Healthy Lemon Poppy Seed Bread (gluten free!)

Oh hiiiii all my lemon lovers! For some reason, a lot of AK readers go absolutely nuts over lemon. I say this because every time I post something lemony, it tends to go viral; this leads me to the conclusion that there are A LOT of you who simply LOVE lemon.

This lemon poppy seed bread was something I dreamt up a few summers ago, and couldn’t stop making over and over again. I had to reshare it this season because it’s just that good! It’s SO moist (I said it), gluten free, easily dairy free, healthy thanks to a mix of oat flour and almond flour and perfectly naturally sweetened with honey. I MEAN FLUFFY, TENDER AND OH SO GOOD with a little butter or extra drizzle of honey on top. Perfection.

Add this to your brunch menu or just celebrate spring & summer with a gorgeous loaf.

What you’ll need to make healthy lemon poppy seed bread

This delicious and easy lemon poppy seed loaf is made with better-for-you ingredients than your traditional one, yet it still tastes just like a moist lemon cake! We’re not using any oil, butter or refined sugars. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Plain or vanilla greek yogurt: for a delicious boost of protein and moisture. Feel free to use your favorite dairy free yogurt if you’d like. We love siggi’s dairy free coconut plant based cups!
• Eggs: you’ll just need 2 eggs for the whole loaf.
• Honey: this bread is naturally sweetened with honey.
• Lemon juice & zest: for the ultimate, bright lemon flavor.
• Almond extract: a bit of almond extract truly gives it that traditional lemon poppy seed flavor.
• Flours: we’re using a mix of gluten free oat flour and fine, blanched almond flour to keep the bread gluten free. See below for an easy way to make your own oat flour at home!
• Poppy seeds: what’s a lemon poppy seed bread without the poppy seeds? You can also sub chia seeds if you’d like.
• Baking soda & salt: for proper baking.
• For the lemon glaze: we’re using some powdered sugar and more fresh lemon juice, plus almond extract if you’d like. However, the bread is amazing without it too!

How to make homemade oat flour

You can easily make your own gluten free oat flour by simply placing gluten free oats into a blender and blending or pulsing until they’re smooth and resemble flour. This is a super easy & affordable option. Get my full tutorial on how to make oat flour here, and be sure to measure out 1 cup of your oat flour after making it! It’s also important to make sure your oat flour is VERY fine. Feel free to check out all of our recipes using oat flour.

Can I use different flour?

If you don’t have oat flour, I think regular flour or 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour would work well. Please do not sub another flour for the almond flour. The almond flour contains moisture and fat which helps give the bread proper flavor and texture.

What makes this lemon poppy seed bread healthy?

As I mentioned before, traditional lemon poppy seed bread recipes tend to be made with extra oil, butter and refined sugars. We’re giving this one a makeover with easy swaps to make it the BEST healthy lemon poppy seed loaf ever!

• Oil free. There’s zero oil in this bread! It’s moist from the protein-packed greek yogurt and contains healthy fats thanks to almond flour.
• Naturally sweetened. It’s naturally sweetened with just honey!
• Gluten free. This bread is gluten free thanks to the combo of almond and gluten free oat flour.
• Easily dairy free. You can easily make it dairy free using your favorite dairy free yogurt. We love siggi’s plant based cups.
• Healthy fats + protein. There are additional healthy fats from the almond flour, and a boost of protein from the yogurt and eggs.

Trust me when I say this lemon poppy seed bread tastes just as indulgent as that loaf you’ve been eyeing at Starbucks, but it’s nutritious enough for breakfast or a snack.

How to make lemon poppy seed bread (in one bowl!)

The best part about this bread? It’s made in just one bowl! Here’s how to do it:

1. Prep your pan. Preheat your oven and line an 8×4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. I also recommend spraying it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. 
2. Mix the wet. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients until well combined.
3. Add in the dry. In the same bowl, mix the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until well combined.
4. Bake it up. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake it up until a toothpick comes out clean! Be sure to let the bread cool in the pan and then on a wire rack before adding the glaze.
5. Add the glaze & serve. Mix your glaze together in a medium bowl. You may need to add in more lemon juice if it is too thick (start with a teaspoon at a time). Pour over bread and spread with a spoon if necessary. Top with a little extra lemon zest if you have any for a pretty effect and enjoy!

Our best tips for baking quick bread

• Follow the recipe. The best way to ensure the success of this lemon poppy seed bread is to follow the recipe and use the exact ingredients as written (unless I note specific substitutes).
• Pack your almond flour. Be sure to pack your almond flour as you would do with brown sugar. Do not pack your oat flour.
• Use fresh baking soda. If your baking soda is older than 3 months, I suggest grabbing a new one for best baking results.
• Line your loaf pan. I recommend lining your loaf pan with parchment paper AND spraying it with nonstick cooking spray so that your bread comes out easily.

Storing & freezing tips

• To store: this healthy lemon poppy seed bread should be kept well-covered in foil or plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, then I recommend transferring it to the fridge or freezer.
• To freeze: this loaf freezes well! Simply wrap in plastic, then tightly in foil and finally place in a reusable bag or freezer friendly bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature once you are ready to eat. You can also feel free to freeze individual slices for a quick on-the-go treat. Feel free to freeze it without the glaze and then top it once it is thawed out.

More delicious bread recipes

Get even more of our bread recipes here!

If you make this healthy lemon poppy seed bread recipe, be sure to leave a comment below and rate the recipe! You can also snap and picture and post it on Instagram using the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen. xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats

This post was originally published on July 20th, 2020, republished on February 25th, 2021, republished on April 14th, 2022, and republished on May 15th, 2023.