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Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake

This Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake combines yogurt and mini chocolate chips in this deliciously moist cake, dusted with powdered sugar, creating a flavorful treat that’s perfect for any occasion.

Yogurt cake with two slices on white plates.


 

Who doesn’t love cake, from a tasty Frosted Chocolate Cake to a simple Italian Bundt Cake to the ever popular Lemon Tablespoon Cake. But one of easiest and moistest cakes has to be a cake made with yogurt!

Recipe Ingredients

  • Flour – all purpose flour
  • Corn starch  – will make the cake soft and tender
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Eggs – large eggs, room temperature
  • Sugar – granulated sugar
  • Vanilla – vanilla extract
  • Vegetable oil – I use corn or sunflower oil
  • Yogurt – whole fat yogurt – room temperature 
  • Chocolate chips – unsweetened chocolate chips, I used mini chips but you could use regular
Ingredients for the recipe.

Why Bake With Room Temperature Ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter, which will help to create a light tender baked good

How To Make A Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake

In a small bowl whisk the chocolate chips with a teaspoon of flour.

The chocolate chips mixed with some flour in a white bowl.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

The dry ingredients whisked in a glass bowl.

On medium speed beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla, add half the dry ingredients and beat, while continuing to beat slowly drizzle in the oil.

Mixing the flour in and adding the oil.

Add the yogurt and remaining dry ingredients, beat until smooth.

Adding the yogurt and remaining flour.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

The chocolate chips in the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake, test for doneness with a toothpick.

The cake in the pan before baking.

Let cool in pan then move to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Finished cake on a white plate.

Why do I need to use both baking powder and baking soda?

Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents, but they work differently. Using both helps the cake rise better and have a lighter texture.

What Makes A Cake Fall?

  • There are a lot a reasons a cake may fall, but the most common ones are, your oven temperature is off, you can always check it with an oven  thermometer to check this.
  • You open the oven door too early. Never open the oven door before 25-30 minutes of baking.
  • Once the batter is mixed it should be baked, letting a cake batter sit too long can cause it to fall. The baking powder or baking soda usually start acting immediately and will only last for a very short period of time, therefore if the cake batter is left to stand before baking then there is always a risk that the baking powder or soda will have expired by the time that the cake goes into the oven.
  • Your baking powder or soda has expired and is no long active.
  • Use room temperature ingredients.
  • The pan size might not be the correct size, sometimes using a bundt pan will help.

Recipe Tips

  • Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan (if using a regular cake pan). This makes it so easy to flip and remove from the pan without the cake sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • You can use regular chocolate chips instead of mini, although mini chocolate chips will distribute more evenly throughout the cake, and be sure to toss them with the little bit of flour that way they won’t sink to the bottom of the cake.
A yogurt cake on a white plate with two slices on white plates.

Recipe FAQs

What does yogurt do in a cake?

It helps to add moistness to the cake and because of its tanginess it adds a tangy sweet taste. It helps to make the cake light and fluffy because Its acidity helps activate baking soda. 

Can you substitute the yogurt?

If you don’t have yogurt then yes you can substitute with sour cream or buttermilk.

Can Greek yogurt be used instead of regular whole fat yogurt?

Yes, Greek yogurt is a great substitute. It will give the cake a slightly tangier flavor and a denser texture.

How to serve the cake

I think it depends on when you are serving the cake, if you serve it for breakfast then a little dusting of powdered sugar is perfect. If you want to serve it as a dessert then why not serve it with a delicious Blueberry Sauce, a dollop of whipped cream or even a scoop of ice cream.

Does the cake need to be frosted?

Personally I rarely frost cakes anymore, I before a light dusting of powdered sugar as is the norm in Italian cakes.

How To Store The Yogurt Cake

The cake can be stored well covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator, make sure it is covered well so no air gets to it, which can dry it out. Bring it to room temperature before serving. It will keep for up to 5-6 days in the fridge.

How To Freeze The Cake

Once the cake is completely cooled, double wrap it with either foil or plastic wrap and then place in a freezer safe bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the cake thaw overnight on the counter before serving, or overnight in the fridge fully wrapped.

More Italian Cakes

A slice of cake on a white plate.

So if you are looking to try an Easy Cake I hope you give this Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake a try and let me know how it goes. Be careful everyone and stay home.

A slice of cake on a white plate.

Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake

Rosemary Molloy
This Chocolate Chip Yogurt Cake combines yogurt & mini chocolate chips in this delicious cake, creating a flavorful treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American/Italian
Servings 10 servings
Calories 281 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • cups + 1 tablespoon all purpose flour (170 grams total, if you double this recipe then double this amount)
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (I use corn or sunflower)
  • ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla whole fat yogurt* room temperature (200 grams if you double this recipe then double this amount)
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

*Room temperature, be sure to remove from the fridge 45-60 minutes before using.

    EXTRAS

    • 1 teaspoon all purpose flour
    • 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Grease and flour an 8 inch (20cm) cake or bundt pan.
    • In a small bowl whisk the chocolate chips with a teaspoon of flour.
    • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
    • On medium speed beat for 5 minutes the eggs, sugar and vanilla, add half the flour mixture and beat, while continuing to beat slowly drizzle in the oil, then add the yogurt and remaining flour mixture, beat on low speed until smooth, fold in the chocolate chips.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Let cool in pan then move to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You can use regular chocolate chips instead of mini, although mini chocolate chips will distribute more evenly throughout the cake, and be sure to toss them with the little bit of flour that way they won’t sink to the bottom of the cake.
    Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan (if using a regular cake pan). This makes it so easy to flip and remove from the pan without the cake sticking to the bottom of the pan.
    The cake can be stored well covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator, make sure it is covered well so no air gets to it, which can dry it out. Bring it to room temperature before serving. It will keep for up to 5-6 days in the fridge.
    Once the cake is completely cooled, double wrap it with either foil or plastic wrap and then place in a freezer safe bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the cake thaw overnight on the counter before serving, or overnight in the fridge fully wrapped.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

    Updated from March 16, 2020

    35 Comments

    1. How did you get such a tall cake? My batter didn’t even come up half way in the pan did you double the recipe or did I use a pan that was too big?

      1. Hi Chris, this is an older recipe and yes I did use a smaller pan, probably a 7 inch bundt pan. It’s on my redo list using an 8 inch pan. Hope that helps. Take care!

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