Maple Yogurt Pound Cake Recipe on Food52

Father's Day

Maple Yogurt Pound Cake

by:
January 10, 2021
7 Ratings
Maple Yogurt Pound Cake
Author Notes

I made up this recipe to satisfy a serious maple craving I had a couple weeks back. The cake is extremely moist; unless eating it just out of the oven, toast your slice to get some contrast between the crust and innards. I've made this cake three weeks in a row, and used the office toaster to make my perfect 3 pm snack. One tip: really make sure to pull the cake out of the oven right when it's done. If it stays in longer, it'll dry out a bit. - Rivka —Rivka

Test Kitchen Notes

This pound cake drops the pounds of butter and sugar in favor of oil and maple syrup, creating a springy texture and glistening, shellacked exterior. The oil folded into the batter at the end was a technique new to us, but we think we can hold it responsible for the cake's sweet, crackly crust. Rivka's choice of Grade B maple syrup means that the maple aroma and flavor is pervasive without being cloying. The end result is moist and flavorful enough on its own, but fresh whipped cream and strawberries never hurt. - A&M —The Editors

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 50 hours
  • Serves 1 cake
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup grade B maple syrup
  • 3/4 cup yogurt, preferably not nonfat
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup oil
In This Recipe
Directions
  1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter 8 1/2×4 1/2×2 1/2-inch metal loaf pan.
  2. Combine syrup, yogurt, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. Stir or whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and stir to incorporate. Add oil, and fold gradually until oil absorbs into the batter.
  3. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Place pan on baking sheet in oven and bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 5 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack. Turn cake upright on rack and cool completely.
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Rivka
I'm a healthcare consultant by day, food blogger by night, and I make a mean veggie chili. I'm eat a mostly-vegetarian diet, but have a soft spot for meat, especially braised short ribs. And this profile wouldn't be complete without an admission that I absolutely am addicted to cookies and chocolate. Finally, I love the idea of food52 and can't wait to share and read my and others' favorite recipes!

Popular on Food52

    96 Reviews

    Giovanni D.
    Giovanni D. January 10, 2021
    Just made it, and although easy, I found it does not compare to a buttery pound cake. The cake is dense, but more elastic than a usual butter-based pound cake. I used canola oil, and found that it pervades the overall taste of the cake with the maple flavour being secondary. Also, a (slight?) correction, the cook time is indicated as 50 hours....should be 50 minutes...
     
    elaine
    elaine December 9, 2020
    Very forgiving recipe. I ran out of yogurt, and used vegan cream cheese instead. Still came out delicious!
     
    wigglyworld
    wigglyworld August 8, 2019
    Wonderful recipe, and a great sort of blank slate. I added 1/2 tsp ground cardamom and cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp cloves. I used Grade A maple syrup and found that the flavor came through very complimentary to the baking spices, even though the recipe recommends Grade B (next time!). Looking forward to future experimentation. Thank you!
     
    Jamila E.
    Jamila E. February 2, 2019
    I just made this cake today and it's amazing! Thanks for sharing!
     
    Jodie
    Jodie August 6, 2018
    Has anyone frozen this cake?
     
    J B.
    J B. May 4, 2018
    Just made this recipe last night. Time for baking was quite accurate for me. Was moist and delicious however the maple flavour was lacking. Would like a stronger flavour. Suggestions?
     
    kaeli
    kaeli June 19, 2018
    Did you use grade B maple syrup? It has a more pronounced flavor than grade A.
     
    Jean
    Jean January 29, 2018
    I made this recipe as directed and though it has good texture, it has no flavor (even toasted). I intend to make french toast with it to use it up.
     
    Sandy W.
    Sandy W. November 3, 2017
    I love this recipe, and I only have Grade A maple syrup (a gift), so I did use maple sugar, which was also a gift. It was perfect. I took it along on a weekend with friends, and they raved about it. So easy and delicious! I want to make it again this weekend to surprise a friend but realized I only have vanilla yogurt, so I'm going to use that anyway. I just won't add the 1/4 cup sugar. Will probably dust this one with maple sugar or glaze with powdered sugar and maple syrup. A keeper!
     
    Hapigal
    Hapigal November 3, 2017
    What should the oven temperature be?
     
    Sandy W.
    Sandy W. November 3, 2017
    The recipe says preheat to 350. Mine came out perfectly!
     
    Liz H.
    Liz H. October 24, 2017
    What kind of oil should be used
     
    Tarta
    Tarta January 15, 2017
    Love this cake so much! I used 1/2 plain full fat yogurt and 1/2 sour cream. Perfectly moist! I served it with whipped cream and a drizzle of maple syrup and pomegranate seeds for garnish. Total hit! I would love to find a maple glaze for it, as well...
     
    Jenny
    Jenny July 31, 2016
    For some strange reason I ran out of oil so used butter instead (Why not). I had jussssst enough yoghurt and I happily finished it using this recipe. I also swirled in some cinnamon plus sprinkled walnut bits on top of the cake. So GOOD!! Thank you for the recipe!
     
    Kerry G.
    Kerry G. May 12, 2016
    There is a reason why so many people like this recipe: Because it's SO GOOD. I use a combo of plain Greek yoghurt and buttermilk. I did have to cook it longer than 45min.
     
    ale3antra
    ale3antra February 6, 2016
    This cake is great, thank you! I made it a touch heavier by replacing the oil with browned butter and I'd love to try it with an even heavier grade syrup soon.
     
    Ceecee
    Ceecee January 17, 2016
    Love this recipe but instead of the 3/4 yogurt I substitute it with unsweetened almond milk. It came out great. Very moist instead!
     
    YukariSakamoto
    YukariSakamoto June 14, 2015
    We live in Tokyo and Japanese sweets are lighter in sugar. My Japanese husband and son both loved this recipe. Arigato!
     
    Sner
    Sner April 21, 2015
    Just made this as mini muffins for a one year birthday party. Took 18 min in the oven and turned out fantastic.
     
    Foodie52
    Foodie52 March 30, 2015
    Hi Rivka, I've made this recipe countless times over the past 4 years, even before joining Food52. I just want to thank you for such a great and versatile recipe.

    I just made it again last night with more substitutions than ever and it still turned out wonderfully:
    -3/4 c of vanilla sugar (ran out of maple syrup)
    -4 yolks and 1 egg (had 4 left over yolks waiting to be used)
    -Homemade, strained kefir cheese (wanted to save my fage yogurt for the rest of the week)
    -1 cup of flour and .5 cup of oatmeal (trying to use up oatmeal)

    Definitely richer than usual, but tasty nonetheless!
     
    Author Comment
    Rivka
    Rivka March 30, 2015
    Thanks for sharing this! Glad you like the recipe - it really is a recipe that lends itself to endless substitutions, based on the fridge's contents and the cook's whim.
     
    sharonpatricia
    sharonpatricia November 20, 2014
    I was rather disappointed this cake. My family loves maple and I have been anxious to try this. The texture was lovely and it was very moist. However I didn't taste much maple flavor after the first day. On the second day the yogurt flavor became more prominent. I used Trader Joe's grade B maple syrup which we like and use in many recipes. Any thoughts?
     
    Author Comment
    Rivka
    Rivka November 20, 2014
    Have you tried toasting individual slices? Really makes the maple come through - at least for me.
     
    Janet P.
    Janet P. November 20, 2014
    For a stronger maple flavor, I used maple sugar instead of white sugar. I like the yogurt flavor, but if you don't, try milk, mascarpone cheese, or a mixture of the two. To my tastebuds, mascarpone has a neutral flavor, never tangy.
     
    HFicarra
    HFicarra October 16, 2014
    what do you mean by 1.5 cups of flour?
     
    Author Comment
    Rivka
    Rivka October 16, 2014
    one and one-half (1 and 1/2)