A few weeks ago, I talked a little about waste, and food waste in particular.
When I posted this arugula salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, I discussed how I ended up repurposing leftover grapefruit from a cake. Well people, this is the cake!
I’m a major blog reader. Following food blogs was how I got the idea of starting my own, and it’s a habit I’ve only developed further after creating Whisk & Shout.
However, I so rarely actually make things from the blogs I follow. Not because they’re lacking in appeal (not at ALL,  my weekly obsessions series attests to the deliciousness), but because I’m always so busy developing my own recipes that I infrequently actually bake or cook something just “for fun”.
I put this in quotes because recipe development is super fun, but just like any job, when it’s all you do, sometimes you just need to switch it up. One of mine (and I’m sure everyone’s) favorite blogs to read is Smitten Kitchen, and I came across this grapefruit yogurt cake just by surfing the web.
I baked with Greek yogurt for the first time over my winter break and I totally loved it- I knew that I had to try the recipe! Of course, like any food blogger, I wasn’t exactly true to the recipe. I made some swaps, some by necessity, some by choice, in order to make this cake a little healthier.
Firstly, I used white whole wheat flour in place of all purpose. I used egg whites instead of whole eggs, and coconut oil in place of canola oil. While I used cane sugar, I could totally see a delicious outcome with a coconut sugar swap. This cake is moist and tender and seriously packed with grapefruit flavor! The fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice “glaze” on top locks in the flavors and creates a seriously delicious texture. Enjoy!
- 1½ cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup pure cane sugar + 2 tsp, divided
- ½ cup egg whites (= 3 eggs)
- 1 tablespoon grated grapefruit zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 tsp powdered sugar
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease line a loaf pan with parchment paper
- Combine yogurt, one cup sugar, egg whites, zest, and vanilla in a large bowl with a whisk.
- Whisk in flour, salt, and baking powder until well combined.
- With a rubber spatula, incorporate coconut oil until completely mixed in.
- Transfer batter to your prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, combine grapefruit juice and 2 tsp sugar in a small saucepan and mix over medium heat until sugar is dissolved,
- Pour over warm cake and let cool for 10-20 minutes.
- Remove cake from pan and dust with powdered sugar before serving!
*adapted from here
Food waste is such an important issue: I’m glad you addressed this. And what a great idea! We all could learn something from you and make this cake in the process 🙂 Pinned for later use.
Thanks so much for the pin!
Oh this is such a pretty cake, Medha! I love the grapefruit flavor! I always love baking with yogurt, too. Sounds so flavorful!
Thanks, Gayle!
Yum!! Grapefruit cake sounds wonderful. I love that you made a lightened up version. I can’t wait to give it a try!
Thanks 🙂
I love all your repurposing, Medha! This cake looks amazingly delicious!
Thank you!
What a delicious way to use up that leftover grapefruit! The texture looks perfect. And yes, Smitten Kitchen is the OG of food bloggers. I love her site!
Thanks 🙂
That is one gorgeous cake, Medha! I can imagine its light citrusy flavor. My mouth is actually watering for a piece!
Same 🙂
Looks great! I have started grating and freezing my orange and lemon zest so as not to waste; it’s working out really well. I need to remember about grapefruit because I do eat and enjoy them. I’ve tried both lemon and orange yogurt cakes (Ina Garten) and they were great; I’m sure grapefruit is delicious!
That’s such a great idea! Do you just freeze the zest in ziploc bags and then defrost the bags?
I’ve made (and eaten of course) the Smitten Kitchen version (delicious), but I love your lightened up and healthier take on it 😛 Might just have to make it again!
Thanks, Lu! LMK how you like it 🙂
I eat grapefruit very often! This bread looks fantastic! Will try it soon!!!
Thanks!
This looks delicious Medha! Citrus-y and decadent without all the guilt! I am putting it on my list to try. YUM.
Thank you 🙂
I love citrus cake and this lighter yogurt cake looks too good to resist! I am obsessed with grapefruit but don’t bake with it as much as I should. I need to try this soon!
Aw thanks, Ashley!
What a pretty cake!!! I bake so often with orange but I seem to always forget about grapefruit … silly silly me!
Right?! But oranges are great, too 🙂
I hear ya, girl. I’m too busy making my own stuff! And then I see incredible desserts like this one and I think, hey yeah. I should make that! But there’s no time…
Still love the cake, though!
I feel that! Thanks 🙂
Smitten Kitchen IS a great blog! I love that you took their recipe and made it your own.. AND lightened it up in the process!! Woot Woot to that! This cake looks absolutely delicious, Medha! Such a fabulous way to re-purpose grapefruit! I’ll take the whole cake please 🙂 Cheers, dear!
Thanks!
LOVE this lighter grapefruit yogurt cake and Smitten Kitchen!!!! Beautiful!
Thanks 🙂
This cake is gorgeous – and I love citrusy cakes, so I can only imagine how great the grapefruit and yogurt taste together. I need to bake with grapefruit more, you’ve inspired me! Love the photos too- it really makes you focus on how beautiful the cake is!
Thank you! 🙂
I tend to kind of forget to bake just for fun too, but it’s so relaxing when I bake for myself or others and not the blog. I love grapefruit too, but I rarely ever bake with it. I think that needs to change though because this looks fantastic!
Thanks, Danielle!
all kinds of waste makes me so sad. I will reuse a ziploc bag like 8 times before i recycle it. love that you used all parts of the grapefruit! so many people can learn from you!
Thanks!
I love this idea! I’ve always wanted to use grapefruit in baking, but never have–I totally love this though! I can’t wait to try!
Thanks 🙂
this sounds wonderful, now all I need is a cup of coffee!
Thank you!
What a delicious and unique cake! I’ve never had a cake with grapefruit juice and zest in it before. Wonderful!
Thanks!!
Smitten Kitchen was one of the first blogs I started reading — it’s full of delicious recipes! I love the looks of this cake and that it’s lightened up with Greek yogurt. I need to bake with grapefruit more!
Thanks 🙂
That’s the fun of making recipes, right? Making them your own through ingredient swaps and enhancing flavors! I HEAR you on testing recipes all the time … I try to cook at least 3x per week for fun, with no recording or writing ingredients or measurements. It’s working so far. This cake looks fabulous Medha! I’ve never made a cake with grapefruit, but it sounds sooo good!
Thanks! I need to do that, too 🙂
Not wasting has always been one of the ways I keep our food budget low. I love that you do it too. When I’m looking for a way to “use up” a few goodies, I’ll often throw them into Google too and see what I can find. And, goodness you scored. I can’t wait to give this a try. It would make a great hostess gift.
Ooh what I great idea! Whenever we have leftover veggies, I make fried rice 🙂
I need to bake from blogs myself more and I love this cake. Can I just have the whole loaf!!
YES!