My home state of Texas is famous for belt-busting meals like smoky slabs of beef barbeque with a side of spicy beans or chicken-fried steaks smothered in cream gravy.  Since traditional dinners are on the heavy side, I’ve learned to keep the appetizers and desserts light and refreshing.

One of the easiest ways to “lighten” up a heavy recipe is to substitute a high-quality, low-fat Greek yogurt for sour cream, mayonnaise or heavy cream.  Yogurt helps to keep baked goods moist and enhances the texture.  Using low fat yogurt instead of sour cream saves 46 grams of fat per cup and it can be substituted for mayonnaise in equal amounts.   Yogurt is also a flavorful topping on a baked potato, or in Stroganoffs and stews, and a low fat way to thicken sauces.

The refreshing addition of Greek yogurt in this simple cake recipe makes it tender and moist.  Serve the cake topped with a dollop of lemon yogurt and your favorite berries.  It makes for a beautiful presentation and is the perfect way to finish a Texas-sized meal!

Lemon Greek Yogurt Cake

Yield: 12 servings Read more →