Super Chocolate Yogurt Cake with Chocolate Ganache

One of the staples in my refrigerator is Greek yogurt.  I find Greek yogurt to be so versatile and able to be used in so many dishes that I don't think I go a week without buying several containers.  I frequently use Greek yogurt to replace sour cream and heavy cream since it is loaded with protein and significantly lower in fat.   Mr. Apron only recently realized that we haven't bought sour cream in well over a year.   He never noticed or complained when I used Greek yogurt in place of sour cream on taco night or for baked potatoes. 

As a foodie I really enjoy great tasting dishes. Greek yogurt lets me make enjoyable foods that are lower in fat without sacrificing the taste or the quality.  Life is too short to make bland tasting food. 

Given my love for Greek yogurt I jumped at the chance to create original recipes using FAGE Greek Yogurt.  I had so many ideas it look a while to narrow them down.  Naturally I wanted to do at least one dessert using FAGE Greek Yogurt.  Super Chocolate Yogurt Cake with Chocolate Ganache is an original recipe.  It took several trials to get the proportions right, but I love the final product and I know you will too!

This cake is very chocolatey and moist.  The yogurt gives it a great texture and keeps it from getting dry.  I am not a nutritionist, but given that there is no whole milk or sour cream in this cake, the fat content is definitely lower than traditional cakes.  It got rave reviews from my family.  

As good as the cake is, my favorite part is the ganache.   It is incredibly chocolatey and it has a great tang from the yogurt. I used semisweet chocolate to balance the flavor of the yogurt.  Ganache usually has heavy cream so this version is much lower in fat but has all the taste!  It is super creamy and chocolatey and goes perfectly with the cake.  I will definitely be using this ganache in other recipes.  

Super Chocolate Yogurt Cake 

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1 cup of high quality cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup butter, softed

1 1/2 cups FAGE Greek Yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

Pre-heat over to 325 degree.  Butter or coat bundt pan with a non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  Set aside.   In an electric mixer using flat paddle attachment beat together the butter and yogurt until well mixed, about 3 minutes.  Add the vanilla followed by the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Slowly add in the dry ingredients until incorporated.  Batter will be thick. Evenly spread batter in prepared bundt pan.  Place cake in oven and bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan for ten minutes, remove cake from pan onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely. While cake is cooling prepare ganache.

A Pink Apron Baker Original Recipe. 

Chocolate Ganache

12oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

2/3 cup FAGE Greek Yogurt

Place the chocolate chips in a medium heat safe bowl over a sauce pan of boiling water. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted.  Remove the bowl from the pan.  Immediately place a heaping table spoonful of the yogurt into the melted chocolate and whisk to incorporate.  Whisk in the remaining yogurt in small batches until smooth. (It is really important take the chocolate off the heat and to only add a little yogurt at a time so that the yogurt doesn't curdle.)  Spoon ganche over cooled cake.  Allow to set for at least 20 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Another Pink Apron Baker Original Recipe! 

And perhaps you noticed The Pink Apron just got a make over!  I hope you like the new look.  I am very excited about it.  I feel like the new site is a bit easier to navigate. I also hope you liked hearing from Mr. Apron last week.  Mr. Apron will now be a regular contributor to the blog.  Every Thursday, you can expect to hear from Mr. Apron about his disasters in the kitchen, how he hates it when I sneak "healthy stuff" into his food and whatever else is on his mind.  Happy eating!

As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE. You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here: http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway