Can You Bake With Greek Yogurt Instead of Regular? (2024)

Have you ever wanted to make a recipe, only to realize you're missing one key ingredient? Say, for instance, you're making a yogurt cake, which calls for plain, whole-milk yogurt, and you've only got your go-to breakfast, Greek yogurt, in the fridge. You've got to have that cake, obvi, so what to do?

When it comes to baking, recipes are pretty specific, and fooling around with the ingredients—especially, say, the eponymous one—is generally frowned upon. But like I said, when you gotta have that cake, you gotta have that cake. So I spent a day in the Epi Test Kitchen last week experimenting with ingredients to see what could work for baking when yogurt wasn't available.

For my tests, I made a classic French yogurt cake—a simple one-bowl, mix-and-pour-into-a-pan method. I made the recipe as written, with 1 cup plain, whole-milk yogurt, then made batches that substituted 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt; 3/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt plus 1/4 cup water (a similar consistency to regular yogurt); and, just for kicks, in case there's no yogurt around, 1 cup whole milk.

The cakes baked away and when they came out, the answer was simple: all four batches worked! But because Greek-style yogurt and milk are not exactly the same as whole-milk yogurt, there were, not surprisingly, some small differences between the cakes.

Not Really Right: Milk

Although the batter made with milk instead of yogurt did produce a cake, it was a very messy-looking one, because milk has a lot more moisture than yogurt, which made the batter much more runny. It also lacked that tangy flavor yogurt lends to baked goods.

The take-away: In a pinch, substitute buttermilk, or milk that has been spiked with a little lemon juice or vinegar (aka homemade buttermilk) and use 1/4 less milk than the amount of yogurt called for in the recipe.

Not Quite Right: Greek Yogurt

The cake made with Greek yogurt puffed up more than the original cake and its texture was a little bit tough. As Janet Fletcher, author of Yogurt: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, explains it, "Greek yogurt has less whey so your batter will be thicker, and it has significantly more fat and protein. The extra fat will give you a little more tenderness; the extra protein will give you a little more structure, but these two things actually cancel each other out." Although this cake was just fine, it wasn't as perfect-looking, or tender, as the original.

Can You Bake With Greek Yogurt Instead of Regular? (2024)

FAQs

Can you use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt in baking? ›

So to substitute Greek-style yogurt for American-style yogurt in baked goods, remember this rule: Use only two-thirds of the amount of Greek yogurt called for in the recipe and make up the difference with water.

What is the effect of Greek yogurt in baking? ›

Its creaminess helps keep baked goods moist. Its tanginess imparts a crave-worthy, old-fashioned flavor. Its acidity helps activate baking soda, which can make baked goods fluffy and light. It can step in for sour cream, mayonnaise or crème fraîche, bringin the same tangy with less guilt.

Can you bake with Greek yogurt? ›

Greek Yogurt in Baking

Muffins, Bagels, Garlic Knots, Pizza Crust, Quick Breads, the Greek yogurt swap makes for fewer calories, less fat, but no loss of flavor!

Can Greek yogurt replace eggs in baking? ›

Yogurt. For this egg substitute, use 1/4 cup per egg. If you need to avoid dairy, you can use thick Greek-style plant-based yogurts. Most other non-dairy yogurts might be too thin to substitute for eggs in baking, so keep this in mind.

What happens to Greek yogurt when cooked? ›

Our creamy, tangy Greek Yogurt is a great substitution for sour cream or other high-fat cream in soups, sauces and stews. But heat can cause yogurt to separate, so whisk it in off the heat at the end, gently re-warming the dish over low heat if necessary, but not letting it simmer or boil.

Can you replace butter with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

GREEK YOGURT

If you're using a cup of butter or less, replace the butter with 1 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt. If your recipe calls for more than a cup of butter, you'll need to tweak the flour in your recipe by adding about ¼ cup more to compensate for the yogurt's extra moisture.

Will Greek yogurt curdle when heated? ›

The best way is to add the yoghurt at the last minute and to allow it to warm through but not come to the boil. The second it starts to boil it will get grainy and will soon completely split.

Is Greek yogurt acidic enough to activate baking soda? ›

Plain yogurt has an acidic pH, which makes it a perfect substitute for baking powder when mixed with baking soda. Plain yogurt works best over other varieties because it provides the acidity needed for leavening without adding flavor.

Can you bake with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream? ›

Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream's flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you'd like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.

Can Greek yogurt replace oil in baking? ›

Whole-fat Greek yogurt is a great swap for oil in baked goods. It's creamy and rich, and adds a nice texture to pound cakes, cookies, and Blueberry Muffins, plus a bit of extra protein. Due to its thickness, you'll want to add a bit more yogurt to the recipe than the amount of oil called for. Start with a 1:1.25 ratio.

What does yogurt replace in a cake mix? ›

Mix 3/4 cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt into your cake mix and stir thoroughly. This replaces the oil in the cake adding a richness and denser flavor that also keeps longer.

Can you bake with Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese? ›

Greek yogurt is a great alternative to cream cheese. It also gives your favorite dishes a healthy twist because it's rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 ( 3 ). Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of cream cheese to make dips, spreads, frostings, and baked goods.

Why add yogurt to baked goods? ›

But yogurt is also an excellent dairy to bake with. Because of its acidity, yogurt reacts with baking soda to encourage leavening. It also adds nice, tangy flavor that hardly overpowers, but instead keeps everything in balance.

How to use yogurt in baking? ›

Try substituting the butter in your recipe with yogurt. Try replacing ½ of the butter with ½ as much yogurt. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup butter, try using ½ cup butter and ¼ cup yogurt instead). When baking, you can try replacing one egg with ¼ cup yogurt.

How to thin Greek yogurt for baking? ›

The take-away: If all you have is Greek yogurt, thin it out with a little water. Keep in mind that all of these tests were done on a fairly dense, pound cake–like cake.

Can I use yogurt instead of eggs in brownies? ›

Egg Substitutions That Worked

¼ cup yogurt: I used 2 percent plain Greek yogurt. I was wowed. By far my favorite! ¼ cup applesauce: The texture of the brownies wasn't compromised.

Is it OK to bake Greek yogurt? ›

Greek yogurt may be primarily a wholesome breakfast staple, but it's also an incredible tool when it comes to baking. It can be used, just like other dairy products, to make moist and tender cakes, biscuits, breads, and more. Here's how to get started in baking with yogurt.

Can you substitute Greek yogurt for regular yogurt? ›

Use: Regular yogurt substitute

Greek yogurt is just as good as the regular stuff for baking, dips and sauces. Just like sour cream, Greek yogurt is a 1-to-1 substitute for regular yogurt. Plus, there are a ton of benefits to eating Greek yogurt.

Will Greek yogurt curdle when baked? ›

Greek yogurt is a bit fussy when it comes to heat, even though it pairs nicely with hot foods. If you heat it too quickly, it'll separate and curdle, potentially ruining your dish. To avoid making a mistake you can't take back, it is best to only add Greek yogurt at the end when your recipe is done cooking.

Can I substitute Greek yogurt for heavy cream in baking? ›

Use Greek Yogurt When You're Low on Your Favorite Dairy Ingredients. If you're low on dairy ingredients, don't fret. Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream. Milk: If you're short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference.

How much Greek yogurt equals one egg? ›

Using Egg Substitute for Baked Cake Mixes: You can use any of the options listed above and you can also use plain yogurt or Greek yogurt. ¼ yogurt = 1 large egg.

Can I substitute yogurt for eggs in a cake? ›

Both yogurt and buttermilk are good substitutes for eggs. It's best to use plain yogurt, as flavored and sweetened varieties may alter the flavor of your recipe. You can use 1/4 cup (60 g) of yogurt or buttermilk for each egg that needs to be replaced. This substitution works best for muffins, cakes, and cupcakes.

Can you use Greek vs plain yogurt in cooking? ›

Greek yogurt often goes in recipes to increase texture, provide moisture or serve as a substitute for mayonnaise, sour cream or buttermilk. It can be used in everything from savory dishes to ice cream. Plain regular yogurt is lighter and often mixed into smoothies, dressings and lighter dishes.

Can you replace cream cheese with Greek yogurt in baking? ›

Greek yogurt is a great alternative to cream cheese. It also gives your favorite dishes a healthy twist because it's rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 ( 3 ). Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of cream cheese to make dips, spreads, frostings, and baked goods.

How do you substitute Greek yogurt for oil in baking? ›

Try cutting the oil in your recipe back by substituting ½ of the amount of oil with ¾ the amount of yogurt. For example, if your recipe lists 1 Cup of Oil, try replacing ½ cup of Oil with ¾ cup of yogurt. Try substituting the butter in your recipe with yogurt.

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