Poppy seed cake

Poppy seed cake – an irresistible delicacy, perfect for any time of the day, whether served at breakfast, as a snack between meals, or as an elegant dessert at a special dinner. This simple yet impressive recipe will delight you with its fluffy texture and intense poppy flavor. Follow the steps below to achieve a delicious cake that will leave everyone in awe.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 8

Ingredients:
- 100 g butter
- 200 ml milk
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 500 g flour
- 200 g sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 3 eggs
- 200 g poppy seeds
- a pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Melting the butter: Start by melting the butter over low heat, being careful not to boil it. The butter should be warm, not hot, to avoid affecting the yeast.

2. Activating the yeast: In a bowl, pour the lukewarm milk and add a teaspoon of sugar. Mix well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the fresh yeast and set the mixture aside for 10 minutes until a foam forms. This step is essential to activate the yeast and achieve a fluffy cake.

3. Preparing the dough: In a large bowl, sift the flour together with a pinch of salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, melted butter, eggs, the remaining sugar, and vanilla essence. Using a spatula or your hands, mix the ingredients until you obtain a homogeneous dough. Finally, incorporate the poppy seeds, which will provide a unique taste and texture to your cake.

4. Kneading the dough: Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour, but be careful not to overdo it, as too much flour can make the cake dense.

5. Rising the dough: Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 30-40 minutes, until it doubles in volume. This stage is crucial for obtaining a fluffy cake.

6. Baking the cake: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Once the dough has risen, grease a baking tray with butter and dust it with flour. Pour the dough into the tray and level the surface. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until it turns golden and passes the toothpick test. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready.

7. Cooling and serving: After the cake is baked, let it cool in the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. You can sprinkle powdered sugar on top for an elegant look or serve it alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent experience.

Useful tips:
- If you want to add a note of freshness, you can incorporate lemon or orange zest into the dough.
- The poppy seed cake can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, but we recommend consuming it fresh to enjoy all its flavors.
- You can experiment with various types of seeds, such as sesame or chia, to create unique variations of this cake.

Enjoy this poppy seed cake with your loved ones and savor every bite!

 Ingredients: For the Dough: 150g butter, 125ml milk, 100g sugar, 25g yeast, 300g flour, 1 egg, a pinch of salt. Filling with Poppy Seeds: 1 1/2 liters of milk, 125g butter, 150g sugar, 125g semolina (flour), 125g raisins, 250g poppy seeds (uncrushed), 125g almonds/hazelnuts. Top of the cake with pudding: 1/4 liter of milk, 1/2 packet of vanilla pudding, 50g butter, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 eggs.