Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread

If you love moist, tender banana bread with a bright, citrusy kick, this Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread is for you! The combination of ripe bananas, fresh lemon zest, crunchy poppy seeds, and a hint of vanilla makes this loaf light, refreshing, and packed with flavor. It’s perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert.

Let’s get baking!

What You’ll Need

For the Banana Bread Batter:

3 ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp poppy seeds

For the Lemon Glaze (Optional but so good!):

½ cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp lemon zest

a small plate of mashed bananas, a small plate of melted butter, a small plate of granulated sugar, a small plate of honey, a small plate of eggs, a small plate of vanilla extract, a small plate of fresh lemon juice, a small plate of lemon zest, a small plate of all-purpose flour, a small plate of baking soda, a small plate of salt, a small plate of poppy seeds, a small plate of powdered sugar, and a small plate of extra lemon zest

Pro Tips

Use overripe bananas for extra sweetness and moisture.
Don’t overmix the batter—stir just until combined for a soft texture.
For more lemon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of lemon zest!
Make it dairy-free by swapping butter for coconut oil.
Let the loaf cool completely before adding the glaze for the best texture.

Tools You’ll Need

Mixing bowls
Whisk
Spatula
9×5-inch loaf pan
Toothpick (for testing doneness)

Instructions

Step 1: Mash the Bananas

In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth.

a mixing bowl filled with mashed bananas, their soft texture slightly chunky

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Stir in melted butter, granulated sugar, honey, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until smooth.

a mixing bowl with mashed bananas, melted butter, granulated sugar, honey, eggs, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and bright yellow lemon zest being whisked together

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds.

a mixing bowl with all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and tiny black poppy seeds being whisked together

Step 4: Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.

a spatula folding dry flour mixture into the wet banana mixture, creating a thick, slightly lumpy batter

Step 5: Pour Batter into Loaf Pan

Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and smooth the top.

a loaf pan filled with thick Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread batter, with tiny black poppy seeds evenly spread throughout

Step 6: Bake the Banana Bread

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

a golden-brown loaf of Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread baking inside a modern stainless steel double oven, the top slightly domed with specks of lemon zest

Step 7: Make the Lemon Glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.

a small bowl filled with smooth, glossy lemon glaze, with a spoon lifting a drizzle to show its silky consistency

Step 8: Drizzle & Serve

Once the banana bread is cool, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top. Slice and enjoy!

a golden-brown loaf of Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread being drizzled with fresh lemon glaze

Leftovers & Storage

Store at room temperature for 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze slices for up to 2 months.

Wrap-Up

And that’s it—your Lemon Poppy Seed Banana Bread is ready! It’s soft, bright, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Try it out, take a pic, and let me know how it turned out. Enjoy! 🍋🍌✨