This moist and delicious gluten free lemon yogurt cake is full of fresh lemon flavor, making them perfect for dessert. If you haven't tried a yogurt cake recipe yet, you are in for a real treat!
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If you love lemons, these decorative gluten free lemon yogurt cakes are for you. Anytime you combine lemon and yogurt, you get a treat!
I have several delicious gluten free lemon desserts on my blog to help use up extra lemons. Give this Gluten Free Lemon Bundt Cake or these Gluten Free Dairy Free Lemon Donuts a try!
Why This Recipe Is Great:
- This lemon cake with yogurt is so light and fluffy and full of delicious lemon flavor.
- They are decorative and pretty to make as individual-sized cakes or make one large cake in a springform pan.
- You can use Greek yogurt or whole plain yogurt, and your gluten free lemon cakes will stay moist. (I suspect a dairy-free yogurt, like coconut yogurt, will also work well in this cake.)
I used the cutest little mini bundt cake pans to make this lemon cake recipe. Feel free to use a larger bundt cake pan or a springform pan. Also, don't forget to increase the baking time if you make one large gluten free lemon cake.
Here is a similar recipe example: a Gluten Free Turkish Yogurt Fig Cake that I baked in a springform pan.
Tips For Sucess:
- Do not use a stand or electric mixer to make this recipe. It will overmix your cake batter, leaving you with a denser cake.
- Do not use flavored yogurt in this recipe.
For more cake tips, check out my Gluten Free Cake Troubleshooting Guide.
This is a great gluten-free flour blend for making cookies, muffins, and biscuits. For best results, be sure to let the batter sit for 15-20 minutes before baking. Do not use this blend for yeast recipes.
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - I tested this recipe with Bob's Red Mill 1:1 GF Flour. Other blends should also work.
- Xanthan Gum - Choose one with xanthan or guar gum to hold it together.
- Sugar - I recommend cane sugar.
- Coconut Oil - I love the flavor of coconut oil in this recipe, but other light oils will also work well.
- Eggs - Size large.
- Yogurt - Use Greek or plain yogurt.
- Non-Dairy Milk - You can use any, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
- Lemons - Fresh is best.
If you love lemons as we do, you will want to check out the Best Gluten Free Lemon Desserts on the blog too!
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Whip up egg whites quickly until they form stiff peaks. Sorry, this picture isn't great. It was dark in our kitchen today!
You will know when your egg whites are ready when you see very stiff peaks.
Step 2: In another bowl, add your dry cake ingredients. In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Step 3: Add the egg whites to your lemon yogurt cake batter. Gently fold them together to preserve the air bubbles from the whipped egg whites.
Step 4: Add to your greased mini cake pans or into a large springform pan. Bake at 350º F for 25-40 minutes, depending on what cake pan(s) you use to make this recipe.
Step 5: Remove the cakes to a cooling rack and cool to room temperature before serving.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
You can use fresh or jarred lemon juice in this recipe.
Yes, you can make this recipe dairy-free by using a dairy-free yogurt like the ones by Kite Hill or Daiya.
To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake(s). If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake needs to bake longer.
These cakes will last for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.
The yogurt helps keep the cake nice and moist. You can use a low-fat, Greek, or regular yogurt style. It is the secret to a moist cake!
More Gluten Free Lemon Recipes:
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Yogurt Cakes
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
- Electric mixer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 5 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- dash salt
- 8 ounces yogurt * see note
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- Whisk flour and sugar in a medium bowl.
- Whisk egg yolks and melted coconut oil together in a small bowl.
- Whisk in the milk, yogurt, lemon juice and zest into the egg yolk mixture.
- Pour the lemon mixture into the flour and sugar and whisk to blend.
- Add the egg whites to a mixing bowl. Mix on high speed until they form stiff white peaks.
- Gently fold the egg whites into the lemon cake batter.
- Lightly grease mini bundt pans, or a springform pan.
- Put the pans into a larger pan with ½ inch of water. (*If you use a springform pan, wrap the bottom in foil so no water gets in the bottom.)
- Bake 25 minutes for the small bundt pans and around 40 minutes for the springform pan. (I didn't make this in a large pan so you will need to keep an eye on it if you use this size pan.)
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the yogurt for dairy-free yogurt.
- Other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the cake needs to bake longer.
- This cake will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older March 2017 post with more recipe details.
Fearless Dining
Simplifying the art of baking and cooking gluten-free recipes.
Vanessa
This looks so good! Can I make them very far ahead of time?
Sandi Gaertner
I have made it a day ahead, I am not sure how it would be more than that. If you try, please come back and let us know :-).
Tiffany
I love anything lemon and I love that these are gluten-free! Such a pretty individual dessert too, looks so elegant!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Tiffany 🙂
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
I bet the yoghurt adds a lovely lightness to the cakes. Could do with one with a cup of tea