Lemon Yogurt Cake

This lemon yogurt cake is my ideal dessert. It's a breeze to make, and it's moist, tender, and full of zesty flavor. A simple glaze takes it over the top.

Lemon Yogurt Cake

Here’s a little something to brighten up your week: an easy, zesty lemon yogurt cake recipe!

This style of yogurt cake has its roots in France, and the beauty of it is its simplicity. The ingredient list is short and sweet, and you don’t need any special equipment to make it – a couple bowls, a loaf pan, a whisk. You’ll also need measuring cups to make this recipe, but – fun fact! – in France, home bakers might measure the cake ingredients in a yogurt container, making it even simpler still.

Because I love anything lemony (anyone surprised?), I spike my yogurt cake with lemon zest and top it with a quick lemon glaze. The result is a cake that’s moist, rich, and tender, with a subtle tang from the yogurt and a citrusy zing from the lemon. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be reaching for a second slice as soon as you’ve finished your first.

Lemon Yogurt Cake Recipe Ingredients

Lemon Yogurt Cake Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this lemon yogurt cake recipe:

  • Lemons, of course! You’ll whisk lemon zest into the cake batter and use lemon juice to make the glaze. I also like to sprinkle more zest on top!
  • Greek yogurtStonyfield Greek Yogurt is my favorite brand to use in this cake. It has a looser consistency than some very thick Greek yogurts, but it’s creamier and tangier than regular plain yogurt.
  • All-purpose flourSpoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
  • Almond flour – It makes this yogurt cake extra-moist and tender.
  • Baking powder and eggs – They help the cake puff up as it bakes.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – It add richness and gives the cake fruity depth of flavor.
  • Cane sugar – It makes the cake lightly sweet.
  • Vanilla extract – For warm depth of flavor.
  • My quick lemon glaze – Make it by stirring together powdered sugar and lemon juice. So easy!
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Hand using whisk to combine lemon zest and cane sugar in large bowl

How to Make Lemon Yogurt Cake

This yogurt cake recipe is SO simple to make! Here’s how it goes:

First, make the batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the cane sugar and lemon zest.

Hand using whisk to combine wet ingredients in large bowl

Add the remaining wet ingredients, and whisk until combined.

In another large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

Hand stirring batter with rubber spatula

Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients, and stir until just combined. Careful not to overmix!

Pouring cake batter into loaf pan

Then, bake. Pour the batter into the a greased loaf pan, and transfer it to a 350° oven.

Bake until the cake is puffed and golden and a toothpick inserted in its center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan.

Lemon yogurt cake

Finally, add the glaze. When the cake has cooled to room temperature, remove it from the pan, and mix up the quick lemon glaze.

Pouring lemon glaze over yogurt cake

Pour the glaze over the cake…

Yogurt cake with lemon glaze and lemon zest

… and sprinkle it with lemon zest. Then, slice and serve!

Sliced lemon yogurt cake

Lemon Yogurt Cake Recipe Tips

  • Use whole milk Greek yogurt. Skip the low- or non-fat stuff for this recipe, please! The whole milk yogurt adds essential moisture and richness to the cake.
  • Don’t overmix. We want this cake to be moist and tender, not dense. Overmixing the batter starts to develop the gluten in the flour, which results in denser, heavier baked goods. To achieve a perfect light texture, mix the batter until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely. If you pour the glaze over the warm cake, it will melt! Plus, allowing the cake to cool completely improves its moist texture and lemony flavor.
  • Do your future self a favor. This lemon yogurt cake keeps well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. It also freezes well! I like to freeze individual slices so that I can thaw one for a quick treat down the road. Do the same, and your future self will thank you!

Lemon yogurt cake recipe

More Favorite Easy Desserts

If you love this lemon yogurt cake, try one of these easy treats next:

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Lemon Yogurt Cake

rate this recipe:
4.90 from 47 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Serves 8
Topped with a 2-ingredient lemon glaze, this easy yogurt cake is a simple, delicious dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ½ cup almond flour, spooned and leveled
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus more for sprinkling
  • ¾ cup whole milk Greek yogurt*
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Lemon Glaze

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8x4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In another large bowl, whisk together the cane sugar and lemon zest. Then add the yogurt, olive oil, eggs, and vanilla and whisk to combine.
  • Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let cool completely before removing the cake from the pan.
  • Make the lemon glaze according to this recipe and drizzle it over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with lemon zest, slice, and serve.

Notes

*For this recipe, we like the creamy consistency of Stonyfield Greek Yogurt (it’s not as thick as some other brands).

94 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Elle
    01.25.2024

    5 stars
    We are renovating our kitchen, so I just made this in the air fryer using 2 mini loaf pans. Cooked at 320 for 23 to 27 minutes and they came out perfectly! So good. Thanks for a great recipe!

  2. Jackie
    01.21.2024

    5 stars
    One of the easiest and tastiest things I’ve ever baked in my life! I’m writing this within an hour of trying my first slice.

  3. Karen S.
    01.21.2024

    5 stars
    Love and Lemons recipes are all so tasty that I decided to make this cake for a potluck, having never made it before. It did not disappoint! It was so moist and delicious, there were only crumbs left after the party ended… so I made another one for us a couple days later. 😀 thank you for another winner recipe!

  4. Kim
    01.21.2024

    Looks yummy! Do you have the nutrition content for the cake?

  5. Dorothy
    12.11.2023

    Can you make the lemon glaze Cake in a tube pan? Thank you

  6. Marsha
    11.10.2023

    5 stars
    Absolutely yummy, light and easy to make. My new go-to cake.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.16.2023

      Hi Marsha, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  7. Marsha
    11.10.2023

    5 stars
    Absolutely yummy, light and so easy to make. Definitely going to be my new go-to cake.

  8. Hira
    11.08.2023

    Hello! Do you know if this recipe will hold up well if I substitute with GF flour? I’m not too worried about textural differences but just wondering if it might affect the structural integrity of the loaf. Thanks!

    • Sima from lotionsandptionsvw.com
      12.16.2023

      When I used gf flour it didn’t cook properly. The outside was crispy, but the inside was a touch undercooked. Maybe lower the temperature?

  9. Gwen
    11.02.2023

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, cooked in 8x 5 inch in toaster oven, only took 38 minutes, next time will add extra lemon zest (only used 1 large lemon next time 2) so light and fluffy have to use all my willpower to stop eating it all

  10. Matt
    10.30.2023

    5 stars
    In made this recipe yesterday, instead of lemon zest I added Corsican citrus marmalade, and Sicilian plant-based almond yogurt. It was divine, although a bit too sweet for my diabetic father. I enjoyed doing the lemon syrup and frosting, it add a nice touch. In the frosting, I added orange blossom. I will make this again as my mother told me it was the best cake I’ve made so far ! x

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.31.2023

      Hi Matt, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  11. Leah
    08.30.2023

    Can this cake be made in a 9in round cake pan instead of a loaf pan?

  12. Alisha
    08.29.2023

    5 stars
    We’ve made a few lemon loaves using different recipes and this is definitely a firm favourite. The almond flour gives a nice texture and the lemon glaze makes it a perfect treat

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.