Lemon Poppy Loaf with Earl Grey Glaze

LEMON POPPY LOAF WITH EARL GREY GLAZE

Makes 1 loaf or 2 minis.
RECIPE ADAPTED FROM PORT + FIN

Ingredients:

Loaf:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
4 TB poppy seeds
1 cup plain yogurt ( I used non-fat Greek )
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 t. lemon zest
1 t. vanilla
1/2 cup butter or coconut or vegetable oil ( I used 4TB coconut oil and 4TB melted butter)

Syrup:
1/4 cup lemon juice, strained
1/4 cup sugar

Glaze:
1 cup confection sugar
2 TB lemon juice, strained
1 t. loose leaf earl grey tea

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with butter and then cut a piece of parchment to fit, leaving an inch on each side overhanging, to make removing loaf super easy.

2. In a bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds.

3. In a separate bowl, add your yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and choice of butter/oils. Little by little add your dry mix to your wet mix and stir until combined.

4. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour until a toothpick test comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack with a sheet of parchment underneath.

5. Now it's time to make the sweet sweet syrup. Stir together your lemon juice and sugar in a small sauce pan. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit. I added a tiny dash of pink salt to cut the sweetness.

6. Use a toothpick to poke a bunch of holes in the top and sides of loaf and then brush the top and sides of loaf with your syrup every few minutes. I did about 3 or 4 layers. It soaks into the loaf very gently, adding an amazing crunch and lemony sweetness to the edges.

7. Once your loaf has cooled all the way through whisk together confection sugar, lemon juice and earl grey tea leaves. If it's too thick, add a tiny bit of water, if its too runny add a little bit more confection sugar. Pour glaze over loaf evenly and then let set for about 30 minutes. Once the glaze is hard, cut loaf and serve!!! Store loaf in tupperware or zip baggie :)