Description

This delightful yogurt-based cake features a tender, moist crumb infused with bright lemon zest and loaded with fresh strawberries. It is a simple yet elegant dessert that uses a high-heat baking technique to create perfect jammy fruit pockets in every slice.

Ingredients

1 lb (500g) fresh strawberries, hulled
1 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 pinch of salt
Icing sugar, for dusting

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) or 180°C for fan ovens, and grease and line a 23 cm (9 inch) cake pan with parchment paper.
Prepare the strawberries by dicing one-third into small pieces for the batter and cutting the remaining two-thirds in half vertically for the topping.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, yogurt, and vanilla extract for at least one minute until the mixture is smooth.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into the wet ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan, scatter the diced strawberries evenly across the surface, and then pour the remaining batter over the fruit.
Place the strawberry halves on top of the batter with the cut-side facing down to keep them juicy.
Bake for approximately 50 minutes, covering loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cake rest in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool, then finish with a dusting of icing sugar.

Notes

To ensure the best texture, always use room temperature eggs and yogurt so the batter emulsifies correctly. If you find the top of the cake is browning too fast at the high temperature, a loose piece of foil will protect the berries while the center finishes baking.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Western