Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Plumcake allo Yogurt
Despite the name, there are no plums in this cake! It's a soft, moist, yogurt-based loaf cake, a staple of modern Italian breakfasts.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 10 servings
- plain or vanilla yogurt
- sugar
- eggs
- vegetable oil or mild olive oil
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- lemon zest
Equipment
- Loaf pan
- Whisk
Instructions
- 1
Preheat and Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- 2
The 'Seven Jars' Method
Traditionally, this cake is measured using the empty yogurt cup. But using standard cups: Whisk the eggs and sugar vigorously until pale.
- 3
Add Yogurt
Whisk the yogurt into the egg mixture until smooth.
- 4
Add Oil
Slowly pour in the vegetable oil while whisking constantly to emulsify.
- 5
Add Flavors
Stir in the vanilla extract and freshly grated lemon zest.
- 6
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- 7
Combine
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula. Mix just until no dry flour remains; do not overwork the batter.
- 8
Pour and Slice
Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Dip a knife in melted butter and draw a line down the center of the batter (this ensures the classic cracked top).
- 9
Bake
Bake for 45-50 minutes. Do not open the oven door during the first 30 minutes.
- 10
Test Doneness
Insert a toothpick into the center crack. It should come out clean.
- 11
Cool
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- 12
Serve
Slice and serve plain, or with a spread of jam.
Cooking Tips
- Using oil instead of butter, combined with the acidity of the yogurt, makes this cake incredibly moist and long-lasting.
- The butter-knife trick ensures the cake splits beautifully down the center rather than bulging randomly.
Variations
- Plumcake con Gocce di Cioccolato: Fold a handful of dark chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The term 'Plumcake' in Italy refers strictly to the shape (baked in a loaf pan), adopted from the British, but the recipe evolved locally.
Nutrition Estimate
240 calories · 4g protein · 32g carbs · 11g fat · 1g fiber per serving
