This blood orange yoghurt cake is a simple, vibrant dessert that makes the most of juicy, in-season blood oranges. With its light texture and tangy-sweet glaze, this cake is easy to whip up and brings a splash of citrusy brightness to those quiet January days. It’s a one-bowl wonder you’ll have ready in less than an hour, making it perfect for effortless winter baking.
There’s something magical about blood oranges – their sweet, tangy flavour makes them the star of any dish. When they’re in season, they’re at their juiciest and most flavourful, making this cake the ideal recipe to celebrate their peak. This blood orange yoghurt cake is incredibly easy to make but looks and tastes like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen.
This cake also has a personal charm for me. January can be a time when energy levels are low, and the thought of spending hours baking isn’t appealing. But this recipe solves that problem – it’s quick, simple, and feels like a little slice of sunshine on a grey winter day. Whether it’s for an afternoon treat or a light dessert, this cake brings a bit of joy to an otherwise slow season.
Blood Orange Yoghurt Cake: Recipe Tips
To make sure your blood orange yoghurt cake turns out perfect, keep these tips in mind:
- Use Fresh Blood Oranges: Freshly squeezed blood orange juice and zest are essential for the best flavour and colour.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until incorporated to keep the cake light and fluffy.
- Prepare Your Pan: Grease and line your baking pan with parchment paper to ensure the cake comes out easily.
- Cool Before Glazing: Let the cake cool completely before adding the glaze to avoid it melting into the cake.
- Adjust Glaze Consistency: If the glaze is too thick, add a little more blood orange juice; if it’s too runny, sift in more icing sugar.
Blood Orange Yoghurt Cake: Recipe and Ingredient Variations
This cake is versatile and can be adapted to suit your tastes or pantry:
- Citrus Swaps: If blood oranges aren’t available, try regular oranges, lemons, or even grapefruits for a different citrus twist.
- Add Some Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pistachios or slivered almonds on top of the glaze for added texture and flavour.
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute the Greek yoghurt with a plant-based yoghurt to make the cake dairy-free.
- Make It Gluten-Free: Swap the plain flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the batter for a warm, spicy note.
- Extra Sweetness: Fold in a handful of dried cranberries or candied orange peel to the batter for bursts of sweetness.
If you are looking for more citrusy recipes, check out these desserts:
Chocolate Orange Cake
Butter Cookies with Orange Jam
Lemon Swiss Roll with Citrus Curd
Tiramisu with Lemon Curd and Limoncello
Lemon and Pistachio Cake with Lemon Curd
Recipe
This Blood Orange Yoghurt Cake is proof that something simple can also be stunning. Whether you’re looking to celebrate the citrus season or just brighten up a winter day, this cake is the perfect solution. Give it a try – and don’t be surprised when it disappears in minutes!
Ingredients
Cake:
100g plain flour
50g ground almond
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
150g Greek yoghurt (used this one)
100g caster sugar
1 blood orange (zest and juice)
100ml vegetable oil
2 eggs
Glaze:
1 blood orange (juice and zest)
150g icing sugar
Method
Make the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 1800 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with baking spray and line it with baking paper.
- Mix together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt.
- In a different bowl, whisk together the Greek yoghurt, sugar, blood orange juice and zest, eggs, vegetable oil and eggs.
- Add the flour mixture to the yoghurt mixture and mix until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes.
Make the glaze:
- Whisk the blood orange zest and juice together with powdered sugar.
Arrange the cake:
- After the cake is completely cool down drizzle the glaze on top.
- Decorate the cake with a few slices of oranges.
