Using both the citrus zest and juice in the batter and icing, makes this grapefruit poppy seed loaf cake, an easy quick bread recipe, incredibly fragrant and full of flavor.
Quick breads blur the boundaries between breakfast, dessert and snack.
They are a universal treat that make sense at lots of different times during the day. I think that’s why I love them so much.
Baked in a loaf pan, quick breads can be casual and spontaneous or they can be dressed up for something more formal.
Banana bread is my go-to loaf, but I’ve been so inspired by winter citrus lately, that I thought it was okay to skip the bananas.
Even if it was just this time.
I had a serious debate about what kind of citrus to use.
Poppy seeds were an absolute must, but I didn’t want to default to lemon. Of course you can’t beat that classic combo, but I craved a twist.
Grapefruit ended up being my chosen citrus. I’m a bit late to the party on this softball sized fruit. Now I can’t get enough of its tart flavor.
To start, I combined the dry ingredients. Then to flavor this grapefruit poppy seed loaf cake, I rubbed the zest into granulated sugar. My hands smelled absolutely amazing!
I beat the eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract into the fragrant sugar, and then combined the wet and dry ingredients alternating with Greek yogurt.
The yogurt gave the loaf a moist, tender crumb with a sublet tang.
Before transferring the batter to the pan, I folded in poppy seeds and grapefruit juice. I even brushed the top of the loaf with more juice while it was hot from the oven.
Once the loaf cooled, I whisked together grapefruit juice and confectioners’ sugar to make icing.
I glazed the loaf and sprinkled on poppy seeds. It took about a half hour for the icing to set, and finally the loaf was ready to slice.
Each bite had the fresh flavor of grapefruit. Next time if I am looking for more crunch, I will be more generous with the poppy seeds.
Using both the citrus zest and juice in the batter and icing, makes this grapefruit poppy seed loaf cake, an easy quick bread recipe, incredibly fragrant and full of flavor.
Adapted from Bon Appetit March 2016
Delicious loaf cake! I had some beautiful pink grapefruit to use up and this was the perfect recipe. It’s a keeper.
★★★★★