What Can I Bake With Plain Yogurt?

If you’re looking to bake something delicious, you may be wondering what you can do with plain yogurt. Luckily, plain yogurt can be a versatile ingredient in many baked goods. In this article, we will explore some ideas for using plain yogurt in baking.

Benefits of Baking with Yogurt

Before we dive into specific recipes, let’s discuss some of the benefits of using plain yogurt in baking. Firstly, yogurt can add moisture to baked goods, which can make them more tender and less crumbly.

Additionally, yogurt can provide a tangy flavor to your baked goods, which can complement sweet ingredients nicely. Finally, yogurt can also help to create a more tender crumb and improve the texture of your baked goods.

Baking with Plain Yogurt – Tips to Keep in Mind

When baking with plain yogurt, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you’ll want to use plain, unsweetened yogurt in your recipes.

Flavored yogurts can contain added sugars and other ingredients that may affect the taste and texture of your baked goods.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider the fat content of your yogurt. Full-fat yogurt can add richness and flavor to your baked goods, but low-fat or non-fat yogurt can also work well in some recipes. You may need to adjust the amount of fat in your recipe to account for the fat content of your yogurt.

Finally, you’ll want to pay attention to the consistency of your yogurt. Greek yogurt, for example, is thicker than regular yogurt and can affect the texture of your baked goods.

You may need to adjust the amount of liquid in your recipe to account for the thickness of your yogurt.

Baking Recipes with Plain Yogurt

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, let’s explore some recipes that use plain yogurt.

Muffins

Plain yogurt can be a great addition to muffins. Try this recipe for Blueberry Yogurt Muffins:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup plain yogurt
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat egg in a separate bowl. Add yogurt, sugar, and oil; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full with batter.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Cakes

Plain yogurt can also be used in cake recipes. Try this recipe for Lemon Yogurt Cake:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plain yogurt

• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch Bundt pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, oil, and vanilla extract. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing it from the pan onto a wire rack.
5. In a small saucepan, heat the lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Poke holes all over the cake with a skewer and pour the glaze over the cake while it’s still warm.

Cookies

Plain yogurt can also be used in cookie recipes. Try this recipe for Yogurt Oatmeal Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, then stir in the yogurt. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in the rolled oats.
4. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Bread

Plain yogurt can be used in bread recipes to add moisture and flavor. Try this recipe for Yogurt Banana Bread:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Add the mashed bananas and yogurt, and mix well.
4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
5. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
4. Heat a non-stick griddle or skillet over medium heat. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the griddle or skillet.
5. Cook until the edges start to dry and the surface is covered with bubbles. Flip the pancakes and cook until the other side is golden brown.

Smoothies

Plain yogurt can be used in smoothie recipes to add creaminess and tanginess. Try this recipe for a Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Add more milk if needed to achieve the desired consistency.

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, plain yogurt can be a versatile ingredient in baking. It can be used in cakes, cookies, bread, pancakes, and smoothies to add moisture, flavor, and nutrition.

Experiment with plain yogurt in your favorite baking recipes and enjoy the delicious results!