cake for lazy people

October 20, 2010 8:14 PM

When I lived in France, I used to make a super easy, delicious cake for the kids that involved using a container of yogurt and then measuring all the other ingredients using that container of yogurt. I've totally forgotten how to make this now. Anyone know what I'm talking about or where to find a recipe?
posted by logic vs love to Food & Drink (20 answers total)

I do! I made the same kind of cake while in the DR Congo. This isn't the recipe but it was something like it (sub yogurt for the oil).
posted by hapax_legomenon at 8:18 PM on October 20, 2010 [26 favorites]

Best answer: Here you go.
posted by special-k at 8:30 PM on October 20, 2010 [38 favorites]

Best answer: Here you go, from a lovely French cooking blog (recipe in English), Chocolate and Zucchini: Gateau au yaourt. The site has a lot of variations, as well.
posted by amelioration at 8:31 PM on October 20, 2010 [9 favorites]

Inspired by Clotilde (of Chocolate and Zucchini), though perhaps changed too much to still qualify: Lime Yogurt Cake from Smitten Kitchen.
posted by dormouse at 8:35 PM on October 20, 2010

Response by poster: I love you all! And now I'm going to go make a cake.
posted by logic vs love at 9:08 PM on October 20, 2010

Orangette has one too.
posted by ifjuly at 12:06 AM on October 21, 2010

This is like the pint glass soda bread, where the recipe is measured out using only a pint glass. A favourite of homesick Irish students.
posted by distorte at 1:56 AM on October 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

Here's that Orangette one (I was on my phone last night.)
posted by ifjuly at 8:09 AM on October 21, 2010

This is lovely! I miss the little French yogurt pots, wish I could get them here.
posted by cyndigo at 9:40 AM on October 21, 2010

How big is your typical Dannon yogurt container?
posted by gottabefunky at 12:03 PM on October 21, 2010

Thank you so much for posting this question! (And to those of you who answered.) I just made the cake, using a bit of lemon zest, olive oil and subbing about 1/3 cup of cornmeal and 1/3 cup of pignole for part of the flour. It's cooling now and I think it will be very much like the cakes I loved in Italy. Will report back if it's awful; if not assume that I have devoured it all nom nom nom.
posted by cyndigo at 3:34 PM on October 21, 2010

cyndigo, you've just described a twist on another of one of my favorite cakes: Sfouf. Here's my awesome, easy-peasy recipe (that I got from a Lebanese friend also while in the DRC):

1-1/2 cups semolina flour (I sometimes use cornmeal for part, maybe half of this.)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use olive oil.)
1 tablespoon pine nuts (Almonds are used traditionally, I believe. But I love the pine nuts.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch round baking pan. In a small bowl, mix semolina, flour, turmeric and baking powder. Set aside.

In a large bowl, stir milk and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add flour mixture and oil and beat with an electric beater at medium speed for 5 minutes. This step is essential, do not use any shortcuts. Pour into a prepared 9-inch round pan. Sprinkle top with pine nuts. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out dry.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 8:18 PM on October 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

In case anyone is wondering, this is very vegan adaptable. I used a banana instead of the eggs (and soy yoghurt instead of regular yoghurt, obviously) and it worked a treat.

Thank you for the recipe!
posted by the cat's pyjamas at 3:08 AM on October 22, 2010

I'd just like to say thank you for the weekend cake recipe.
posted by Work to Live at 7:04 PM on October 22, 2010

I first made the Orangette recipe a few years ago and it is a really amazing cake. Easy to put together, quick, open to all sorts of additions, from almonds to rosemary to whatever, and so very very good.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:22 PM on October 24, 2010

Please see my comment here. There seem to be some important differences between the two recipe links at the top of the page. And I used the wrong one. :(
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:23 PM on October 24, 2010

I miss the little French yogurt pots, wish I could get them here.

They have them at Dean & DeLuca, if that exists anywhere convenient to you.
posted by elizardbits at 2:21 PM on October 24, 2010

Why do I want that French yogurt jar so bad?
posted by cmoj at 3:18 PM on October 24, 2010

Simple Vanilla Yogurt Cake

This appears to be what you are talking about, with the recipe requiring a small yogurt container (110g) for measuring out the ingredients. Hope that helps!
posted by sunnychef88 at 1:40 AM on October 25, 2010

i just wanted to pop in and say thanks to everyone who commented on this post. made the cake over the weekend- DELICIOUS! and so easy.
posted by raw sugar at 6:24 PM on October 25, 2010