BAKES/ SWEETS

Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

Hello and welcome! I have a sweet treat today. A citrus cake that is perfect for right now! With fresh grapefruit juice in the cake and glaze, this cake is lightly sweet with just the perfect amount of tartness from the grapefruit. Yogurt also lends a little tang, but it mostly makes this cake super moist. Perfect with a cup of tea, or as a palate cleansing dessert, put this cake to the top of your winter sweets baking list! Let’s do it!

This recipe is adapted from Smitten Kitchen, who has loosely based it on a recipe by Ina Garten. Let’s start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch x 4-inch loaf pan. If you have a sticky pan, grease it, then lay parchment in the bottom, then grease and flour. I have a really great USA Pan Pro Line Nonstick Loaf Pan that I use my fingers to grease with butter; I don’t bother to line with parchment. It works great, I have never had anything stick in it.

Grapefruit Yogurt Cake Batter

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In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, add the sugar. Then grate the grapefruit zest directly into the sugar. Use your hands to massage the zest into the sugar until the sugar is very fragrant and slightly wet from the oil in the zest.

Whisk the yogurt, eggs and vanilla into the sugar and zest.

Slowly whisk the dry mixture into the wet mixture.

Then use a silicone spatula to fold the grapeseed or other neutral oil into the batter, make sure the oil is fully incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. Start checking for doneness at 45-50 minutes. Cake is done when a cake tester placed in the center, comes out clean.

Meanwhile, in a small pan, cook the 1/3 cup grapefruit juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

When the cake comes out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

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Then, while the cake is still warm, drizzle the sugar grapefruit mixture over the cake and let it soak in. Let the cake cool for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile whisk together 1 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice for the glaze.

Glaze the Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

After about 30 minutes, carefully invert the cake onto a plate, then invert again onto a wire rack. Set the wire rack over a sheet pan, or over a sheet of plastic wrap for easy clean up. Let the cake cool longer if it feels warm to the touch. When the cake is cool, pour the glaze over the top, letting it drip down sides. Let the glaze set then transfer it to a serving plate.

Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

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Slightly sweet, super moist and rich in grapefruit flavor, this cake is such a ray of sunshine on a cloudy, cold winter day. I really enjoyed this cake while sipping a cup of herbal tea. A nice afternoon snack. I do love a citrus cake and if your in the mood for something a little different, try Cranberry Orange and Ginger Scones, Semolina Cake with Citrus and Cardamom, or Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Take care and be well! xo Kelly

Key Equipment

Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

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Dessert American
By Adapted from Smitten Kitchen Serves: 8-10
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 50 Minutes Total Time: ~1 Hour

Slightly sweet, super moist and rich in grapefruit flavor, this cake is such a ray of sunshine on a cloudy, cold winter day.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
  • 1 cup Plain Whole-Milk Yogurt
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 3 Large Eggs
  • 1 tbsp. Grated Grapefruit Zest (approximately one large grapefruit)
  • 1/2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable or Grapeseed Oil
  • Grapefruit Soak
  • 1 tbsp. Sugar
  • 1/3 cup Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
  • Grapefruit Glaze
  • 1 cup Confectioners’ Sugar
  • 2 tbsp. Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice

Instructions

1

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch x 4-inch loaf pan. If you have a sticky pan, grease it, then lay parchment in the bottom, then grease and flour.

2

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, add the sugar. Then grate the grapefruit zest directly into the sugar. Use your hands to massage the zest into the sugar until the sugar is very fragrant and slightly wet from the oil in the zest.

3

Whisk the yogurt, eggs and vanilla into the sugar and zest. Slowly whisk the dry mixture into the wet mixture.

4

Then use a silicone spatula to fold the grapeseed or other neutral oil into the batter, make sure the oil is fully incorporated.

5

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. Start checking for doneness at 45-50 minutes. Cake is done when a cake tester placed in the center, comes out clean.

Grapefruit Soak

6

Meanwhile, in a small pan, cook the 1/3 cup grapefruit juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

7

When the cake comes out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

8

Then, while the cake is still warm, drizzle the sugar grapefruit mixture over the cake and let it soak in. Let the cake cool for about 30 minutes.

Grapefruit Glaze

9

Meanwhile whisk together 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice for the glaze.

10

After about 30 minutes, carefully invert the cake onto a plate, then invert again onto a wire rack. Set the wire rack over a sheet pan, or over a sheet of plastic wrap for easy clean up. Let the cake cool longer if it feels warm to the touch. When the cake is cool, pour the glaze over the top, letting it drip down sides. Let the glaze set then transfer it to a serving plate.

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  • Mari
    January 19, 2023 at 10:18 am

    I am not all that partial to sweets, but this one looks good and it won’t be overly sweet. We use lemon in a lot of desserts, so why not grapefruit? People made vinegar pies back in the day when there were no lemons to be had, so why not grapefruit? This sounds like it has a nice mix of sweet and sour, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition of flavors. I’ll put a few on the grocery list later. We haven’t had any for breakfast lately, and it sounds good. There have been lemon and orange cakes, so it’s time for grapefruit to have a moment. I got home from a doctor’s appointment and expected to. See pizza and a movie, so my days are all off by one this week! Maybe by July I will know what day it is. The weather isn’t looking good in some of our southern states. Our prayers , hugs, and love go out to people in the affected areas. Stay safe everyone, and may God be with you now and forever.

    • Kelly Djalali
      January 20, 2023 at 7:45 am

      Hi Mari, I do think this grapefruit yogurt cake is unique, it’s really delicious! We finally have some decent weather here for the next few days, at least. I am looking forward to spending some time in the sunshine. Pizza and a Movie is coming right up! xo Kelly