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Lemon Yogurt Cake

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Donna Urso

A Lemon Cake to Delight Lemon Lovers


Something happens to my taste buds as soon as spring hits each year.  I start to crave lemon.  It seems like I can't stop thinking about lemon squares, lemon meringue pie, and lemon cake.  Does this happen to any of you?  It seems that my taste buds have seasons too!  Today I'm making a lemon yogurt cake to satisfy my desire for anything lemon and to use some of the slow cooker yogurt I have in the refrigerator.

Lemon Yogurt Cake
Lemon Yogurt Cake
This is another Ina Garten recipe, from the Barefoot Contessa At Home.  It's a favorite because it is moist and lemony.  You'll like this recipe because it is really easy to make by hand.  No electric mixer is required.  So, when you are in the mood for a little sweet something you'll be able to whip this cake up in a snap.
Lemon Lovers Yogurt Cake

Lemon Yogurt Cake

Printer Friendly Recipe
Makes 1 loaf cake

Ingredients
Lemon Yogurt Cake Ingredients
Lemon Yogurt Cake Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (I used homemade) 
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
  • 3 extra-large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
The Lemon Glaze
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a standard loaf pan. If you place parchment paper on the bottom of the pan you'll find it easier to remove the cake from the pan.   Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup of the sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Next, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, using a spatula, making sure it's all incorporated.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake the cake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

The Baked Lemon Yogurt Cake
To prepare the lemon syrup, cook the 1/3 cup of lemon juice and the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar in a small pan.  You only need to heat it long enough for the sugar to dissolve and the mixture to be clear. Set aside.  When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Remove the cake from the pan and set it on a wire rack over a sheet pan.  Now, while the cake is still warm, slowly pour the lemon syrup over the cake allowing it to soak in. Cool the cake completely.

Spoon the Lemon Syrup over the Cake
Prepare the glaze by combining the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl.  Pour the glaze over the completely cooled cake, slice, and serve.   

This cake is simple, yet lemony and delicious.  It is quick to make, so it is easy to satisfy that craving you make get for something lemon, or for cake, or for lemon cake!

I have created a Pinterest board with approximately one hundred-fifty lemon recipes you might like. If you are a lemon lover, this board is for you.  Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for updates to this board.


You might also like one of these other favorite lemon recipes.
Lemon-Lime Cupcakes
Oh, Lemon Curd!
Lemon Pudding Cakes

Before you go...Never miss a Just One Donna post by signing up to receive posts in your email or your favorite RSS feed.  Links are in the sidebar.

Enjoy!

Comments

  1. RobinApril 13, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    This is a wonderful recipe, similar to one of my mom's recipes that she used and now I use during the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vi Win WinApril 13, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    looks yummi! visiting from #CommentHour!

    ReplyDelete
  3. JessicaApril 13, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    That looks delicious! Can I come over?!?!?

    ReplyDelete
  4. CabriniApril 13, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    Looks great! I'm not much of a baker but I think I'll give this a try!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    stopping by for comment hour. Great blog. I will come back!

    ReplyDelete
  6. PepperApril 13, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    Anything lemon is awesome, but I will def have to try this because it sounds divine!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kimberly DavisApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    Yum! I actually was thinking of making a lemon pound cake today because I have lemons, but it called for a pound of butter- and I just couldn't bring myself to do it! I'm making this tomorrow :) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LanitaApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I crave coconut at Easter time, but the lemon looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amy AndersonApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    Looks delicious! Stopping by from #commenthour

    http://alittlenosh.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shannon EntinApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    Agreed. Love anything lemon. Thanks for sharing. :-) #commenthour

    ReplyDelete
  11. Pam @ The Journey Leads HomeApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    How do I find the yummy blogs when I'm hungriest!! HA

    swinging by from comment hour.

    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  12. AeshaApril 13, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    MMMMM!!! Stopping by from #commenthour!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LindseyApril 13, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Seriously yum! I'm coming to your house for desert!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Handy Man, Crafty WomanApril 13, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    OHHHH, this looks wicked good! (PS the snirt pile is still there, lol!) came over from the SITS comment hour.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Meg O.April 13, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Hey there! Visiting from Comment Hour!

    Wow, what a lovely looking cake! I am like you -- always craving lemon when spring and summer rolls around. I might have to give this a try!

    -Meg

    ReplyDelete
  16. Leslie HarrisApril 13, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Yum! This looks so delicious! I love lemon desserts and this cake looks so wonderful. I'm bookmarking this page so I can copy the recipe. :)

    Visiting from #commenthour

    ReplyDelete
  17. AlovelydaiApril 13, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    No joke I just told a co-worker that I'm looking for a great lemony cakey recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Yum! It looks delicious. I will have to try this recipe for sure!

    #commenthour

    ReplyDelete
  19. Toqua's CraftsApril 13, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    Oi! SO YUMMY looking! I'm going to have to try this one!!

    Visiting from #CommentHour!

    ReplyDelete
  20. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    here from #commenthour leaving some ceomment love

    Kari
    www.morganandkari.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lisa AnnApril 13, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Lemon cake is my FAVORITE!!! I gave up sugar and dairy for Lent so maybe I should make this for Easter!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. @DayngrApril 13, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    I think I gained weight reading that! LOL Looks delish. I'll have to try that recipe.

    Visiting from #CommentHour!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Counselor MusingsApril 13, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    stopping by for comment hour! this looks DELICIOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Susan CookApril 13, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    That looks awesome! Never made homemade yogurt either - cool@

    getting a late start on the SITS #comment hr.

    ReplyDelete
  25. eileenludwigApril 13, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Not much of a yogurt fan although I want to be - I buy it and never eat it or try it and never like it BUT with cake hmmmm

    #commenthour

    http://www.web-designschool.com/

    @eileenludwig

    ReplyDelete
  26. JocelynApril 13, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    #commenthour I am so making this for Sunday Dinner dessert! I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the great recipe!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. TheProDivaApril 13, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    Mmmmmmm.....I think I will try this one next weekend. They sell lemon yogurt cake in the supermarket. Imagine how fabulous I will look if I made my own! Thanks again Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  28. CelesteApril 14, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    O MY! I baking this this weekend! Family will go crazy over it! Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by and leaving comment during #commenthour.

    CHEERS!
    shallowocity.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. CelesteApril 14, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    O MY! I baking this this weekend! Family will go crazy over it! Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by and leaving comment during #commenthour.

    CHEERS!
    shallowocity.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. 2CommentaristasApril 14, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    Stopping by from #CommentHour - what a delicious looking cake! Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

    ReplyDelete
  31. JessicaApril 15, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Hi Donna- stopping over 2 days late from #commenthour!

    This cake looks so delicious! I think I will make it for Easter!!

    New fan from www.chickennuggetsanddirtydishes.blogspot.com

    @ANuggetsMom

    ReplyDelete
  32. Chasing JoyMarch 19, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    I never heard of a cake made with yogurt. Sounds good. Stopping by from #FlashbackFriday!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna UrsoMarch 21, 2012 at 9:03 PM

      Thanks for stopping by, Chasing Joy and thanks for hosting #FlashbackFriday.

      Delete
  33. DJrelAt7March 23, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    That looks so yummy, might have to try and make it (I'm a horrible baker :( )

    FlashbackFriday from Chasing Joy

    ReplyDelete

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