This Yogurt Pound Cake is a super-simple cake recipe made with just 4 simple ingredients, and it requires only 10 minutes of preparation!
While the whole recipe is just below, don’t miss all my tips further down, including ingredient swaps, my cooking tips, and step-by-step shots!
Like This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or head to our Facebook page where I reply to (almost) all comments, our Instagram page for inspiration, or our Pinterest for saving recipes!

Yogurt Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups Self Rising Flour - (note 1)
- 1 ⅓ cups Vanilla Plant-Based Yogurt - (note 2)
- ⅔ cup Unrefined Sugar - (note 3)
- ½ cup Melted Plant-Based Butter - (note 4)
Optional
- 1 ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch x 5-inch pound cake pan with parchment paper. Spray the sides and bottom of the pan with cooking oil spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add self-rising flour and sugar. Whisk to incorporate.
- Fold in yogurt, melted plant-based butter, and vanilla extract if used.
- Stir with a rubber spatula until the batter is smooth and consistent.
- Pour the batter in the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake the pound cake in the center rack of the oven at 350 °F (180 °C) for 50-60 minutes. Cover the top of the pan with foil after 40 minutes to prevent the top of the cake from darkening too fast. Check if it is ready by inserting a toothpick in the center of the pound cake. If it comes out clean, it means you can remove the pan from the oven. If not, bake longer, in 10-minute increments, until the crumb is set.
- Let the pound cake cool down in the pan at room temperature for 10 minutes, then on a cooling rack at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need four simple ingredients to make this recipe. Here’s how to pick and swap them.

- Self-Rising Flour – This provides the structure for the cake and already includes the leavening agent (like baking powder) to make it rise. If you don’t have it, Note 1 explains how you can make your own with all-purpose flour and baking powder.
- Vanilla Plant-Based Yogurt – This brings moisture and a soft, tender crumb to the pound cake. Using a vanilla-flavored one adds flavor right away. You can use any plant-based yogurt you like, such as soy yogurt, oat yogurt, or cashew yogurt. If you use plain yogurt, just be sure to add the optional vanilla extract so the cake isn’t bland.
- Unrefined Sugar – This provides the sweetness. I use unrefined sugar, but regular white sugar works perfectly. Coconut sugar or brown sugar are also fine, but they will make the cake’s crumb and color darker.
- Melted Plant-Based Butter – This adds richness and that classic buttery pound cake flavor. You can also use a low-flavor oil, like light olive oil or canola oil, if you prefer.
How to Make Yogurt Pound Cake (in Pictures)




Carine’s Baking Tips
Let me share a few more tips for a perfect pound cake.
- Butter or Oil – I find that melted plant-based butter gives this cake the best flavor, much like a traditional pound cake. However, if you don’t have it, any low-flavor oil (like light olive oil or canola oil) works just fine.
- Choosing Yogurt – Any plant-based yogurt works here! I’ve used soy, oat, and cashew yogurt successfully. Using a vanilla-flavored yogurt is a great shortcut if you don’t have vanilla extract, but I still like adding a splash of extract for a stronger flavor.
- Add Extracts – You can easily change the flavor of this cake. If you use plain yogurt, you definitely need to add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. For a fresh taste, try adding 1 teaspoon of lemon extract instead!
- Fruit Add-ins – Feel free to stir about 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries (don’t thaw them) or raspberries into the batter just before pouring it into the pan.







Puedes hacer esta receta con aluñosa o monk fruit?
If you mean a blend of monk fruit/erythritol that state 1:1 ratio swap to sugar, then yes!
Beste Carine.
Ik ga deze zeker maken.
Ziet er heerlijk uit.
Maar hoeveel gram is een kop want dat vind ik altijd makkelijker.
Ik hoor het graag even van je,
bedankjt voor het recept.
Met vriendelijke groet,
Alda uit nederland
Click the metric button on top of the ingredient list to convert any recipes in grams. Enjoy!
Can I use whole wheat flour?
You can but the texture will be dry, less fluffy since whole wheat contains 3.5 times more fibers than wheat, it will absorb the liquid 3.5 times more.
Do you do anything different if baking in high altitudes?
Less raising agent, less time in the oven, higher temperature and a bit more liquid. These are the top recommendation, but then, I live at sea level and I haven’t tried the recipe at altitude to tell exactly how much you need to tweak those parameters.
Excellent idea the only problem is you pay an arm of the leg for plant-based yogurt. So then it becomes very expensive to make. But I will say you have a lot of excellent recipes. Thank you.
I don’t eat dairy, that’s why I bake with dairy-free yogurt. This said, the recipe work with any yogurt, feel free to use a cheaper yogurt made of dairy if you tolerate dairy. Enjoy the recipes.
Can cocoa powder be added to make this into a chocolate pound cake?
Probably, but you will need more liquid. Usually, I would stir my cocoa powder in a hot liquid first, then add in the batter. Since I didn’t test this option yet, I can’t recommend on quantities.
This pound cake looks delicious. I plan to make this and was wondering if maple syrup could be substituted for sugar. thank you for sharing the recipe.
Not at all! You can never replace a granulated sweetener for a liquid sweetener, it will add moisture and make the batter too liquid too firm up. You can however swap sugar for coconut sugar, date syrup for healthy refined sugar free options.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Thank you!
Excelente receta y los sustitutos mucho mejor.
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
My pleasure!