🍳 Air Fryer · Easy Chicken · High Protein — 5 new kitchen-tested recipes every day

3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake So Cozy You Need This Simple Little Treat

In Season Right Now: Apples & Winter Squash Fall harvest season — pick the freshest varieties.
Emily Lévesque
Emily Lévesque Recipe Developer

Every recipe on CookZya is tested multiple times in my home kitchen before publishing — no shortcuts, just real food for real families.

More about Emily →

Sometimes the simplest things hit the hardest. A soft, golden slice, just out of the oven that’s exactly what 3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake delivers. No mixer, no fuss, just something genuinely cozy.

Last fall, during one of those weeks where decision fatigue was very real, this became the easiest reset I knew. Three ingredients, one bowl, and the kitchen smelled like a bakery. After testing it across different yogurt types and oven temps, the texture that holds up best is that slightly dense, moist crumb fluffy but with just enough weight to feel satisfying.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
3 Ingredient Yogurt Cake recipe served and ready to eat easy homemade dish

3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake So Cozy You Need This Simple Little Treat


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Anett Roettges
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 9 slices 1x
  • Diet: Standard

Description

This fluffy 3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake is an easy dessert perfect for any occasion. It is a simple cake recipe that involves baking with yogurt and requires no mixer, making it a no mixer cake everyone will love.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 g) vanilla yogurt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 5 tbsp (44 g) cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Heat your oven to 350°F and prepare a 6-inch round springform pan by spraying it with cooking spray and lining it completely with a single sheet of parchment paper, making sure it covers the sides and bottom well.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt and eggs one by one, whisking until you achieve a smooth mixture.
  3. Sift the cornstarch into the batter and whisk it in carefully to avoid lumps.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about one hour until the cake puffs up and develops a caramelized top.
  5. Allow the cake to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes before chilling it in the fridge for at least two hours to enhance flavors.
  6. Let the cake rest outside the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving to soften the texture.

Notes

  • I share a lot of tips and information of what to expect from this cake in the post
  • Please review before making the cake
  • This is a low sugar cake and the only sweetness comes from the yogurt
  • If you desire a sweeter cake, you can add about 1/4 cup of granular sugar
  • This cake can be made with low fat, whole milk or greek yogurt
  • You can use other flavors other than vanilla
  • If using greek yogurt, you may want to add a few tbsp of sugar since greek yogurt usually is tangier than regular yogurt
  • You do want to select a yogurt with a normal or high amount of sugar because it is the only source of sweetness for this cake
  • A low sugar yogurt will not work as well because your cake won’t be sweet enough
  • I used Yoplait original vanilla low fat yogurt
  • This cake can be made in a larger or smaller round cake pan but if you use a larger pan, your cake will be thinner
  • Baking time will also be different if you use a larger or smaller baking pan
  • Use a single sheet of parchment paper if using a springform pan, otherwise, the batter will leak through
  • See post for more details
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 180 kcal
  • Sugar: 12g
  • Sodium: 70mg
  • Fat: 3g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g + 0.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 120mg
3 Ingredient Yogurt Cake sliced and ready to serve on a plate

Why You’ll Love This Cake

Three ingredients, one bowl, zero stress that’s the whole deal. This 3 Ingredient Yogurt Cake is the kind of bake you reach for on a tired Tuesday when you still want something that feels a little special without adding more to your plate.

  • No mixer, no fancy equipment just a whisk and a bowl
  • Minimal cleanup means you’re not scrubbing pans at 9pm
  • That soft, custard-like texture makes it feel far more indulgent than the effort suggests
  • It actually gets better after a rest in the fridge, so you can make it ahead

What You’re Working With

The short ingredient list is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Each one plays a specific role, so it helps to know what to expect before you start.

  • Vanilla yogurt the base, the flavor, and the only source of sweetness in the cake
  • Eggs four large ones, added one at a time, give the batter its lift and structure
  • Cornstarch sifted in at the end, it binds everything together without flour or butter

Note: This is a low-sugar cake by design. If you want more sweetness, you can whisk in about 1/4 cup of granular sugar with the yogurt at the start.

How to Make It

The process is genuinely simple, but a few small steps make a big difference in the final texture.

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 6-inch round springform pan with cooking spray, then line it fully with a single sheet of parchment paper press it up the sides as best you can. Wrinkles are fine; this is a rustic cake.
  2. Add the vanilla yogurt to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs one at a time until the batter is completely smooth.
  3. Sift the cornstarch into the batter using a mesh strainer. Whisk until no lumps remain.
  4. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour, until puffed, golden on top, and no longer wet in the center.
  5. Let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing. Pull it out 15 minutes before serving so it softens back up.

Pro Tip: After testing this a few times, the fridge rest is non-negotiable skipping it leaves the cake tasting eggy and flat. The chill is where the flavor really comes together.

Can You Make This Yogurt Cake Ahead of Time?

Yes, and honestly it’s better that way. The texture shifts from slightly eggy and soft right out of the oven to creamy and fully set after a few hours in the fridge. Bake it the night before, let it chill overnight, and it’ll be ready to slice the next day without any last-minute fuss.

Swaps, Storage, and What to Expect

A little flexibility goes a long way here. The base recipe is forgiving, but a few things are worth knowing before you make any swaps.

  • Low-fat, whole milk, or Greek yogurt all work Greek yogurt is tangier, so adding a little sugar helps balance it out
  • Other yogurt flavors can be used in place of vanilla just make sure the yogurt has a normal or higher sugar content
  • Low-sugar yogurt is not ideal here since there’s no added sweetener to compensate
  • A larger pan will make a thinner cake and will change the baking time stick to a 6-inch pan for best results
  • Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; bring to room temperature for 15 minutes before each serving

When the cake comes out of the oven, it will deflate and wrinkle that’s completely normal and exactly what’s supposed to happen with this style of cake.

How I Finally Got My 3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake Just Right

This 3-ingredient yogurt cake sounds simple, and it is now. But my first few attempts came out dense and gummy in the middle, which sent me back to the drawing board more than once. I learned to trust the cooling time and not rush it. What I’m sharing today is the version that finally made my family ask for seconds.

FAQs ( 3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake )

What ingredients do you need to make this cake?

You only need vanilla yogurt, eggs, and cornstarch. No flour, butter, or oil required.

How long does this recipe take to bake?

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour, until puffed and caramelized on top. Total time including prep is about 1 hour 5 minutes.

Can you use Greek yogurt in this recipe?

Yes, Greek yogurt works, but it is tangier so you may want to add a few tablespoons of sugar to balance the flavor.

Why does this custard-like cake deflate after baking?

Deflating and wrinkling after coming out of the oven is completely normal. It is a rustic, creamy cake by design.

How long should you refrigerate this recipe before serving?

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours after it cools at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove it 15 minutes before serving for the best creamy texture.

3 Ingredient Yogurt Cake recipe shown sliced and ready to serve  easy homemade dessert

This Little Cake Delivers Every Time

Three ingredients, one bowl, and about an hour in the oven 3-Ingredient Yogurt Cake is the kind of bake that quietly earns a permanent spot in your rotation. That soft, custard-like crumb hits differently when you realize how little effort went into it. No mixer, no mountain of dishes just a genuinely cozy slice waiting at the end. You’ll love how it turns out, especially after that fridge rest works its magic overnight.

A couple of things worth keeping in mind before you bake: if you’re reaching for Greek yogurt instead of vanilla, a quick whisk of sugar at the start goes a long way toward balancing that tang. And don’t skip sifting the cornstarch it’s a small step, but it’s what keeps the texture smooth instead of lumpy. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to three days, and pull each slice out about 15 minutes before serving so it softens back up the way it should. That little pause makes a real difference.

If you make this one, I’d genuinely love to hear how it goes did you stick with vanilla yogurt, or did you try a different flavor? Drop a comment below or tag me if you share a photo. And if this reminds you of something a grandmother or aunt used to make with simple pantry staples, tell me that too. Some recipes just carry that kind of warmth with them. Save this one for the weeks when you need a small, sweet reset little wins in the kitchen really can change the whole evening.

You can also download this complete file for free :

Share this recipe: