No equipment needed, this traditional, zesty cake can be thrown together in minutes. Serve simply with some powdered sugar sprinkled over the top or go all out with a layered, frosted showpiece. Whichever way you choose, this is a delicious classic, super moist, citrus treat.
Feel free to substitute the mandarins with naartjies, mineolas, clementines, oranges or even lemons. Any citrus fruit will work.
Mandarin Yoghurt Cake
No equipment needed, this traditional, zesty cake can be thrown together in minutes. Serve simply with some powdered sugar sprinkled over the top or go all out with a layered, frosted showpiece. Whichever way you choose, this is a delicious classic, super moist, citrus treat.Feel free to substitute the mandarins with naartjies, mineolas, clementines, oranges or even lemons. Any citrus fruit will work.
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Ingredients
Cake
- ½ Cup Plain or Greek yogurt
- 1 Cup Light brown or white granulated sugar
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1½ Cups All-Purpose/Cake Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- Zest of approx. 4 – 5 mandarins approx. ¼ Cup of zest
- 2 Tbsp Mandarin juice
- ½ Cup Oil (Vegetable/Sunflower/Canola)
Mandarin Cream Cheese Icing/Frosting (Optional)*
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter (113g) Softened to room temperature
- 1 Cup Plain Cream Cheese (250g) Softened to room temperature
- 4 Cups Icing/Powdered Sugar
- 2 tsp Fresh cream
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract/paste
- 2 tsp Mandarin Juice
- Zest of approx. 1 – 2 mandarins approx. 3 tablespoons of zest
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Line the bottom of an approx 20 – 23 cm springform cake tin with baking paper then spray evenly with non-stick cooking spray. If making a layer cake, do this with two tins (I used 2 x 20cm tins). Set aside
- In a large bowl, add the yogurt, sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined
- Sieve in the flour, baking powder, salt, and zest and mix to just barely combined
- Add the juice and oil and stir well. Don’t worry if it seems to separate at first. Keep stirring until a smooth batter forms
- Pour the batter into prepared tin (or tins)
- Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until the cake feels springy to the touch and a skewer or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean (if splitting the batter between two tins, check at 25 minutes). Be careful not to over bake
- Cool the cake(s) in the tin on a wire rack for around 10 – 15 minutes. Then remove from the cake tin and cool completely (before decorating) on the wire rack, approx. 1 hour
Mandarin Cream Cheese Icing/Frosting (Optional)*
- Add softened butter and cream cheese to the bowl of your stand mixer or a mixing bowl if using a hand mixer, and beat on high speed until smooth and combined
- Slow down the mixer and add the sifted icing/powdered sugar a bit at a time
- Once all the sugar has incorporated, add in the cream, vanilla, juice and zest and continue whipping until it is smooth, light and a fluffy
- To assemble, level the cakes if using layers, and if necessary. Add the icing/frosting between the layers then frost the entire cake with remaining frosting
- Decorate as you wish and serve
Notes
*The cream cheese icing/frosting is totally optional. You can just sprinkle the cake with icing/powdered sugar and serve if you wish as this is a super moist cake. If you make a single cake instead of layers, I would suggest halving the icing/frosting recipe as you won’t need to sandwich the layers together.
Feel free to substitute the mandarins with naartjies, mineolas, clementines, oranges or even lemons. Any citrus fruit will work.
Tried this recipe?Post your pics and tag us at @my_homemade_kitchen_za or #myhomemadekitchen!
Absolutely amazing – made it last weekend and the family finished it in two days. Have just made another and have doubled the recipe and used lemon and poppy seeds Baked it in a Bundt pan
Will post pictures of the finished product
So glad you liked the recipe. Although it usually add icing, I know that this one is moist and tasty enough to eat on it’s own from the trimmings I usually taste. I also love that you can change and add flavours so easily.