Blood Orange Poppy Seed Loaf (Printable Version)

Vibrant citrus loaf with blood orange, poppy seeds, and marzipan. Perfect for tea time or special occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Cake

01 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
05 - 8½ tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - Zest of 2 blood oranges
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2¾ ounces marzipan, grated
10 - ½ cup blood orange juice
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For the Blood Orange Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tablespoons blood orange juice

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, sugar, and blood orange zest until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
05 - Fold in the grated marzipan until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
06 - In a separate bowl, combine blood orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract.
07 - Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three alternating parts with the blood orange mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined without overmixing.
08 - Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top surface.
09 - Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10 - Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Whisk powdered sugar with blood orange juice until smooth and pourable. Drizzle over the cooled cake and let set before slicing.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • The blood orange gives it a natural ruby hue and a sweet-tart punch that feels special without any food coloring.
  • Grated marzipan melts into the crumb, adding moisture and a gentle almond sweetness that lingers.
  • Poppy seeds offer a delicate crunch and a hint of nuttiness that balances the citrus beautifully.
  • It slices cleanly, looks stunning on a platter, and tastes even better the next day.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable, cold eggs and milk can cause the batter to curdle and bake unevenly.
  • Don't skip the parchment paper, this cake is tender and can stick stubbornly to a bare pan even when greased.
  • Blood orange juice varies in sweetness, taste your glaze and adjust the powdered sugar if your oranges are especially tart.
03 -
  • Freeze leftover blood orange juice in ice cube trays so you can make the glaze again even when they're out of season.
  • Grate the marzipan on the coarse side of a box grater while it's cold, it's less sticky and integrates more evenly.
  • For an extra glossy glaze, add a tiny drop of corn syrup or honey to the powdered sugar mix.
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