Granny Cake Francais...oui oui

So...I needed a little something  to brighten the day of one of our clients and dug outthis yummy French recipe I had tucked away. This is such an easy cake to bake for yourself or to give to someone else, and there is some fun history about this cake too.

The story is told that this simple recipe is one that grandmothers all over France are renowned for. The French name for the cake is actually Gâteaux de Mamie, which translated is: Granny Cake. What is so fun is the way these French grandmothers measured the ingredients – with yogurt jars!

In the past yogurt was mostly sold in little glass jars, (they are still available that way as well as in other containers) so the recipe starts out with one jar of yogurt...and the rest of the ingredients were measured in that same jar: two jars of sugar, 3 jars of flour, one jar of oil…etc. It turns out each jar holds one half cup, so it’s easy to translate the recipe to more classic cooking measurements.

• 
  
• ½ cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt, (1 jar)
• 1 cup jars granulated sugar , (2 jars)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, (3 jars)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• grated lemon zest, from 1 medium-size lemon
• ½ cup sunflower, grape seed or canola oil, (1 jar)
• 
  
• ¾ cup (1½ jars) of powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spray a 8-inch round cake pan with baking spray, rub inside surface of pan with a paper towel to cover evenly with the spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper and spray parchment paper lightly. Set aside
2. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, and eggs, stirring until well blended.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and zest, mixing to just combine.
4. Add the oil and stir well. Don't worry, at first it will seem to separate, but keep stirring till smooth.
5. Pour the batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the cake feels springy to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
7. Cool cake on a wire rack for 10 minutes; then turn it out of the pan onto the rack.

Stay Cozy, Carrie