The Mad Men era is long gone, but yogurt cakes remain a perennial favorite among partygoers. A light, spongy cake made of yogurt, butter, and eggs, it’s baked in layers and frosted with cream cheese—or, more often, meringue. The combination of rich, moist cake and light, creamy Greek yogurt is pure comfort food. But to get the most out of your cake, you need to add some punch—and not just in the form of alcohol.
In essence, a yogurt cake is a blank canvas that calls for your own interpretation of flavor. Whether you prefer a bold berry compote or a mild vanilla cream, it’s your cake to savor. To help you make the best of your creation, we’ve compiled a list of five ways to make your yogurt cake even better.
Chocolate Yogurt Cake
Who doesn’t love chocolate? To give your cake an extra dose of chocolaty goodness, try adding some melted chocolate along with eggs and sugar to your mix. Melt a cup of good-quality dark chocolate in a double boiler over low heat, stirring until it has completely melted.
After you add eggs and sugar into your yogurt cake batter, stir in about one-fourth cup of your dark chocolate mixture for every three cups of yogurt you have in your cake mix (for instance, if you’re making a six-inch cake from three cups of Greek yogurt, use a heaping quarter cup). Bake as usual and enjoy!
Blood Orange Yogurt Olive Oil Cake
Give your early morning yogurt cake a Mediterranean twist by replacing regular olive oil with blood orange olive oil! The rich, fruity flavor of orange will add some welcome complexity and make your cake a little lighter on its feet.
This recipe is quick and easy—just whisk together three cups of Greek yogurt, one egg, two tablespoons of blood orange juice (or whatever juice you like), and one tablespoon of blood orange zest in a bowl until combined; pour into an eight-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper before baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes or until done. Top with whipped cream for an elegant presentation!
Yogurt Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Topping
Ahh, coffee cake… don’t we all have a soft spot for it? Bringing you the best of both worlds, yogurt coffee cake combines two classic breakfast favorites: yogurt and cinnamon rolls. Start by mixing your baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour together in a large bowl; after that, mix your yogurt and brown sugar on medium speed until creamy.
In another bowl, beat eggs together (you can add some vanilla extract if you want), then add them into your wet ingredients. Pour your egg mixture into your dry ingredients and stir gently to combine. Grease up a round baking pan or line it with parchment paper before pouring it in your batter; bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes or until done.
Greek Lemon Cake
Want some extra zing? This lemon cake is just what you need! The zesty flavor of lemon will surely perk up your taste buds and get you salivating in no time. This light, spongy cake is lemony without being overpowering—the perfect backdrop for any cream or topping of your choice.
Mix together three cups of vanilla yogurt with two eggs, a quarter cup of melted butter, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, and two teaspoons of fresh lemon rind; stir until completely combined before baking in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until done. Top with sweetened whipped cream and fresh fruit (such as blueberries) for a tart yet pleasant compliment to your baked creation!
Lemon Yogurt Cake with Blueberries
If the coffee cake above doesn’t make you feel like you’re taking a caffeine hit, this recipe will. It takes the spongy cake in a different direction—you won’t have a bit of that cake left after you dig in! In this variation, you’ll take three cups of vanilla yogurt, an egg, a half cup of fresh lemon juice, and three cups of flour into a bowl before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Add two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of granulated sugar, and half a teaspoon of cinnamon before combining your wet and dry ingredients into the bowl. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until done, then allow your cake to cool completely before spreading with a thick layer of blueberry jam and some coconut sugar.
Hopefully, with these five ideas in mind, you’ll be able to come up with a fresh variation on your own yogurt cake recipe and, with any luck, enjoy a new and exciting version of your own creation. Now get in there and bake!
