French Yogurt Cake (Gâteau Au Yaourt) Recipe – Classic & Easy
A classic French yogurt cake that is simple, moist, and tender, made with everyday ingredients and finished with a bright lemon glaze for an elegant yet comforting dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 75 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1½ cups (187g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons lemon zest
½ cup (113g) whole-fat plain yogurt
3 large eggs, room temperature
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
¾ cup (90g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted (for glaze)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk sugar, lemon zest, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and slightly pale.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until combined.
- Gently fold in the vegetable oil until the batter is smooth and glossy.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
- Mix confectioners’ sugar with lemon juice and brush glaze over the warm cake.
Notes
Whole-fat yogurt provides the best texture, but low-fat can be used.
Do not overmix the batter to keep the cake tender.
Glaze can be skipped for a simpler version.
Flavor improves after resting for a day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
