We have successfully synthesized ZnO:xmol% Ce3+ (0 <= x <= 10 mol%) doped nanopowders via the chemical bath deposition method (CBD) technique at low temperature (80 degrees C) and annealed in air at 700 degrees C. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that all the undoped and Ce-doped ZnO nanopowders have a hexagonal wurtzite polycrystalline structure with an average crystallite size of about 46 nm. Weak diffraction peaks related mainly to cerium oxide were also detected at higher concentrations of Ce3+ (x = 5-10 mol%). The scanning electron microscopy study revealed that the nanopowder samples were assembled in flower-shaped undoped ZnO and pyramid-shaped Ce3+-doped ZnO nanostructures. The UV-vis spectra showed that the absorption edges shifted slightly to the longer wavelengths with the increase in the Ce3+ ions concentration. Moreover, the photoluminescence (PL) results showed a relative weak visible emission for the Ce3+-doped ZnO nanoparticles compared to the undoped ZnO. The effects of Ce3+-doping on the structure and PL of ZnO nanopowders are discussed in detail.