Tuesday, March 17, 2009

TWD--French Yogurt Cake

Today's recipe for Tuesday's With Dorie as we bake our way through her wonderful book, Baking From My Home To Yours was chosen by Liliana at My Cookbook Addiction (you can get the recipe for this cake on her blog).  It's a very simple French Yogurt Cake.  I made it twice.  The first time I used orange zest instead of lemon and topped the slices with some orange marmalade.  It was pretty good. 

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Pretty tasty, but not quite what I was hoping for.  I didn't care for the orange marmalade.

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So I made the cake again when I went home to Idaho to visit my parents this last week.  (Fun times as I got away without kids and my WONDERFUL husband played Mom AND Dad for five days--Thanks, Hon!!!  It was so good to be at home with my parents and see more family and friends.  Did I say thanks, Kev?)

When I made the cake at my parents house, I decided to forgo the zesty flavor and just used vanilla extract.  I used a whole tablespoonful. For both cakes I used all purpose flour (no almond meal).  The cake came out nice and moist and really is such an easy, nice dessert.

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Bad lighting at my folk's house. 

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I was using a different camera while at my parents and it just didn't take as good of pictures as my usual tried and true camera.  This cake was drizzled with a simple powdered sugar glaze, but at the last minute, I added about 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract to the glaze.  And I have to say, the lemon flavor made the cake.  My mom and I were really wishing I'd put the lemon zest in the cake.  After this picture was taken, I really smothered the glaze over the top and sides of the cake.  It made us both think of and LONG FOR Paula's Deen's Lemon Blossoms.  Have you seen these or tried them?  They are little mini size lemon cupcakes drenched in a lemony glaze that are SO good and simple to make with a cake mix and lemon flavored pudding and are very pop-able--as in you can eat a lot of them quickly and still want more and well, they aren't healthy at all, but did I mention they are SO good?  Okay, anyway, back to the yogurt cake.  I can't wait to make it again sometime SOON with the lemon that Dorie originally put in her recipe and use the simple lemon glaze that I made.  I'll feel better about eating it than Paula's Lemon Blossoms because this cake is more healthy, right, I  mean, it has yogurt and just a little canola oil and it's got fruit in it.  Healthy, right?!  ;) 

Great pick for a wonderfully, simple cake, Liliana.  Thanks!  Perfect ladies luncheon dessert, or for a bridal or baby shower, or for, well, anything!

25 comments:

Megan said...

I thought about orange as well - but we really liked the lemon. The lemon glaze was perfect - I'll do that next time!

Maria said...

Nice job on the cake. It looks really good!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that last photo looks so delicious...all that lovely glaze draping itself over that wonderful cake...very pretty.

chocolatechic said...

The texture of your cake is fabulous.

Did you use ground almonds?

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

It looks so nice and moist. Glad you could get some R and R.

farah said...

It looks really good. Glad you got some quality time with family :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, it looks so soft and yummy! Love it!

Carla said...

I definitely loved the lemon zest in the cake. I used lemon curd, but I think I might do a lemon glaze next time because it takes less time. Not that the curd was hard or anything. I usually bake late at night :X

Pamela said...

Looks great! I know I will cover this cake in some lemony glaze when I defrost it! Glad you got some time alone with your family!!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I love the fact that you made this twice - now you know how it will be PERFECT!!! I've seen lots of lemon/powdered sugar glazes today, and will remember that for next time. I used to make a lemon bundt cake from a cake mix base that had a lemon glaze - yum!

Your little travel + family break sounds wonderful, and a wonderful husband to pinch hit for your role + his!
Nancy

Jennifer said...

I'm so glad to hear you got a break with your family, that's so nice.

Your cake looks really, really good. Reading all these posts makes me really want to make this cake again, today!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I wished that I put more lemon into the cake as well, but loved it nonetheless! I'm glad that you got to make it again to your satisfaction!

Elyse said...

I think I would totally love this cake made with a whole tablespoon of vanilla. That sounds divine! And it looks so moist and delicious! So glad you got to enjoy a nice break at home with your parents! (Good hubby, too, playing mom and dad!)

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks wonderful. I like the glaze on the second cake.

Ivette said...

Your cake looks really good! I bet that lemon glaze went very well with it!

TeaLady said...

Cake looks really good. And the glaze oozing down the sides. Perfect!

vibi said...

I'm sorry it wasn't as great as you wanted... it looks pretty darn good, though!

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

What a fun little trip! Glad you were able to get away. That powdered sugar glaze is a winner! I did the same thing.

Amber Marie said...

Great idea for the lemon sugar glaze! Nice touch

Unknown said...

Ooooh, that glaze looks wonderful on the cake! When I make it again I definitely want to try a glaze (unless I can find lemon marmalade).

Clumbsy Cookie said...

I think I'll have to admit that from all cakes yogurt cakes are my favourites, maybe it's a childhood memory thing. Looks lovely and gooooooooo Kev!

Annette said...

Totally healthy. ;) Your cake looks delicious with the lemon glaze. I'm going to try that next time. I really enjoyed this recipe.

Susan @ SGCC said...

I made mine with orange as well. I don't really like orange marmalade, but I really loved it on this cake. Go figure!

Both of your cakes look scrumptious! You can never go wrong with vanilla!

Liliana said...

I will have try the cake with lemon zest next time. Your cake looks delicious! Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by.

Engineer Baker said...

Lemon glaze sounds like a winner. Beautiful job!