Dessert

Orange poppy seed loaf cake

Name: Classic orange poppy seed loaf cake recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 100g butter, chopped, softened; 220g caster sugar; 50.00 ml vegetable oil; Finely grated zest of 1 orange, plus extra zest, to decorate; 3 large eggs, at room temperature; 200g self-raising flour; 50g plain flour; 80ml milk; 60ml orange juice; 40.00 ml poppy seeds, plus extra, to decorate; 180g icing sugar; 1-10.00 ml orange juice

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Orange poppy seed loaf cake — Brett Stevens

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by Lucy Nunes

Delicious Team

Sep 08, 2026

This simple loaf cake is a great one to have in your repertoire – it looks gorgeous and tastes even better, and is perfect for an afternoon tea, a picnic or lunch-box treat. The icing makes it extra special, but the loaf is also delicious without it.

You’ll need a 11cm x 21cm (base), 7cm-high loaf pan for this recipe.

Credit: Brett Stevens

100g butter, chopped, softened
1 cup (220g) caster sugar
2 1/2 tbs vegetable oil
Finely grated zest of 1 orange, plus extra zest, to decorate
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups (200g) self-raising flour
1/3 cup (50g) plain flour
1/3 cup (80ml) milk
1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
2 tbs poppy seeds, plus extra, to decorate

Icing

1 1/2 cups (180g) icing sugar, sifted
1-1 1/2 tbs orange juice

Method

1.

Preheat oven to 170°C/150°C fan-forced. Grease a 11cm x 21cm (base), 7cm-high loaf pan and line with baking paper, with 2cm paper overhanging on each side.
2.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, oil and zest until pale and creamy, regularly scraping down side of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined between each addition. Stir through the flours and milk until combined. Add juice and stir until combined. Add seeds and stir until combined. Spoon into prepared pan. Level surface with a spatula.
3.

Bake for 1 hour, or until golden and a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Set aside on a wire rack to cool completely.
4.

To make the icing, sift icing sugar into a bowl. Gradually stir in enough orange juice to form a smooth, thick icing.
5.

Transfer the loaf to a serving plate. Pour the icing over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with extra orange zest and extra poppy seeds. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow icing to set, then serve.