Name: French Yogurt Cake
Yield: Makes 1 cake
Ingredients: 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar; Grated zest of 1 orange; ½ cup (125g) whole plain yogurt; 3 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 1½ cups (180g) all-purpose or cake flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; ¼ tsp. fine sea salt; ½ cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed; 2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier; 2 Tbsp. orange juice; ¼ cup (50g) superfine sugar; ¾ cup apricot jam or marmalade; 2 tsp. rum or water

A french style yogurt based loaf cake topped with grand marnier glaze sliced on a serving tray.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

A few small changes, including a Grand Marnier soaking syrup and a rum glaze, turn a childhood favorite yogurt cake into a dinner party classic. If you like candied orange peel, chop up a handful and add it.

This recipe was excerpted from ‘Gateau’ by Aleksandra Crapanzano. Buy the full book on Amazon. Click here for more French desserts →

Cook’s note:

This yogurt cake recipe can also be made in an 8-inch springform or 9-inch round cake pan. A 9-inch cake will only take around 30–35 minutes to bake, whereas an 8-inch round will take closer to 40 and a medium loaf between 35 and 45.

Recipe information

Yield
Makes 1 cake

Ingredients

For the cake

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

Grated zest of 1 orange

½ cup (125g) whole plain yogurt

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1½ cups (180g) all-purpose or cake flour

2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. fine sea salt

½ cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

For the soaking syrup

2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier

2 Tbsp. orange juice

¼ cup (50g) superfine sugar

For the glaze

¾ cup apricot jam or marmalade

2 tsp. rum or water

Preparation

Make the cake
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan.
Step 2
Combine the sugar and orange zest in a bowl and, using your fingertips, rub them together to distribute the citrus oils.
Step 3
Whisk the yogurt and eggs together. Add the zesty sugar and vanilla and whisk to thoroughly combine. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk just to combine.
Step 4
Add the oil and whisk just until homogenous.
Step 5
Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35–45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make the soaking syrup
Step 6
Prepare the syrup by heating the Grand Marnier and orange juice in a microwave until warm, but not hot. Stir in the sugar to dissolve. Drizzle this over the cake while still warm.
Make the glaze
Step 7
To make the glaze, warm the jam with the rum over low heat. Strain. Brush onto the cake once it has cooled to room temperature.