Italian Orange Olive Oil Cake: Moist & Delicious

Rich, moist and flavourful with a lovely bright scent of orange, using olive oil in cakes is a tradition in Mediterranean cooking that adds another level of richness and decadence to any cake. Even die-hard butter devotees can admit that olive oil makes exceptionally good cakes. And the flavour is very subtle. Exceptionally light and soft, this luscious Italian Orange Olive Oil Cake is not too sweet and lets the bold, fruity notes of delicate extra virgin olive oil shine through. You can spiff it up with lemon curd, whipped cream and berries or keep it traditionally simple with a dating if icing sugar, but just try and stop at just one slice.

Orange Olive Oil Cake

Serves 8-10

Recipe courtesy of Averie Cooks

1 1/3 cups extra-virgin olive oil

3 large eggs

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1 1/2 tbsp grated orange zest

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup Grand Marnier

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and line a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment paper, bottom and sides, then set aside. 

In a stand mixer, add the olive oil and eggs, and whisk well to emulsify. Add the milk, orange zest, orange juice, Grand Marnier and whisk until silky smooth. Add the sugar and blend until incorporated. Then add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and whisk until just combined, but don’t over-mix. The batter will be on the thin side, but this is normal.

Turn the batter out into the prepared springform pan, then place on a baking sheet, and bake for about 80 to 85 minutes. Start checking after 60 minutes as all ovens vary. The cake should be golden brown and domed in the centre when done, and a toothpick inserted in the centre will come out clean. 

Allow the cake to cool completely gonna wire rack before attempting to remove from the springform pan. To finish, dust with confectioners’ sugar prior to serving.