Regular Yogurt
- Weight
- 245g per cup
- Fat
- 3–5%
- Protein
- 3–4g per 100g
Texture: Pourable, smooth — like thick milk
Best for: Pancakes, muffins, cakes, marinades
Note: ⭐ Default for most baking recipes. Whole milk yogurt gives best results.
Convert yogurt grams to cups for regular, Greek, Skyr, and plant-based yogurt. Regular yogurt = 245g per cup. Greek yogurt = 280g per cup — 14% heavier due to straining. Includes a full conversion table, all yogurt types compared, regular vs Greek baking guide, DIY buttermilk recipe, and 10 FAQs.
Greek yogurt is strained to remove whey, making it significantly denser than regular yogurt (280g/cup vs 245g/cup). Substituting one for the other without adjusting the amount changes recipe moisture balance. Use the correct type — or adjust: ¾ cup Greek yogurt = 1 cup regular yogurt in most baking recipes.
| Grams | Regular Yogurt (245g/cup) | Greek Yogurt (280g/cup) |
|---|---|---|
| 30g | 0.12 cups | 0.11 cups |
| 50g | 0.20 cups | 0.18 cups |
| 61g ≈ ¼ cup regular | 0.25 cups | 0.22 cups |
| 70g ≈ ¼ cup Greek | 0.29 cups | 0.25 cups |
| 100g | 0.41 cups | 0.36 cups |
| 122g ≈ ½ cup regular | 0.50 cups | 0.44 cups |
| 140g ≈ ½ cup Greek | 0.57 cups | 0.50 cups |
| 150g | 0.61 cups | 0.54 cups |
| 184g ≈ ¾ cup regular | 0.75 cups | 0.66 cups |
| 200g | 0.82 cups | 0.71 cups |
| 210g ≈ ¾ cup Greek | 0.86 cups | 0.75 cups |
| 245g = 1 cup regular | 1.00 cups | 0.88 cups |
| 280g = 1 cup Greek | 1.14 cups | 1.00 cups |
| 300g | 1.22 cups | 1.07 cups |
| 500g | 2.04 cups | 1.79 cups |
| Type | g/cup | Fat % | Protein/100g | Thickness | Can Sub 1:1? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Yogurt | 245g | 3–5% | 3–4g | Pourable | ✅ Yes (baseline) | Pancakes, muffins, cakes, marinades |
| Greek Yogurt | 280g | 5–10% | 9–10g | Thick, spoonable | ⚠️ Use ¾ cup per 1 cup regular | Cheesecake, dips, frosting, marinades |
| Skyr | 285g | 0–1% | 11–17g | Very thick | ⚠️ Use ¾ cup per 1 cup regular | High-protein baking, savory dips, smoothies |
| Plant-Based Yogurt | 240–250g | 2–5% | 1–4g | Varies | ✅ Usually 1:1 | Vegan baking, smoothies, dairy-free recipes |
Texture: Pourable, smooth — like thick milk
Best for: Pancakes, muffins, cakes, marinades
Note: ⭐ Default for most baking recipes. Whole milk yogurt gives best results.
Texture: Thick, spoonable — like soft cream cheese
Best for: Cheesecake, dips, frosting, marinades
Note: 14% heavier per cup than regular yogurt. Use ¾ cup Greek yogurt to replace 1 cup regular.
Texture: Very thick, almost solid — like strained cream cheese
Best for: High-protein baking, savory dips, smoothies
Note: Very low fat produces drier baking results than full-fat yogurt. Best when protein matters most.
Texture: Varies — coconut yogurt is thick, oat is thinner
Best for: Vegan baking, smoothies, dairy-free recipes
Note: Lower protein can produce less structure. Coconut yogurt is closest to regular dairy yogurt.
Using 1 cup Greek yogurt where 1 cup regular yogurt is requested adds 35g more yogurt and more protein, which can make baked goods denser.
Greek yogurt is strained to remove whey. Thin it with 1 tbsp water per ¼ cup Greek yogurt to approximate regular yogurt.
Higher protein creates a chewier, more structured crumb — useful for protein pancakes, but less ideal for tender cakes.
Use ¾ cup of Greek yogurt + 2–3 tbsp water per 1 cup of regular yogurt. The water compensates for the lower moisture content of Greek yogurt. Mix the water into the Greek yogurt before adding it to the recipe.
Strain regular yogurt through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer for 30–60 minutes to remove whey. Alternatively, use the same volume of regular yogurt and expect a slightly moister, less rich result.
Recipe: ¾ cup regular yogurt + ¼ cup water = 1 cup buttermilk
Weight: 184g yogurt + 60g water = 244g
pH: ~4.0–4.5
Texture: Thin, pourable — matches buttermilk consistency
Best for: Pancakes, waffles, quick breads, cakes, and any recipe calling for buttermilk
Steps: Whisk yogurt and water together until smooth. Use immediately — do not let it sit.
Recipe: ½ cup Greek yogurt + ½ cup water = 1 cup buttermilk
Weight: 140g Greek yogurt + 120g water = 260g
pH: ~4.0–4.5
Texture: Slightly thicker than regular buttermilk
Best for: Same as above — slightly richer result
Steps: Whisk until completely smooth. Higher protein makes this substitute slightly more structured.
Recipe: 1 tbsp yogurt + 3 tbsp water = ¼ cup buttermilk
Weight: 15g yogurt + 45g water = 60g
pH: ~4.0–4.5
Texture: Thin and pourable
Best for: Recipes needing only a small amount of buttermilk
Steps: Whisk together until smooth. Use immediately.
Check the label: regular yogurt is pourable, Greek yogurt is thick and spoonable, and Skyr is very thick. This determines both the gram-per-cup value and the measuring method. Regular yogurt is 245g/cup; Greek yogurt is 280g/cup; Skyr is about 285g/cup.
Regular yogurt is thin enough to pour. Pour it into a liquid measuring jug, place it on a flat surface, and read at eye level. Stir first if liquid whey has separated on top; do not drain the whey unless the recipe says to.
Spoon Greek yogurt or Skyr into a dry measuring cup and press down firmly with a spatula to eliminate air pockets, the same technique used for sour cream and cream cheese. Level off with a straight edge.
Place your mixing bowl on a digital scale, tare to zero, and spoon or pour yogurt directly in until you reach the target weight. This is the most accurate method and is especially useful when substituting one yogurt type for another.
100 grams of regular yogurt equals approximately 0.41 cups, or just under half a cup. 100 grams of Greek yogurt equals approximately 0.36 cups because Greek yogurt is denser. In tablespoons, 100g regular yogurt is about 6.7 tablespoons, while 100g Greek yogurt is about 5.9 tablespoons.
1 cup of regular yogurt weighs approximately 245 grams. 1 cup of Greek yogurt weighs approximately 280 grams because straining removes water and concentrates solids. Skyr weighs about 285g per cup, and plant-based yogurt usually ranges from 240–250g per cup.
Yes, but not 1:1. Greek yogurt is 14% heavier per cup and contains less water. Use ¾ cup Greek yogurt plus 2–3 tablespoons of water per 1 cup regular yogurt. Without added water, the baked good may be denser and drier than intended.
Yes. Yogurt is one of the best buttermilk substitutes because it has similar acidity that activates baking soda. Mix ¾ cup regular yogurt with ¼ cup water to make 1 cup of buttermilk substitute. The result is slightly richer than buttermilk because yogurt has more fat.
Yes. Plain full-fat yogurt is the best 1:1 substitute for sour cream in baking. Both have similar acidity and protein. Yogurt has less fat than sour cream, so the result may be slightly less rich, while full-fat Greek yogurt is closer in thickness and fat.
100 grams of regular yogurt equals about 6.7 tablespoons. Use this quick reference: 1 tbsp = 15g, 2 tbsp = 30g, 4 tbsp = 61g, 8 tbsp = 122g, and 16 tbsp = 245g. For Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon is about 17.5g.
200 grams of regular yogurt equals approximately 0.82 cups, or just under 1 cup. 200 grams of Greek yogurt equals approximately 0.71 cups, or just over ¾ cup. This is a common amount in yogurt cake and muffin recipes.
Skyr is an Icelandic cultured dairy product sold and used like yogurt, though technically closer to fresh cheese. It is strained even more than Greek yogurt, making it very thick and high in protein at 11–17g per 100g, with near-zero fat. It can replace Greek yogurt 1:1 but produces drier, less rich baking results.
Yes. Full-fat yogurt produces moist, tender baked goods. Low-fat yogurt produces slightly drier results, and non-fat yogurt can make baked goods noticeably drier and tougher. For best baking results, use full-fat whole milk yogurt unless the recipe specifies otherwise.
Yes, with adjustments. Flavored yogurt contains added sugar and flavorings that affect sweetness and taste. Reduce recipe sugar by 2–3 tablespoons per cup of flavored yogurt. Vanilla yogurt works well in sweet baking; fruit-flavored yogurt should be used intentionally.
Best 1:1 substitute — same acidity, higher fat.
Higher fat dairy — richer substitute for yogurt in sauces.
Paired with Greek yogurt in cheesecake and dips.
Paired with yogurt in muffins and quick breads.
Primary pairing in yogurt cake and muffins.
Natural sweetener for yogurt parfaits and marinades.
Yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk all activate baking soda and add moisture — but they are not interchangeable without adjustments. Browse our ingredient database for accurate conversions and substitution guides for 200+ ingredients.