Lemon and Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup oil (neutral vegetable oil)
• 1 cup sugar (for the cake batter)
• 1 cup yogurt (plain or Greek yogurt)
• 2 eggs (large)
• 3 lemon zest (zest of 3 lemons)
• 2 cup self raising flour (or 2 cups plain flour and 2.5 tsp baking powder)
• salt (a pinch)
• 0.5 cup sugar (for the syrup)
• 3 lemon juice (juice of 3 lemons)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 170°C (340°F). Line a cake tin with baking paper, allowing the paper to go up the sides slightly to make it easier to lift the cake out later.

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1/2 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup yogurt, and the zest of 3 lemons.

3. 3

   Whisk the wet ingredients together until well combined.

4. 4

   Add the 2 cups of self raising flour and a pinch of salt to the bowl.

5. 5

   Stir the mixture until just combined. Stop as soon as you no longer see any streaks of flour to avoid over-mixing.

6. 6

   Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin.

7. 7

   Bake at 170°C for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

8. 8

   While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup: In a small pot, combine 1/2 cup sugar and the juice of 3 lemons.

9. 9

   Heat the syrup mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let it cool down slightly so it is not boiling hot when applied.

10. 10

    Once the cake is removed from the oven and while it is still hot, pierce numerous holes all over the surface with a skewer.

11. 11

    Pour the lemon syrup evenly over the top of the hot cake, allowing it to soak into the holes.

12. 12

    Let the cake sit for at least 10 minutes to absorb the syrup before removing from the tin or serving.

Notes

If you don't have self-raising flour, you can substitute it with 2 cups of plain flour and 2.5 teaspoons of baking powder. The author notes that the total cost for this cake is approximately $4.50.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• baking
• cake
• lemon
• yogurt cake
• easy
• budget-friendly
• vegetarian