French Yogurt Cake Recipe

effortless charm of a classic French cake for Shavuot

Like you, I ate bread after Passover and I've been watching with horror as pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests unfold on college campuses across the US. However, I'm sharing this recipe not out of ignorance to the world around us, but because I believe in the importance of maintaining balance.

We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the non-stop news cycle and social media outrage frenzy, where our emotions can quickly get the best of us. It's important to find a balance and not let ourselves be overwhelmed by everything happening around us.

Our holidays keep us connected to Judaism and to each other. Holidays, and their respective food traditions, offer comfort during turbulent times. May this recipe for the French Yogurt Cake, or 'Gâteau au Yaourt,'for Shavuot provide you with a moment of respite and a ray of sunshine in these dark skies.

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The French Yogurt Cake, or "Gâteau au Yaourt," is a classic and simple dairy cake recipe that's beloved in France and perfect for Shavuot. What's special about it is its use of yogurt containers as the measuring unit, making it incredibly easy to remember and adaptable. 

This Purim, after the megillah reading at our synagogue, I had a moment of food clarity about the beloved French Yogurt Cake, or "Gâteau au Yaourt." As I scanned the potluck table following the Megillah reading, it struck me how many people had brought this cake - how ubiquitous this simple yet delicious cake is among French Jews. Its presence, not just on this occasion but at numerous gatherings, underscored its status as a staple dessert in France. 

This recipe is very easy to put together and with almost no cleanup involved - as the yogurt container is the measuring cup for most of the ingredients. The recipe's main ingredients are full fat plain yogurt, olive oil and spelt flour.   This recipe calls for less sugar than normal French yogurt cake recipes making it just sweet enough.

The yogurt loaf cake has a very delicate texture and a slightly nutty flavor from the spelt flour, which pairs beautifully with some fresh strawberries or raspberries. 

Variations:

• Various toppings such as any fresh berries, whipped cream, or a dusting of cocoa powder

• Whole wheat flour or just plain all-purpose flour

• For a vegan version pareve version, use an egg replacer of choice and coconut yogurt

• This cake is made in a loaf pan but you can also make it in a small round cake pan

Category: Dairy 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 50 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Yield: 10-12

Ingredients: 

• 16-oz. full fat plain unsweetened yogurt

• 1 container olive oil

• 1 container granulated sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 lemon, juiced (optional)

• 3 containers spelt flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

Tools:

• Large mixing bowl

• A whisk

• Loaf pan

• Parchment paper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper. 

2. In a large bowl, pour out the yogurt from the container. Use the container as the measure for the remaining ingredients and add in 1 container of olive oil and 1 container of granulated sugar. 

3. Add in the eggs, one at a time, and whisk well between each egg addition. Whisk in the vanilla extract. If using, whisk in the lemon juice.

4. Add 3 containers of flour, baking powder, and salt to the batter and whisk until smooth. 

5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and transfer into the oven to bake for 45-50 minutes. To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake - it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. 

6. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving with some fresh berries. Enjoy!

   

   I hope you give this French Yogurt Cake recipe a try and let me know how it turns out for you. Your feedback means a lot to me—it's what keeps this newslettter alive and vibrant. Share your thoughts, your tweaks, your moments of joy—it's all part of the magic of baking together. Until next time, happy baking, and may each slice bring a little taste of France to your day.

Am Yisrael Chai

Kenden