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The Number 1 Practically Perfect Poppy Seed Bread Recipe

The Number 1 Practically Perfect Poppy Seed Bread

A tender Amish-style sweet quick bread made with poppy seeds, almond extract, and vanilla, finished with an optional orange-almond glaze. This recipe yields two standard 9 x 5-inch loaves.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bread
  • 3 cups (375 g) All-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups (300 g) Granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Poppy seeds
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) Milk
  • 1 1/8 cups (270 ml) Vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Almond extract
Optional Orange-Almond Glaze
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Orange juice
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon Almond extract

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans, or line them with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds together in a large bowl until evenly distributed.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir only until no large streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans and smooth the tops.
  6. Bake for 50–60 minutes, checking near the 50-minute mark, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  7. For the optional glaze, heat the orange juice and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.
  8. Poke small holes in the warm loaves with a skewer or toothpick, then brush or spoon the glaze over the tops.
  9. Cool the loaves in their pans for at least 15 minutes, then continue cooling before removing and slicing. The bread cuts most cleanly once fully cooled.

Notes

Room-temperature eggs and milk make a smoother batter and encourage even baking. Avoid overmixing after adding the flour. Dark metal pans may brown the loaves faster, so begin checking a few minutes early. For the fullest poppy-seed flavor, let the glazed bread rest for several hours or overnight.