This orange olive oil cake is fresh and moist, with a touch of citrus. The best version of this cake must abide by one rule: use real, high-quality extra virgin olive oil and all its aromas will shine beautifully. After all, olive oil is the cake cheat code. But don’t just take our word for it: the food connoisseurs at TASTE say so:

“A good drizzle of peppery, high-quality oil can help even true amateur bakers dream outside the figurative flavor box, balancing sweetness without overcomplicating the process. A bonus: It guarantees a remarkably perfect crumb. If you’re seeking out a riffable cake recipe that will taste even better the next day, your best bet is to begin with a cup of olive oil in hand. “

We used Quinta Luna EVOO from Umbria for a fruity, rich result that pairs marvelously with the orangey notes. We love to toast the slices a little before serving. If you want to really indulge yourself, slather on some citrus marmalade by Caffè Sicilia for a match made in heaven.

Ingredients

YIELD: One 9-inch cake or a 8 x 4-inch loaf pan
TIME: about 1 hour

  • Sicilian Maiorca flour, 250g / 2 cups
  • 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 300g / 1 1/2 cups
  • Fine sea salt, 1 1/2 tsps
  • Baking powder, 1/2 tsp
  • Baking soda, 1/2 tsp
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 240ml / 1 cup
  • Whole milk, 300ml / 1 1/4 cups
  • Eggs, 3
  • Grand Marnier, 3 Tbsp (but Limoncello, Cointreau, Solerno, or any other citrusy liqueur will also work)
  • Orange zest, 1 1/2 Tbsps, finely grated
  • Fresh orange juice, 60ml / 1/4 cup
  • Sicilian orange marmelade, to taste

BUY ALL INGREDIENTS HERE

Preparation

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Coat a loaf or cake pan with some of the olive oil and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl, combine together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
  4. In another bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, milk, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and liqueur. Whisk until smooth.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones. Whisk slowly until smooth, then pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  6. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

orange olive oil cake

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