Grapefruit-the forgotten citrus for baking

Have you ever wondered why they call it grapefruit when it has nothing to do with grapes and everything to do with beautiful citrus? The pink color is the prettiest color and brightens even the gloomiest of Spring days. 

Prince has a song that says, "Sometimes it snows in April," and as we grit our teeth and make it through this late-season Spring snowstorm. The snow especially feels hard after we have a few days of sunshine and warm temperatures. 

The bright pink colors belie the grapefruit's bitter and tart edge. I love the bitterness, and it has a flavor that wakes you up and makes you pay attention.

The best grapefruit comes from Texas. The Rio Star grapefruit is the sweetest and has great flavor. Lemon is a popular flavor in baked goods, but you have to wonder why we don't bake more with grapefruit. I would encourage you to give it a try.

This is a recipe inspired by the Smitten Kitchen, and I added our vanilla bean paste. Vanilla balances out the tartness, and it is the perfect Spring bake with zingy flavor. This easy-to-make loaf cake is great for breakfast and dessert.

Vanilla Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest (from ~1 large grapefruit)

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Project Organic Vanilla Extract

• ½ cup neutral oil 

• ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice

For the grapefruit syrup:

• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Project Organic Vanilla Bean Paste

For the glaze (optional but beautiful):

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2–3 tablespoons grapefruit juice

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Project Organic Vanilla Bean Paste

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Instructions

1. Prepare your pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the loaf pan with nonstick spray.

2. Build the flavor base

In a bowl, rub the grapefruit zest into the sugar until fragrant and slightly damp.
This releases the essential oils—don’t skip it.

Whisk in the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.

3. Bring it together

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gently.
Stir in the oil and grapefruit juice until fully incorporated.

4. Bake

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes, until golden and a tester comes out clean.

Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

5. Soak the cake

Take some parchment paper and put underneath the baking rack and put loaf on the baking rack.

While the cake is still warm, combine grapefruit juice, sugar, and vanilla bean paste for the syrup.

Poke small holes in the cake and slowly pour the syrup over the top, allowing it to absorb fully. The Parchment paper will catch the extra syrup.

6. Finish with glaze (optional)

Whisk powdered sugar with grapefruit juice and a touch of vanilla.

Drizzle over the cooled cake for a soft, glossy finish.