Make Ahead

French style lemon yogurt cake with fresh basil

by:
July  5, 2010
4.3
3 Ratings
French style lemon yogurt cake with fresh basil
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

I had big plans to make a lemon yogurt cake (inspired by the wonderful Molly Wizenberg's Orangette blog) for a small dinner party. I started my day at the Farmers' Market and there bought bought the most gorgeously fresh, huge bunch of basil and racked my brain for all the dishes in which to use it. Thus, I thought adding it to the cake may be a little different. I cut some of the sugar, skipped the frosting, added basil and substituted olive oil. Voila - it was a hit! —austinfoodscout

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 dash salt
  • Tablespoon 1-2 T fresh basil, thinly sliced
  • freshly grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup plain, whole milk yogurt - stirred
  • scant 1 C sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup olive oil (may use 1/4 C regular and 1/4 C basil olive oil if available)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar, stirred
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, almonds, baking powder, and salt. Add lemon zest and basil and whisk to mix thoroughly.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar and eggs, stirring to mix well.
  5. Add the flour mixture and stir just to combine.
  6. Add the oil and stir well. Pour into the prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
  9. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
  10. Remove the cake (after the 15 minutes) and place on a cake rack. Using a toothpick or cake tester, poke several tiny holes in the top of the cake. Using a pastry brush, slowly brush all syrup over the cake.
  11. Allow to cool completely. Serve with one basil leaf a top each slice and a dollop of creme fraiche.
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  • Franca
    Franca
  • theicp
    theicp
  • dymnyno
    dymnyno
  • austinfoodscout
    austinfoodscout
  • aargersi
    aargersi

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6 Reviews

Franca
Franca April 9, 2014
Made this tonight. Delicious
 
theicp
theicp July 12, 2010
I am dying to make this - only thing is I'm afraid I will eat the entire thing. All by myself. Sounds like such a refreshing sweet!!
 
dymnyno
dymnyno July 10, 2010
I love this idea!!! Perfect and in season right now.
 
austinfoodscout
austinfoodscout July 6, 2010
Josefa - thanks for pointing that out. I was in a hurry :-)

And yes, I'm from Austin, TX!
 
LloJo
LloJo July 6, 2010
Sounds fab - but - you don't say how much basil or what to do with it? finely chop ?
 
aargersi
aargersi July 5, 2010
This sounds wonderful - nice and bright and not too sweet for summer ... good to see another Austinite join the gang here! ( Austin TX not MN right? )