The Easiest 1-2-3-4 Cake – No Mixer, No Scale

This easy 1-2-3-4 cake is the kind of recipe everyone should have in their kitchen notebook. No mixer, no scale, and no complicated steps — just a bowl, a whisk, and a few basic ingredients measured by cups. It’s soft, fluffy, and incredibly forgiving, making it perfect for beginners or busy days when you want something homemade without stress.

The magic of the 1-2-3-4 method is its simplicity: 1 cup yogurt, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, and 4 eggs. The result is a tender, moist cake that works beautifully on its own or with optional chocolate chips for extra indulgence. This is a true everyday cake you’ll make again and again.

The Easiest 1-2-3-4 Cake – No Mixer, No Scale

Recipe by George Zolis

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: DessertCuisine: GreekDifficulty: Easy

Servings

12

slices

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

Calories

360

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

15

minutes

An ultra-easy homemade cake made with the 1-2-3-4 method. No mixer, no scale, just a bowl and simple ingredients for a fluffy, foolproof result.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

Metric US

• Cake Batter

• 1 cup 1 Plain Yogurt (200 g)

• 1 cup 1 Butter softened (250 g)

• 2 cups 2 Sugar (420 g)

• 3 cups 3 Self-Rising Flour (or all purpose flour + 2 tsp baking powder)

• 4 4 Eggs

• Optional

• 2 2 Vanillins

• 1/2 cup 1/2 Chocolate Sprinkles

How to make the Cake

• In a large bowl, add the sugar and eggs and whisk well using a hand whisk.
• Add the yogurt and mix until fully incorporated.
• Add the butter, vanilla (if using), flour, and baking powder (if not using self-rising flour). Mix until smooth.
• Gently fold the chocolate sprinkles into the batter using a spatula.
• Grease and flour a cake pan, pour in the batter, and spread it evenly.
• Preheat the oven to 320°F (160°C). Place the pan on the lower rack and bake using conventional heat for about 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Recipe video

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Why the 1-2-3-4 Method Works

This recipe relies on a balanced ratio of wet and dry ingredients, ensuring consistent results every time. Yogurt adds moisture and tenderness, while eggs provide structure and richness. Because everything is measured by cups, there’s no need for a kitchen scale — perfect for everyday home baking.

No Mixer, No Problem

Using a hand whisk keeps the batter light and prevents overmixing. This method is ideal if you don’t own a stand mixer or simply want fewer dishes to wash.

Texture & Flavor

The finished cake is soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet, with a tender crumb that stays moist for days. Adding chocolate sprinkles or chips gives little bursts of chocolate in every bite, but the base recipe works just as well without them.

When to Serve This Cake

This is a versatile cake that works for:

• Breakfast with coffee
• Afternoon snack
• Kids’ lunchboxes
• Simple desserts with powdered sugar on top