Lucy sleeps beside me in bed, and early Saturday morning, I woke to a feverish face nuzzling into my stomach. A relaxing weekend quickly filled with panicked calls to nurses, temperature checks, and a very fussy baby. Lucy always goes to her Papa…but this weekend, she only wanted me. It’s Sunday night, and I’ve just finished nursing her to sleep. The last I checked, her temperature was at 103 degrees Fahrenheit. I anticipate another sleepless night ahead of us, and so I’m stalking up on liquids (a large mug of tea) and provisions (cranberry walnut bread).
Despite a mild cold in January, this is the first time any of us have been really sick since Lucy’s birth. I’m thankful for the relative health we’ve enjoyed, but I’m cognizant of how quickly it can go away (perhaps too cognizant..that’s another post though). Thankfully, we live near friends and family who are eager to help, and we’re lucky to have an amazing pediatrician who I trust wholeheartedly (and who we will be seeing first thing tomorrow morning).
Of course, we’re due to fly to Austin on Tuesday, which makes this bout of poor health even more stressful. We won’t travel if Lucy doesn’t improve. I’m not about to put a baby with an infected ear on a small, cramped airplane. But there are so many people we’re eager to see in Texas, and my sweet Grandma has been counting down the days until she can hold her namesake in her arms again. So please say a prayer for Lucy and her mama and papa. We want her healthy…and we’d love to make it down to Texas.
Before the fever started, I made this lovely, simple cake on Friday afternoon. French yogurt cakes are some of my favorite desserts to make and share. They come together effortlessly, and they fill your house with a faint hint of citrus and sugar. I topped this single layer cake with a generous slather of Greek yogurt frosting. I had bought a larger carton of yogurt to make the cake, and when I had a heaping cup left over, I thought I’d put it to good use. Some fresh and dried fruit finished the cake perfectly, adding just the right amount of texture, flavor, and color.
I hope you enjoy your week (it’s Spring Break for us!) and I send just as many wishes for good health to you and yours!
French Yogurt Cake with Greek Yogurt Frosting
Cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground almonds (or, if you’d prefer, omit the almonds and use another 1/2 cup all-purpose flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup full fat Greek yogurt
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup flavorless oil, such as canola or safflower
Greek Yogurt Frosting:
1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously butter and flour an 8-inch cake pan. Set aside. Whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
Place the sugar and zest in a medium bowl and, working with your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar untilmoist and aromatic. Add the yogurt, eggs and vanilla to the bowl and whisk vigorously. Still whisking, stir in the dry ingredients, use a large rubber spatula and fold in oil. You’ll have a thick, smooth batter. Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the cake begins to come away from the sides of the pan; it will be golden brown and a knife inserted into the center of the cake will come out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack, cool for 5 minutes, then run a blunt knife between the cake and the sides of the pan. Unmold and cool to room temperature right-side up.
Storing: Wrapped well, you can keep the cake at room temperature for at least 4 days and, like many pound cakes, it will be better one day later than it was the day it was made.
Greek yogurt frosting: in a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt and frosting until smooth. Generously slather over cooled cake and cover with fresh fruit.
Thank you so much, Monet! I was hoping you’d post the recipe. I’ve been really stressing on this whole birthday cake for a baby thing, but Remy love Greek yogurt so maybe I should make this cake for him on his birthday. 🙂 One less thing to stress about. Thanks for making my life easier!
Oh, you poor things! I hope Lucy feels better soon and that you all get some much needed rest. Fingers crossed that you’re still able to make it to Austin – we’d LOVE to see you, if you have the time! In the meantime, I’ll be drooling over this gorgeous French cake. It looks so perfect for spring!
This cake looks so good! That Greek Yogurt frosting looks unreal!!
I hope Lucy feels better soon! Lots and lots of nursing! You know they say nursing is supposed to cause less illness in babies, and I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know it certainly cuts down on the length/severity of the illness.
Hope Lucy is fully recovered, those things are so scary for parents, aren’t they?
I used to make yogurt cake quite often, then forgot all about it – but I never added the topping you did, and that definitely takes it to a whole new, better, higher, tastier level
Take care of yourself too!
many hugs going your way…. from snowy Manhattan, KS (sigh, I thought it was SPRING)
Aww, I hope you and your baby feel better! I too am suffering from a cold right now and it totally sucks! 🙁
This cake looks delicious though. It’s funny because I was just reading a book called Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard and she shares a recipe for yogurt cake and talks about how it’s one of her favorite and most often baked cakes, so it’s interesting you shared this today! 🙂
Oh Monet I hope Lucy gets better very very soon and that you can go on your trip! I hate getting sick right before you are about to travel. It makes everything so stressful. This cake looks wonderful though! So pretty with the fruit!
Wow, it sounds like the past few weeks have not been easy for you guys. Hope Lucy feels better (and you can take a deep breath and relax a bit) very soon! And in the meantime, cake. Yogurt cakes are one of my favorites, and I love the idea of beautiful fresh fruit on top too. 🙂
i hope Lucy baby feels better. Hugs to you both..
Oh, Monet, I’m so sorry to hear your sweet girl is so sick! I can’t even imagine your worry and stress. I hope she gets better as soon as possible and that you will be able to make your trip. It’d be disappointing for everyone if you have to cancel. Rest up and hopefully there’s more of this beautiful cake to enjoy!
I hope Lucy feels better. If love could cure I know she will be on the mend shortly.
Poor little Lucy!!!! I’ll def. pray that she feels better and you all can take your trip to TX!
This cake is absolutely lovely-it looks so light and ethereal (if cakes can be ethereal :P)
Praying for fast recovery for Lucy and endurance for you!
I’ve never made a yogurt pound cake, but I’m intrigued. The combo of ground almonds and lemon zest sounds fantastic. This is certainly going on my list of desserts to try!
I hope Lucy recovers quickly so you can all travel to see family!
Greek yogurt frosting!!! sounds amazing I will give it a try – thank you for sharing this recipe and beautiful photos
I love this cake and think look perfect!!!
Hope Luce feel better soon she is soo cute!
I’m so sad to hear Lucy is ill. I hope she’ll get better soon.
And what a wonderful cake! Looks so delicious. Pinned!
I hope you all get well soon! No fun being sick 🙁 This cake looks so good, and healthy too 🙂
You make the most beautiful cakes! I hope Lucy feels much better soon!
Will say some for you guys tonight. I hope she feels better, I have a cold myself and I feel like a big baby. Probably why she isn’t sleeping too well either, poor thing. Hope you guys get to go on your trip and see your Grandma.
-Gina-
What a beautiful cake! I seriously don’t know where you find the time. I love this idea.
Hi Monet, I hope Lucy is better now, and you are able to travel to visit your relatives. This cake of yours looks so delicious, I wish I could have some for lunch now!
…hope Lucy gets better soon. She will. The cake looks fantastic, Monet! 🙂 ela
I hope Lucy feels better soon and you get to go on your trip. This cake is gorgeous and I love the idea of a Greek yogurt frosting.
Oh wow, that is gorgeous! Perfect for the spring!
What a stunning cake, healthy and delicious 😀
i love the greek frosting as well!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I hope Lucy feels better soon! Kids get sick (more so than adults) but it’s always a worry when it happens. Lovely cake — thanks.
I sure hope that Lucy is feeling better and you are on that plane to Texas. It is tough when babies get sick.
The yogurt cake is delightful.
Velva
Aw! It’s so heartbreaking when babies get sick. I hope she’s all better now!
This cake looks wonderful and that greek yogurt frosting! Yum!
I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope she’s doing better now and you were able to join your family.
I hope that Lucille is feeling better now and you’re able to make it to Texas! This cake looks amazing and I’m loving both the almond and yogurt additions 🙂
Oh no, I hope you all get well soon!!! This cake looks so fresh and delicious. I’ve been craving fresh fruit lately so I’m loving your garnish 🙂
This cake looks absolutely delicious, so simple and so fresh I would absolutely love a slice of it. I hope Lucy is all better now and you’ve managed to get a good nights sleep!