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Maple Yogurt Pound Cake

March 14, 2010
92 Reviews

Test Kitchen-Approved

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

Food52 Review: 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

Serves: 1 cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 hrs

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.
  • This recipe is a Wildcard Contest Winner!
  • This recipe is a Community Pick!

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Reviews (92) Questions (6)

92 Reviews

Jodie August 6, 2018
Has anyone frozen this cake?<br />
 
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 June 19, 2018
Did you use grade B maple syrup? It has a more pronounced flavor than grade A.
 
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. 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 November 3, 2017
What should the oven temperature be?
 
Sandy W. November 3, 2017
The recipe says preheat to 350. Mine came out perfectly! <br />
 
Liz H. October 24, 2017
What kind of oil should be used
 
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...
 
jelloooojen 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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. <br /><br />I just made it again last night with more substitutions than ever and it still turned out wonderfully:<br />-3/4 c of vanilla sugar (ran out of maple syrup)<br />-4 yolks and 1 egg (had 4 left over yolks waiting to be used) <br />-Homemade, strained kefir cheese (wanted to save my fage yogurt for the rest of the week)<br />-1 cup of flour and .5 cup of oatmeal (trying to use up oatmeal)<br /><br />Definitely richer than usual, but tasty nonetheless!
 
Author Comment
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 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 November 20, 2014
Have you tried toasting individual slices? Really makes the maple come through - at least for me.
 
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 October 16, 2014
what do you mean by 1.5 cups of flour?
 
Author Comment
Rivka October 16, 2014
one and one-half (1 and 1/2)
 
Michelle T. May 26, 2014
Made today for dessert after our cook out. Served with strawberries and cream and it was fabulous. Made exactly as written, except I eyeballed some of the quantities (zested right into the bowl; pinch of salt; guestimated sugar...etc). I used canola oil and whole milk yogurt. Really good with a lovely course crumb.
 
Marian B. May 2, 2014
Do you think that milk could be used instead of yogurt here? This looks incredible!
 
drbabs May 3, 2014
Hi Marian. I've made this a lot and I'm pretty sure I've used soured milk instead of yogurt when I haven't had yogurt in the house. It may take a little longer to bake because of the extra liquid. It's really good. (Rivka's recipes usually are.)
 
Marian B. May 3, 2014
So good to know! Thanks. Can't wait to try this.
 
Author Comment
Rivka May 6, 2014
Thanks drbabs! So sweet. I think sour milk will work here, but agree that you may need a longer cooking time. If you try it and feel like you also needed more dry ingredients, let us know.
 
eljay May 1, 2014
Nice texture, moist and easy to make, but bland. Really needs a flavor boost with more lemon zest or perhaps a bit of lemon extract. Or one could boost the maple flavor.
 
lfqalv April 17, 2014
At home we have one little boy who love maple syrup and yogurt, on who doesn't like maple syrup at all (this is still a mystery for me) and a man who doesn't eat dessert. They all love this cake so we renamed it "the ideal cake". A classic at any time of the year in our house.