French “Gâteau au yaourt” (A No-Measure Cake)

Discover French children’s favorite dessert! The school-famous “gâteau au yaourt” (yogurt cake) is a super simple no-measure cake to prepare for any occasion.

In six years blogging, it was about time I shared with you this French classic. Gâteau au yaourt is a simple plain cake that we prepare for any occasion, a little bit like a coffee cake. It’s also the first dessert we learn how to bake as a kid in France, the cake we bring to birthday’s parties, the cake we prepare on a lazy day or at the last minute (no need to grab a scale or a measuring cup). In a word, it’s the perfect basic cake recipe that never fails and never disappoints.

The recipe is so easy that most French people actually know it by heart. I, myself, learned it in day care (or was it primary school?) and never forgot about it. I made it countless of times ever since, for my friends, sisters, cousins, as a kid, a teen or an adult. There is always a good reason for a yogurt cake.

As everyone knows the recipe in France, I never thought of sharing it on the blog before. Until I figured that the cake was actually known in France only and even there, it seems everyone has its own way of preparing it. It’s a little bit like a crepes recipe, extremely basic yet pretty different from one version to another.

So here I am today, happy to share the yogurt cake recipe with the world. This is my favorite version of the recipe, the one I like for its incredible moistness. The cake is also light and airy.

How do you prepare a no-measure cake?

Again, no need to use a scale or measuring cups for this recipe. Instead, we use a 4.4 oz (125g) yogurt container for measuring all the ingredients. Whatever the size of the container, the ratio remains the same ; only the size of your spring form might change.

• Pour x 1 plain yogurt container (4.4 oz/125g) in a large mixing bowl.
• Wash and dry the yogurt container so you can use it again for measuring the other ingredients.
• Measure x 2 containers sugar and add it to the yogurt. Note that you can cut the amount of sugar if desired.
• Add 3 large eggs, and mix.
• Add x1 container vegetable oil, neutral in taste (canola or sunflower oil), and whisk.
• Measure x3 containers all-purpose flour and mix in with 1 Tablespoon baking powder.

Recipe variations

• Replace vegetable oil neutral in taste (canola, rapeseed, sunflower…) with coconut oil. It will bring a subtle coconut flavor to the cake.
• Cut the amount of vegetable oil. Use 1 whole container vegetable oil for best results and a perfectly moist cake. You can however obtain some fairly good results with only ½ container vegetable oil.
• Cut the amount of sugar. The recipe calls for 2 containers of sugar but feel free to adapt the recipe if you try to avoid sugar, using 1 ½ container of sugar or even 1 container if you prefer.
• Adds-on and flavors. Add your personal twist to the recipe, flavoring the cake batter with some vanilla extract (or using vanilla flavored yogurt), lemon zest or orange zest. You could also add some mini chocolate chips, blueberries, apple chunks, etc. My favorite way to enjoy the cake is to serve it plain, with strawberry or apricot jam or just a few berries.

More easy desserts you’ll adopt for life:

• Orange pound cake
• Perfect Lemon Ricotta Bundt Cake
• Buttermilk Banana Bread
• Easy Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Super Moist Gingerbread Cake
• Chocolate Chip Almond Yogurt Cake
• Easy Chocolate Marble Yogurt Cake
• Best Ever Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

How long will it keep?

The cake will keep for a few days and often tastes even better on day 2. You can choose to cover it with cling film (better than foil of you want to keep its moistness) and leave it at room temperature or you can slice it and transfer to an air-tight container placed in the refrigerator. This last option is in my opinion the best way to keep it fresh and moist for several days. Now it’s your turn to shine!

French “Gâteau au yaourt” (A No-Measure Cake)

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• Author: Delphine Fortin
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Cakes
• Cuisine: French

Discover French children’s favorite dessert! The school-famous “gâteau au yaourt” (yogurt cake) is a super simple no-measure cake to prepare for any occasion.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 container (4.4oz / 125g) plain yogurt
• 2 containers (7 oz / 200g) sugar
• 3 containers (6.3 oz / 180g) all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 container (4 fl. oz / 120 ml) vegetable oil, neutral in taste
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or lemon zest (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9-inch (23 cm) spring form.
2. In a large mixing bowl, pour the plain yogurt.
3. Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and oil. Whisk until combined.
4. Wash the yogurt container and dry it.
5. Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, and mix well.*
6. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving. The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Notes

* You can also pour all the ingredients at once as listed above, and mix in the end. Proceed this order: 1 container yogurt, wash and dry, x2 containers sugar, x3 containers flour, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, x1 containers oil, 3 eggs, vanilla. It will take a little bit more of effort to mix but it’s a great way to learn the recipe by heart in the beginnings.

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Lastly, if you make this French “Gâteau au yaourt” (A No-Measure Cake), be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!