A simple cake reminiscent of Spring.

Meyer lemon poppy seed cake, with hints of fresh lavender.

The perfect picnic cake that’s best shared amongst friends and blooming flowers.

Gluten-free & vegan, sweetened with apple sauce and maple syrup. Paired with a zippy coconut yogurt sauce.

Cake:

• 4 Tbsp meyer lemon zest (roughly 3-4 large lemons)

• 4 Tbsp meyer lemon juice (roughly 2 large lemons)

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1/4 cup avocado oil

• 1/2 cup maple syrup

• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

• 2 cups almond flour

• 3/4 cup potato starch

• 1/3 cup arrowroot powder

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 2 tsp crushed lavender

• 1 1/2 Tbsp poppyseeds

• 1 tsp sea salt

Coconut Yogurt:

• 1 cup coconut yogurt (I used Harmless Harvest)

• 2 Tbsp meyer lemon zest (roughly 1-2 large lemons)

• 2 Tbsp meyer lemon juice (roughly 1 lemon)

• 1 tsp crushed lavender

• 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or more, depending how sweet you want it)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a standard-size loaf pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add lemon zest, lemon juice, applesauce, avocado oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.

3. Add almond flour, potato starch, arrowroot powder, baking powder, poppyseeds, lavender, and sea salt and whisk again until well incorporated and no lumps remain. The texture should be thick and similar to cornbread batter. If too thick, thin with a little bit of dairy-free milk. If too thin, add a little more almond flour.

4. Scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

5. Let the cake cool completely in the pan — about 1 hour.

6. While the cake cools, prepare the coconut yogurt in a small mixing bowl. Zest and juice lemons. Whisk together with coconut yogurt, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and lavender.

7. Once the cake is completely cooled, enjoy it with a cup of tea or pack it up in your favorite picnic basket and hit the park with friends!

8. Leftovers will keep covered at room temperature for up to 2-3 days and can be frozen for up to 1 month.