Where do you like to eat it?

Yoghurt cakes are popular in many countries, especially in the Balkans: in Greece and Turkey, they are often served on special occasions or as an after-meal dessert. In Western countries such as the USA and some European countries, it is becoming increasingly popular as an easy and healthy dessert that can be prepared at home.

Why choose yoghurt cakes?

Yoghurt cakes are a great choice for anyone looking for an easy and quick dessert solution. The ingredients are usually simple and can be found in your kitchen. In addition, yoghurt adds moisture and rich flavour to the pastry, ensuring that every piece is deliciously savoury. It''s very easy to customise the yoghurt cakes to your liking - add fruit, chocolate chunks or nuts to create your own unique variations!

Basic recipe for yoghurt cakes

To get started, you''ll need a basic recipe, which you can then adapt to your liking.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup yoghurt (plain or Greek)

- 1 cup sugar

- 4-5 sprays of BAM extra virgin olive oil spray

- 3 eggs

- 2 cups flour

- 1 baking powder

- 1 teaspoon BAM vanilla paste

- pinch of salt

Instructions:

Prepare the oven and baking tray: Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a baking tray (24 cm) by greasing or lining it with baking paper.

Mix the yoghurt, sugar and oil in a large bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla paste and mix well.

Dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Baking: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown (you can test with a toothpick: when you stick it into the sponge, it should come out clean; that''s when you know the sponge is baked just right).

Cooling: Cool the pastry in the baking tray for a few minutes, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yoghurt pastry variations

Yoghurt cakes are extremely versatile, so here are some variations for you to try:

Lemon yoghurt cake

To freshen up the taste, you can add the juice and grated zest of one lemon to the mixture. This pastry has a refreshing citrus note that is just right for souring.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup yoghurt

- 1 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup oil

- 3 eggs

- 2 cups flour

- 1 baking powder

- juice and zest of 1 lemon

- pinch of salt

Instructions:

Prepare the oven and baking tray: Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a baking tray (24 cm) by greasing or lining it with baking paper.

Mix the yoghurt, sugar and oil in a large bowl. Add the eggs and the juice and zest of the lemon and mix well.

Dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Baking: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown or until a toothpick inserted into the sponge comes out clean.

Cooling: Cool the pastry in the baking tray for a few minutes, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cool on the baking sheet until the cake is cool enough to handle.

If you''re a big chocolate fan, you can add 1/3 cup cocoa powder to the base mixture.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup yoghurt

- 1 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup oil

- 3 eggs

- 1 3/4 cup flour

- 1/3 cup cocoa powder

- 1 baking powder Pinch of salt

Instructions:

The procedure is the same as for the previous two versions, with the exception of slightly different ingredients and a slightly smaller amount of flour.

Prepare the oven and baking tray: Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a baking tray (24 cm) by greasing or lining it with baking paper.

Mix the yoghurt, sugar and oil in a large bowl. Add the eggs and cocoa powder and mix well.

Dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Baking: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.

Cooling: Cool the cakes in the baking tray for a few minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cool on a wire rack until the pastry is cool enough to handle.

Add fresh or frozen strawberries to the base mixture. This version adds a delicious fruity note to your dessert and refreshes your pastry.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup yoghurt

- 1 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup oil

- 3 eggs

- 2 cups flour

- 1 baking powder

- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, cut into chunks

Instructions:

The process is the same as for the basic recipe, except this time the mixture also contains juicy strawberries.

Why yoghurt is a great addition?

Yoghurt is rich in protein and probiotics, which means it is a great choice for a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle. Consuming yoghurt can help to improve gut function and boost the immune system.

In addition, yoghurt adds richness and a creamy texture, which is essential in baked goods.

How to serve it?

There are several ways to serve yoghurt cakes. You can decorate it with a dusting of icing sugar, a chocolate topping or serve it with whipped cream. You can also add fruit or strawberries for extra freshness. It''s also great with a cup of tea or coffee, which is especially nice on winter days.

Yoghurt cakes are an easy and delicious choice for anyone who loves to bake. With simple ingredients and different variations, you can create something really special.