serves 8 to 10
One of my favorite wedding gifts is a whimsical, undulating porcelain cake stand with a domed glass cover. Presiding over the counter like an elegant dowager, its presence cajoles: “Isn’t it time to make some lovely cake?”
For a cake enthusiast like myself, the answer is always yes, and I’ve been building up a small repertoire of quick, easy cakes that I can whip up without turning on (and later cleaning) the food processor or electric mixer.
The key is using liquid fat (melted butter or oil) that doesn’t require creaming, and chemical leavening (baking powder and/or soda) to eliminate the vigorous beating of eggs.
This recipe is similar to a pound cake, with a sweet, buttery crumb that melds well with the pecans and chocolate—almost like a big, soft chocolate chip cookie in sliceable form. Using melted butter for the fat means the results aren’t as light textured as oil-based cakes, but they do have a richer, more complex flavor.
Simple cakes like this have made it possible to keep my cake stand occupied for the better part of my marriage, and that, in turn, keeps everyone happy.
1 cup sugar
⅔ cup plain full-fat yogurt
3 large eggs
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅔ cup unsalted butter, melted
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup chopped toasted pecans
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and yogurt. Add the eggs, one at a time, and whisk until completely combined.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry mixture into the wet and mix until just combined.
4. Using a spatula, fold in the melted butter a little at a time. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans.
5. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool to room temperature, right-side up.