Lemon Poppy Seed Cut Outs Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs and oil; gradually add cake mix and mix well. Stir in poppy seeds and lemon zest., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/4-in. flower-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers. Freeze option: Freeze cookies in freezer containers. To use, thaw in covered containers before serving.

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Make the twists: On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Spread the poppy seed filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on one of the long sides. Brush the clean border with water. Tightly roll the dough into an 18-inch log, rolling toward the clean border.
• Using a chef's knife, cut the log crosswise into 12 rounds, 1 1/2 inches wide each. Dampen your hands, then stretch and pat each round into an oval shape. Twist each oval in the middle to form a figure-eight shape. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until plump, 20 minutes.
• Uncover the dough and retwist, if necessary. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes, switching the position of the baking sheets halfway through. Transfer to racks and let cool slightly on the baking sheets.
• Make the glaze: Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, lemon juice and zest, milk, vanilla and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave 45 seconds; stir until smooth. Brush on the twists.
• Warm 1/2 cup water and the milk in a saucepan over low heat until a thermometer registers 100 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the yeast on top, then sprinkle with a pinch of the sugar; set aside, undisturbed, until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture until combined. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, the remaining sugar, the salt and nutmeg. Make a well in the center, then add the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape into a ball.
• Brush a large bowl with butter. Add the dough, turning to coat lightly with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form into a ball and return to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it directly on the surface of the dough. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heavily grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter or margarine, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Mix lemon juice and yogurt together and add alternately with the sifted flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just blended. Stir in lemon rind and poppy seeds. Pour mixture into prepared pans and smooth tops.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 15 minutes before turning out of pans.

Steps:

• Make the dough: Heat the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until warm but not hot, about 100˚ F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Whisk the melted butter, egg yolks and vanilla into the milk-yeast mixture, then pour into the well and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together into a wet shaggy dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead, dusting with flour as needed, until the dough comes together into a loose, slightly sticky ball, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a buttered bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Mash the poppy seed filling with the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt in a small bowl with a fork until combined; set aside.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface; pat and roll out into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on one long side. Brush the clean edge with water, then tightly roll up the dough into a log, starting with a long side and rolling toward the clean edge; pinch the seam to seal.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Slice the dough log into 12 pieces with a sharp knife and arrange cut-side up in the dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Uncover the rolls and bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make the icing: Mix the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and mix until smooth. Spread on the warm rolls.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper.
• Make the cake: Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• Using a mixer set on medium speed, cream the butter with the lemon zest in a large bowl for about 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar, beating for 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating until smooth after each addition. Fold in the poppy seeds until well combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake the layers for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean.
• Remove the pans from the oven and cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Run a sharp knife around the edges of each pan to loosen the cake layers. Invert the pans over large plates and shake gently, so the layers slide top side down onto the plates. Transfer the layers to wire racks to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.
• Make the frosting: Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the confectioners' sugar, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large bowl until smooth. Add the milk and increase the mixer speed to high. Continue to beat for 1 minute, or until light and fluffy.
• Assemble the cake: Using a sharp serrated knife, slice each cake layer in half horizontally. You will have 4 layers.
• Place 1 layer cut side up on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread with about 1/2 cup frosting. Top with another layer cut side down, and spread with about 1/2 cup frosting. Add the third layer cut side up, and spread with about 1/2 cup frosting. Place the final layer cut side down, and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
• Sprinkle the top with the poppy seeds. Refrigerate the cake until serving time. Bring to room temperature before serving.