Home > Recipes > Layered Poppy Seed Cake

Layered Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

It's just not Christmas at our house until I bake and ice this old-time layer cake-my husband's favorite since he was a boy.

[X]

Rate Layered Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Layered Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

Prep: 30 min. + standing Bake: 30 min. + chilling

Yield: 12 Servings

30 30 60

Ingredients

3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup poppy seeds
3/4 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites
FILLING/ TOPPING:
3/4 cup sugar
4-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
6 egg yolks, lightly beaten
2-1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional chopped walnuts and confectioners' sugar, optional

Directions

In a small bowl, combine milk and poppy seeds; let stand for 1 hour. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with poppy seed mixture. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into creamed mixture.
Spread into two greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Combine egg yolks and milk; gradually stir into sugar mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; cool completely. Stir in walnuts and vanilla.
Cut each cake layer horizontally in half. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with a fourth of the filling. Repeat layers three times. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Garnish with additional walnuts and confectioners' sugar if desired. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 piece) equals 442 calories, 19 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 145 mg cholesterol, 302 mg sodium, 61 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 8 g protein.

Originally published as Layered Poppy Seed Cake in Country Woman Christmas Annual 2004, p49