I remember the first time I made a French Yogurt Cake. I was 12, and my neighbor Mrs. Midi taught my friends and me how to make it. Then she said it was the first dessert children learn to make in her home country of France. So I served it to my aunt at teatime, and it created quite the impression! Since then, I have served this cake countless times. It makes the ideal dessert, breakfast, or afternoon tea or coffee break. It always comes out perfectly, and my guests invariably ask for seconds! You’ll never reach for the cake mix box again once you try this recipe. French merchants traditionally sold yogurt in small, round glass jars. Granny started the recipe with one jar of yogurt. Then she measured the rest of the ingredients in that same jar: two jars of sugar, three jars of flour, one jar of oil, etc. But don’t worry; you don’t need the perfect yogurt jar to make this cake. I’ve translated the recipe into more classic cooking measurements.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make French Yogurt Cake
Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients Bake the Cake
Recipe Variations
You can remove the eggs from the recipe and replace them with ½ cup of yogurt. Or replace them with flaxseed eggs for a vegan variation.Almond, orange, or lemon extract adds an extra flavor punch.Feel free to add your own twist to the recipe. Chocolate chips in the batter or chocolate frosting instead of the citrus glaze are awesome. I like to pile on whipped cream and fresh berries if I’m serving it to guests.
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
You likely have all the ingredients to whip up this cake right now. That’s what makes this recipe so fantastic; it uses ingredients you most likely have in your pantry. You can make this French yogurt cake a day or two before a party for stress-free prep. You can even glaze it ahead and keep it in an airtight cake container. I don’t like a bunch of gadgets, but I love my covered cake plate for just such occasions.
Serving and Storage Instructions
The cake will store well for a few days and tastes even better on the second day (if you can wait that long!). You can put it in a cake container or cover it with plastic wrap and keep it at room temperature or in the fridge. This last option is the best way to keep it fresh and moist for longer. To prevent the cake from drying out, slice it when serving it, not in advance. The cake retains more moisture when it remains whole. Believe me; your guests will thank you!
What to Serve with French Yogurt Cake
If you’re serving this cake at teatime, why not pair it with an elegant beverage? For a refreshing treat on a hot day, I recommend a thirst-quenching Southern Sweet Tea or a citrusy Passion Fruit Juice. But if you’re looking for something warmer, try it with some hot Peach Tea (yes, you can serve it hot or cold)! And if you’re feeling extra adventurous, homemade whipped cream can be made with just a handful of ingredients and tastes much better than store-bought!
More Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for more teatime desserts? May I suggest…
Cranberry Orange BreadBanana Zucchini BreadCoffee CakeGingerbread Cake
Conclusion
This is, without doubt, the perfect “anytime, anywhere” cake. It can be made quickly and adapts well to any situation, be it teatime, dessert, or breakfast on the run. How do you plan on serving your French Yogurt Cake? Leave us a comment below with your twist on this classic recipe!
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”eyhHGkSR” upload-date=”2022-04-12T12:05:44.000Z” name=”French Yogurt Cake” description=”French Yogurt Cake – Light and airy, moist and just slightly tangy, this humble yet homey sweet treat is sure to become a household favorite. Topped off with a delightful citrus-glazed crust, this is the perfect cake recipe that never fails.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in December 2016 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
