Greek Yogurt Cake

This easy Greek Yogurt Cake is the ultimate treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without guilt. Moist and delicious, this healthy yogurt cake is high protein, low carb, low calorie, and oil-free.

What’s a food you can’t live without? That food that you need to have at least once per day or you feel incomplete. Well, for me it’s Greek yogurt. From breakfast to night snack, I consume so much that our fridge has a separate shelf just for yogurt. I love it because it is healthy, delicious and so versatile that can be used in so many recipes. And not just yogurt bowls. It’s also great for pancakes, muffins, cookies and cakes!

Why is Greek yogurt healthy?

The main ingredient in this recipe, Greek yogurt is key in making a moist protein cake without protein powder. If you didn’t know it yet, Greek yogurt is not just delicious and versatile, but it is also incredibly good for you.

As it is a low calorie protein source, this type of yogurt is one of the most popular foods amongst fitness enthusiasts and health conscious. In fact, Greek yogurt typically contains more protein, which is essential for muscle repair and overall health. Eating enough protein may also increase satiety and therefore help manage your weight.

Besides its high content of protein, this food is also a great source of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin B12. Last but not least, Greek yogurt contains plenty of probiotics: bacteria that support gut health and improve digestion.

Recipe ingredients

As its name suggests, this recipe requires Greek yogurt. Besides the yogurt, you will also need a couple of additional ingredients such as whole grain flour, egg and banana. All the ingredients in this yogurt cake are easy-to-find common foods that are also very healthy and good for you. Down below you will find more details, tips and replacements.

• Greek yogurt. This high protein cake can be prepared with either regular full-fat Greek yogurt or nonfat alternatives. Read the next section for more information.
• Ripe banana. The banana is key in making a sweet and moist yogurt cake with no oil and less sugar. Be sure to choose a ripe banana; the riper it is, the sweeter and softer your dessert will be.
• Egg. Prefer a large whole egg for more nutrients and better taste. When baking, eggs are essential in improving both texture and flavors.
• Oat flour. I like to replace refined flours with oat flour. Besides being gluten-free, oat flour is a wholegrain alternative with plenty of fibers and nutrients.
• Almond flour. For a better taste, texture and nutritional profile, I decided to make my Greek yogurt cake with a mix of oat flour and almond flour. The almonds will give a nutty flavor and soft texture, while adding lots of fibers and nutrients.
• Maple syrup. Besides banana, maple syrup sweetens the dessert in a healthier and more natural way, without the need for refined sugars.
• Milk. This healthy yogurt cake can be prepared with any type of milk you prefer, dairy or dairy-free. My recommendations are unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, oat milk and semi-skimmed milk.

What is the best Greek yogurt for baking?

Full-fat or low-fat? Plain or flavored? Sweetened or unsweetened? If you regularly consume Greek yogurt, you may probably know that there are many alternatives. In the next paragraph, I am going to give you a couple of tips on choosing the right option for your needs.

• Nonfat vs full-fat. Although both options are great, you should know that the higher the amounts of fats the richer your protein cake will be. If you are looking for a low calorie dessert that still tastes delicious, my recommendation is to prefer a fat content of about 5% or 2%.
• Plain vs flavored. I like using plain Greek yogurt because it tends to be less processed, more natural and does not change the taste of your cake. If you prefer flavored products, I suggest vanilla (but then skip the vanilla extract).
• Unsweetened vs. sweetened. In this regard, I strongly encourage the use of sugar-free natural yogurt. It is healthier and won’t add any extra sugar.

Replacement options

Maybe you don’t have oat flour or maybe you prefer honey. If this is the case, in the next lines you are going to find out how to replace the main ingredients in this healthy yogurt cake recipe.

• Ripe banana: Substitute with about 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, or with one additional egg if you prefer.
• Oat flour: Replace with wholewheat flour, spelt flour, all purpose flour or more almond flour for a low carb dessert.
• Almond flour: Use more oat flour (or any flour of your choice) as an alternative to almond flour.
• Maple syrup: Sweeten your healthy Greek yogurt cake with honey, date syrup or coconut syrup instead of maple syrup.
• Egg: Make an eggless yogurt cake using one flaxseed egg or chia egg as a replacement for regular eggs.

Optional mix-ins

Stir in some extras to add your own touch and make the most delicious cake with yogurt. Whenever I make it, I like mixing in some dark chocolate chips but you can include any other thing you like. Let me give you some ideas, in case you need inspiration.

• Fresh fruit: Blueberries, raspberries, a mix of fresh berries, apple chunks, diced pear, pieces of mango. 
• Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips or sugar-free chocolate chips. 
• Nuts: Crushed walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts.
• Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, poppy seeds.
• Dried fruits: Raisins, cranberries, dried berries, dried apple.
• Flavors and spices: Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cocoa powder.

Low carb cake with yogurt

Whether you follow a keto diet or just try to cut some carbs, adapting this recipe is very simple. First and foremost you will need to replace the oat flour with more almond flour, meaning that in total the required amount is going to be 200 grams or 2 cups of almond flour (not to be confused with almond meal). Second, the banana must be substituted with an additional egg to cut both sugars and carbohydrates. Lastly, sugar-free maple syrup will be our sweetener of choice.

Low calorie yogurt cake

Clocking at 135 kcal per slice, this dessert is already quite light. But still, if you are looking for a low calorie cake with Greek yogurt then make sure to follow my upcoming tips. First, you will want to use nonfat Greek yogurt without added sugars. Second, you will want to swap out the almond flour for more oat flour, which is significantly lower in fats. If then you still want to cut some calories, sweeten your yogurt dessert with sugar-free maple syrup or other diet alternatives.

High protein cake with yogurt

As it uses Greek yogurt, this recipe is already pretty high in protein. Shall this not be enough for you, I recommend boosting the macros with the additional of protein powder. Aim to replace (at most) 50 grams or 1/2 cup of the oat flour or almond flour with your favorite protein powder. Also, you will probably need to adjust the quantity of milk based on the protein powder you choose. While casein and vegan protein powder will require more milk (about 80 ml or 1/3 cup), whey will require less (about 45 ml or 3 tbsp). Start with little and add as much milk as you need to get a smooth batter.

How to make Greek yogurt cake

• Combine all wet ingredients. In a large bowl, mash the banana then combine with Greek yogurt, egg, maple syrup, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Stir well until you get a smooth mixture.
• Incorporate the dry ingredients. Add into the wet mixture oat flour, almond flour (or more oat flour) and baking powder. Stir the ingredients together while pouring in the milk gradually. Mix in some chocolate chips, if you desire.
• Bake the dessert. Transfer your Greek yogurt cake batter to the prepared mold, then bake in hot oven for about 30 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into its center comes out clean.

Storage information

After baking, let the cake cool over a wire rack or plate and then place leftovers in an airtight food container or ziplock bag. For the best result I recommend keeping it in the fridge, but it can also be stored at room temperature. This yogurt cake will maintain its taste and texture for up to 4 days. For a longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months in zipper bags. Before serving, reheat in hot oven until warm and soft.

How many calories in Greek yogurt cake?

A slice of this yogurt cake provides approximately 135 calories and 5 grams of high quality protein. It’s definitely the perfect macro-friendly treat to enjoy whenever you crave something sweet but don’t want to break the diet!

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

More healthy desserts with Greek yogurt

• Greek yogurt protein muffins
• Protein chocolate cake
• Greek yogurt protein cookies
• Low calorie cheesecake
• Flourless yogurt brownies