Lavender is blooming everywhere on our property and most of the neighbouring ones, too. And it is, of course, the inspiration for this lavender yogurt cake. I love the gorgeous scent of real lavender. Every time I walk past one of the beautiful purple shrubs, I can't resist pinching off a bloom and rubbing it between my fingers for the amazing perfume.
Lavender is an Edible Herb
Because I like to find ways to use this abundance of lavender in my kitchen, I have, more than once, been asked the question "doesn't it taste like soap?" Well, I wouldn't know because I don't eat soap, but people do associate lavender with scented soaps and lotions. Lavender, though, is actually a herb, a member of the mint family. It brings a unique flavour, a little sweet and floral, to both sweet and savoury dishes. If you've ever had anything seasoned with herbes de Provence, then you've probably tasted lavender.
Check out some fun facts about lavender and its many uses here: 18 Lovely Things You Didn't Know About Lavender
Apparently, cooking with lavender is now trendy. Where I live, we didn't realize it ever wasn't, but I'm glad it's now an in-thing so that more people get to know edible lavender.
What's a Yogurt Cake?
.A yogurt cake is very traditional in France, where they usually bake it in a loaf pan. It's a nicely moist, dense cake, similar to a pound cake and just as versatile. You can dress it up with preserves or fresh fruit and whipped cream (I like to use it for a strawberry short-cake base) and once the cake is stale, it can be toasted. Think raspberry jam on warm toasted cake. Now that's a breakfast treat, if not a healthy one.
I'm using a bundt pan just because it looks a little fancier. Because this lavender yogurt cake is already getting dressed up with lavender buds and a lemony glaze, I'm leaving it just as is. If you like this recipe, you may also want to try Lavender Scones, or make some Lavender Lemonade
Recipe
Lavender Yogurt Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup full fat or Greek plain yogurt
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoon lavender buds
- juice and zest of one lemon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup icing sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Coat a 10-inch bundt pan with vegetable oil spray.
- Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, sugar, eggs, oil, lemon zest, vanilla and 2 tablespoon of the lavender buds.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the yogurt mixture and stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake in the centre of the oven on middle rack about 50 minutes.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and remove to a wire rack.
- Make the glaze: Stir together lemon juice and icing sugar in a small pot and cook until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool.
- While the cake is still warm, pour the glaze over the cake and allow it to soak in.
- Scatter the remaining 1 tablespoon lavender buds over the cake.
- Store at room temperate in a covered container for up to 3 days
OJ
Hello, I don't have a bundt pan. Any recommendations for baking it in a smaller pan? hope this blog is still active. Thanks.
Colleen
Hi OJ! Yes this website is very much active. Thanks for this question. You can use a nine inch round pan, or any pan that will hold 10-12 cups of batter when filled 3/4 full. You can also divide the batter between two smaller pans, or make cupcakes.
Dee
Looks enticing. Should i decrease the lavender when using dried lavender?
Colleen
Hi Dee, no, I have made this recipe with both dried and fresh lavender, so I think you can keep the same measurements. If you make it, I would love to hear how it turned out for you! Cheers 🙂
Markus Mueller
I like the idea of using the lavender flowers right in the cake!..Makes for a beautiful presentation!
admin
Thanks Markus!
Teresa
Gorgeous photo! I love yogurt cakes and lavender is such a wonderful flavour, especially with a lemon glaze.
admin
Thank you so much Teresa!
Samantha | My Kitchen Love
I love love love lavender and lemon together; I can only imagine the creaminess of yogurt added in! So good.
admin
Thanks Samantha! This cake was a real hit & I'll be making it again for sure.
Carrie
Love yogurt cake but have never added lavender! This sounds so interesting and is a really pretty looking cake. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
admin
Thanks so much, Carrie!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
These are my kind of cakes! Also in Italy yogurt cakes are very popular, and I bake them often. I love that they are moist and fluffy and mildly sweet and perfect with a coffee or tea. Yours with lavender looks and sounds awesome. Beautiful pictures!
admin
I agree with you on yogurt cakes! I love the simplicity of them. Thanks for your kind comment!
Sean
You know, the internet is full of cake recipes, but once in a while I see something that really piques my curiosity. I must say this is one of those times. First of all, I love cooking with lavender (I make a wicked lavender shortbread), but I really love that you tied it into a yogurt cake. I'm also loving the elegant simplicity of your photos! Great stuff - thanks for posting it.
admin
Thanks so much, Sean, you're so kind! I'm not usually much of a cake maker, but yogurt cakes are pretty simple and don't test my patience too much 🙂 And I'm always trying to think of new ways to use lavender, love the flavour.
Amalia
looks good. I hear it taste good as well.
admin
hey sista, you must have talked to someone I know today 🙂