing, though, and totally fine to add more if you’d like 🙂
This is a great recipe! Definitely will be a new go-to. I used two lemons’ worth of juice in the batter to make them more lemony and the extra liquid didn’t cause any issues. I did them as muffins and they needed about 22-24 minutes.
Glad the extra lemon worked well and that they turned out great as muffins! Thanks, Justine 🙂
I’ve made this a few times and love it! All of your healthier baked goods are the perfect weekday breakfast. My only question for this recipe – I can’t seem to get the icing to harden nicely and sit on top, it sort of runs and soaks into the bread. Any suggestions?
I’m so glad you love it! Thanks, Amy 🙂 Are you adding the icing on the warm bread or after it’s cooled? I definitely recommend that you cool it completely!
Very nice lemon poppy seed bread. Very healthy and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you love it, Vicky! 🙂
I just finished making this (literally it’s sitting on my counter)…! Of course i could not wait long enough for it to completely cool and cut just a very small piece to try…and holy moly IT’S AMAZING!! I love lemon poppyseed everything, but always hesitated buying or making certain recipes because of how unhealthy some baked goods can be. The taste of this bread is exactly why I feel in love with lemon poppyseed when I was a kid. THANK YOU so much for such a great recipe. This is going on rotation in my kitchen! So YUMM!!!
Oh YAY!! So happy you’re loving it! Thanks so much for the sweet review, Aiza 🙂
Made this tonight, halfed the recipe and put in a mini loaf pan for 25 minutes – it was excellent, Didn’t add the glaze to cut down on sugar, though I’m sure that would elevate this even more. Thanks for such a great recipe to satisfy my spring lemon tooth!
I only had flour that is half coconut and half almond so I used two cups of that. I thought it would turn out bad but it didn’t. It didn’t rise as much as using almond and oat but it was great. I called them lemon bars since they weren’t as high as regular bread. People probably hate these products but I use them in moderation because I am diabetic. I used the Swerve brand confectioners sugar for the icing and I also used a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake so it would go deeper into the bread. It was so good and for someone that can’t have sugar or flour it was amazing, I am going to make it again tonight because it’s gone already my family loved it. Do you think with the flour I used if I added more baking soda it might rise a little bit more? I used this product called the Ultimate Nut Flour which is half almond and half coconut. Regardless if I can or can’t it was so incredibly good!
Hi, Leslie! SO happy to hear that worked well and tasted great 🙂 I don’t have any experience with that kind of flour so I’m not sure about the extra baking soda. I think it would be fine to add a little bit more, though!
I love this recipe and have made it many times! I grew up loving box mix lemon poppyseed muffins, so I’m grateful for a healthier option. I’m planning to make this for an Easter picnic!
Such a good flavor combo, right?? I’m so happy you love this one! And an Easter picnic sounds lovely 🙂
So easy and so good! Lots of great flavor!
I’m so happy you loved it! Thanks, Allison 🙂
Can I use the same proportions for muffins? I’m very excited to try this. I also don’t have lemons so I was just going to use extract and replace any needed liquid with a bit if milk?
Hi, Ava! Yes this will work great as muffins 🙂 I think that would work, but I personally prefer the flavor of fresh lemon juice + zest.
Amazing flavor and texture!
Yay! Glad it came out perfect!
I only have skyr yogurt on hand. Do you think it’ll work? Thank you.
Hi, Joanna! Yes, that’s perfect. I use siggi’s skyr all the time 🙂
This recipe is so delicious! It was simple and easy to make, and so nice and lemony. I l used regular poppy seeds, but I want to try subbing chia seeds; that sounds like a great idea. My MIL was very happy with this cake; she is particular with desserts, but she even had seconds and said that her stomach felt fine and did not hurt the way it would have with wheat flour. Delicious recipe, and I will definitely make it again. Thank you!
Yes yes yes!! This was everything! I looove lemon loaves & this one was soo good. I subbed for chia seeds since I didn’t have any poppyseeds but it was the same!☺️
I made this cake today. It turned out really well, very simple to make. Had a strong honey flavor & quite tangy with the lemon which I liked!
So happy you loved it, Kate!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review — it means a lot 🙂
this lemon loaf is delightful…but with the icing, this recipe goes to another level…amazing! not surprising really, as I’ve made the fresh strawberry shortcake bread with strawberry glaze many times. its my daughters favourite and the pistachio poppy seed orange yoghurt bread is my mums favourite. I’ve just put another healthy lemon poppy seed loaf in the oven, only I made it an orange poppy seed loaf instead…love the almond extract with the citrus flavours….yummy! can’t wait to slice this one up. won’t be much left for dessert I wouldn’t think. have my mum and daughters over tonight… hence the celebratory loaf. thanks for all your amazing recipes…the great part is that its all so healthy healthy healthy…
Amazing! So glad you love this one 🙂
I’ve tried a bunch of relatively healthy breakfast breads and I go back to this one over and over. So good! I’ve made it with vanilla extract instead of almond and I prefer that, but either is good. I also usually use maple syrup instead of honey just because my dad and brother make homemade maple syrup so I have a free source. I’m about to make another loaf and figured it would be good to give a review since I love it so much!
This is probably the 5th time making this. I just love it. Question- what is the significance of using a wooden spoon? I’ve seen other recipes that mention this too. Is it something with the baking soda?
Great recipe!
We love all your recipes. Thank you❤️
First time I’ve ever baked with almond and oat flour. It’s so yummy. Easy to follow instructions. 10/10 would make again.
Followed the recipe as described and it came out perfectly! Have made this many times – delicious and guilt-free!
Thank you so much for sharing the e recipe. My family and friend loved it. Soft, healthy and delicious. I used vanilla extract instead of almond (I don’t like almond extract, too strong to my taste 😜) absolutely I’ll do it again 😁.
Thank you so much for sharing the e recipe. My family and friend loved it. Soft, healthy and delicious. I used vanilla extract instead of almond (I don’t like almond extract, too strong to my taste 😜) absolutely I’ll do it again 😁.
The texture of this bread is amazing, so moist without being gummy. Love the flavor of the lemon with honey for sweetness and hint of almond extract. One of my favorites and will definitely be making again! Love it with a cup of coffee.
YUM! I am so glad you are loving this recipe, one of my faves too!
Can I replace the almond mass with oatmeal?
Can this recipe be made vegan?
I haven’t tried making this recipe vegan – I don’t think it would turn out as well without the eggs. so sorry.
I LOVE this recipe! I’ve made it so many times, and it is the perfect healthy alternative for the boxed lemon poppyseed muffins I loved as a kid. Great texture and moisture. I use chia seeds instead of poppy seeds because I always have them on hand and they’re less expensive. I also never make the glaze/icing and think the bread is great by itself.
YUM! Sounds amazing, glad this recipe turned out great for you ❤️
Can you sub yogurt w sour cream???
Delicious! Saved into my favorites!
Only difference I used half pure maple syrup and half honey in the wet ingredients ….and omitted the almond extract and used a little lemon extract for the glaze.
Hi, I would love to make this recipe but here in Europe (Portugal) we work with meyric system and not cups. Is there any chance you could provide the metric system too in your recipes.
Thank you
Helena
Hi Helena – I am working on that feature for future posts. In the meantime, I would recommend using an online converter. So sorry!
DELICIOUS!!
Easy to follow recipe, and great results! This bread is moist and super flavorful.
Yay! I am so glad this recipe turned out great for you and you’re loving it too 🙂
This lemon poppy seed bread recipe is amazing! The combination of tangy lemon and crunchy poppy seeds is absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to make it again!
Yay! I am so glad this bread turned out great for you, its seriously the best combo 🙂
Can we substitue honey with maple syrup?
I haven’t tried it so I am not sure how the bread would turn out. Let me know if you give it a try!
Made this today and it was a hit with me and the family. In my opinion it did not need the glaze but the glaze will suit those with a sweet tooth. Yummy. Definitely a keeper.
Yay! So glad everyone is loving this recipe, JoJo! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂
I’ve made this recipe 8+ times (without the glaze) and love it! Two slices are a typical weekday breakfast for me. Subs that I have to make due to dietary restrictions: dairy-free yogurt (typically almond or cashew), 1-1 GF flour instead of oat flour, and chia seeds instead of poppyseeds (since I always have chia on hand). I purchased dried lemon peel so I could make this recipe with less effort. 5 stars!
I’m glad those swaps work out well! Perfect way to start the day 🙂
Way too much flour. Cake is dry and has no taste
Sorry to hear that this didn’t turn out for you! Did you measure the wet ingredients exactly? This bread isn’t meant to be overly sweet because it has the beautiful glaze on top, but it should have a lovely flavor and be plenty of moist with the addition of yogurt, etc.
This recipe is great! And flexible as well…I’ve made it multiple times and have had success with swapping the honey for a combo maple and date syrup. I was short on almond flour and replaced the rest with more oat flour and it baked just fine. For anyone looking for more precise measurements on the lemon zest, I found 3tbsp to be just right. I’ve never made it with the glaze, as I find the loaf to be perfectly sweet and balanced as is. Thank you for this lovely and healthier recipe! I’ll be making it throughout citrus season.
Perfect! So glad you love this one!
This bread is amazing! I don’t normally bake with almond or oat flour but I am so glad I tried this recipe.
I made this today as a healthy snack for my 14 month old. I used mashed banana instead of the honey, chia seeds, and left off the icing. He LOVED it. Kept asking for more. Great recipe!
I’m glad those swaps worked out well! Perfect snack 🙂
EXCELLENT!!! First I made a lemon poppyseed muffin recipe that was gluten, dairy free, etc. from a different website and it wasn’t great but then I tried THIS recipe and SOO GOOD!!! Exactly what I was looking for. The bread doesn’t rise a ton but it is moist, delicious, with an incredible lemon flavor. (Instead of eggs I used liquid vegan JUSTeggs and Pillars vanilla dairy-free coconut milk yogurt (it’s my absolute favorite cause it’s so rich and creamy).
Thank you ambitious kitchen! All recipes I’ve tried from you so far have been absolutely fabulous!
Amazing! So glad you loved this one!
It was delicious and easy to make! The glaze wasn’t as thick because I added too much lemon juice and will prob not add the almond ext next time. Either way, it was a tasty sweet treat to have for the family. Thank you!
Ps I was wondering if the base of this recipe could be used to make the bread portion and add in something else like chocolate chips?
Glad everyone enjoyed! And yes, feel free to add some yummy mix-ins instead of the glaze 🙂
I like the taste, I’ve made it 2x but it won’t rise properly for me. The 2nd time I used flax eggs so maybe that contributed but 1st time I did use eggs. Any suggestions? Does the yogurt need to have some fat?? My Greek yogurt is non fat. THANKS!! Love your recipes.
Hi! Because this bread using gluten free flours it won’t bake as “tall” as breads using regular flour. However, it shouldn’t be extremely flat so double check that your baking soda is fresh and that you’re packing your almond flour.
Turned out delicous, Thanks for the recipe!
Do you have a recommendation for subsistuting honey? I don‘t like the taste of it in bake goods.
Used rice syrup instead, but that resulted in a bread which wasn‘t quite sweet enough for my taste,
I think maple syrup should work well!
Can these be made as muffins also? I love lemon poppy seed bread and look forward to trying yours with it’s more healthy ingredients.
Yes, that should work! Or you can try my lemon poppy seed muffins here 🙂
This bread/muffins (muffins are easier in our house) is awesome! I don’t normally leave reviews, but this was exceptional and all three of my Littles loved it. I’ve made it with plain Greek and planted based yogurts, and it works either way.
So happy to hear that!
if there is no oil or butter in this recipe why is the calorie count so high for a single slice?
Hi! I opted to use gluten free flours, like almond flour, which has higher fat content than all purpose flour. It provides the bread with healthy fats without the need for oil or butter.
Can i double this recipe? 🙂
Hi, looking forward to trying this out. Just wondering, what brand do you use for your oat and almond flours? Or do you make them yourself. Please let me know!
Hi! I typically use Bob’s Red Mill oat flour and almond flour 🙂
I just made this and it is SO GOOD. I’m temporarily grain free and refined sugar free, so it’s been hard to find things I can bake, let alone something AMAZING! This is great even without the icing. I used plain Greek yogurt and added 1/2 tsp each of vanilla and lemon extract. Loved how easy this was to make and it absolutely hit the spot. Thanks for the great recipe!
So glad you found this one! Perfect treat or snack 🙂
I’m not a big fan of almond extract so I used vanilla instead & it turned out great!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This was delicious and so satisfying. I love your breads that use oat flour and almond flour combo- so filling, great texture and perfect for a gf girlie like me!
I did think the almond exact flavor was strong but enjoyable, may make it next time without it and add an extra lemon worth of zest.
Thank you again!
Love that combo, too! And yes, feel free to reduce the almond a bit if you’d like 🙂