Whisked Lemon Poppy Seed Soufflé Cake
A light, airy soufflé-style cake bursting with fresh lemon and crunchy poppy seeds, perfect for impressing guests at a dinner party. This French-inspired recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers large eggs, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 5, separated large eggs
- 3/4 cup, divided granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- for dusting powdered sugar
The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
- Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together 5 large egg yolks and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 2 tbsp poppy seeds until smooth.
- Step 3: In a separate clean bowl, beat 5 large egg whites with 1/4 tsp cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Step 4: Gently fold one-third of the egg whites into the yolk mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whites carefully to preserve airiness.
- Step 5: Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Step 6: Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack. Dust the top with powdered sugar before serving.









