Sarah Sanneh’s French Yogurt Cake Recipe

This simple, yet delicious French Yogurt Cake recipe comes together using the yogurt container to measure out ingredients.

2 min read

OXO

Nov 30, 2021

As is French tradition, French Yogurt Cakes use yogurt containers to measure out ingredients – this makes the French Yogurt Cake recipe not only a breeze to clean up, but also an easy-to-remember, back pocket recipe. Sarah Sanneh, owner of Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Brooklyn, NY, takes the classic recipe and adds her own touches, including adding poppyseeds, a nod to lemon poppyseed muffins.

CFKC BlogImages FrenchYogurtCake LargeImage X

Each year, in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer(Opens in a new window), OXO partners with talented chefs who share their favorite bake sale recipes to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Try all of their delicious cookie recipes and join in on the challenge by hosting your own bake sale(Opens in a new window).

Whether you’re baking it for a Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sale, weekend brunch or dessert, this French Yogurt Cake comes together quickly. It has a tangy flavor from the yogurt, balanced out by the lemon zest grated directly into the batter.

Sarah says, “This is a cake my French nieces taught me to make, and have known by heart since they were little kids. Yogurt cups vary slightly in size, but the recipe works for any 5-6oz container. If you are using measuring cups, each yogurt cup = ¾ cup (but it’s more fun to make with the yogurt container!). As a child of the 80’s, lemon poppyseed muffins and cakes are the taste of my childhood, so I add them to boost the flavor and texture of this classic French cake.”

French Yogurt Cake

Print Recipe

Ingredients

French Yogurt Cake:

Cake

1 container full fat Greek yogurt (anywhere from 5-6oz container works for this size recipe… about ¾ cup)

2 containers sugar

3 containers AP flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 container vegetable oil

3 eggs

Zest of 2 lemons

1 tablespoon poppyseeds

Glaze

⅓ cup lemon juice

¾ cup sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan.

In a mixing bowl add the Greek yogurt, followed by the eggs, sugar, oil, and zest. Whisk until smooth. Wash the yogurt container and add flour and baking powder to wet mix, mixing just until combined.

Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 70 minute or until a skewer comes out clean.

To make the glaze, melt sugar into lemon juice in a small pot and set aside until cake is baked.

When cake is done, poke it all over with a skewer or fork and pour melted lemon/sugar glaze over. Let cool completely before you gently pull from the loaf pan and slice.