Orange Olive Oil Cake

Name: ORANGE OLIVE OIL CAKE RECIPE
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4 cup olive oil (160g); 1/2 cup milk (120g); 1/2 cup sour cream (120g); 3 large eggs; Zest of 1 large orange; 1/2 cup freshly squeezed juice (120g); 1 tsp vanilla; 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar (275g) + more to sprinkle on top; 1 2/3 cups all purpose flour (220g); 1/4 cup cornstarch (33g); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; Powdered sugar to garnish

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This Orange Olive Oil Cake is a one bowl wonder: tender, moist, citrusy, and incredibly easy to make. The cake takes just 10 minutes of work with easy to access ingredients, and is bursting with the delicious flavor of olive oil balanced with the freshness of oranges. It is a great last minute dessert for brunches, teas, or any other parties you are hosting.

orange olive oil cake on a white cake stand, dusted with powdered sugar and decorated with lemon zest. cake has a beautiful golden color. Oranges placed on the side, oliv eoil bottle in the back

Olive oil cakes gained popularity a few years ago when the Kardashians started sharing them. Since then, many recipes have been shared across the internet, but most use a lot of olive oil, which is not only an expensive ingredient, but also makes the flavor too strong and the texture a bit greasy. I prefer this recipe as it uses less olive oil than most, resulting in a more balanced flavor and texture.

Read the full blog post below for detailed notes, tips, tricks, photos and videos.

WHAT DOES AN ORANGE OLIVE OIL CAKE TASTE LIKE?

Surprisingly, this cake tastes like orange and olive oil! Imagine a classic vanilla butter cake, then make it more moist and tender, more citrusy with a fresh orange flavor, and add the earthy flavor of olive oil. It is a beautiful, sophisticated flavor.

That being said, it might not be for everyone. If you don't like the flavor of olive oil, you probably won't love the flavor of this cake. In that case, I recommend checking out my Easy Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake recipe instead!

a slice of orange olive oil cake on a small plate painted with lemons. The cake is dusted with powdered sugar and looks really moist inside. oranges in the background

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

For this Orange Olive Oil cake, you will need the following ingredients (exact quantities are provided in the recipe card at the bottom of this post):

Olive oil - I used Palestinian olive oil from Canaan Palestine. This olive oil is extracted from centuries old olive trees in the West Bank, and is the best olive oil I have ever tasted. I strongly recommend trying it out and supporting the Palestinian business! It is also available on Amazon here
Whole milk
Sour cream - this adds a fresh flavor and moisture. You can replace it with Greek yogurt too
Eggs
Orange zest and juice. You can use any oranges you like, but I love navel and blood oranges
Vanilla
Granulated sugar
All purpose flour
Cornstarch - this helps reduce the protein content in the flour, making the cake more tender. In some countries it is called cornflour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt

partial picture of an orange olive oil cake on a white cake stand, dusted with powdered sugar and decorated with lemon zest. cake has a beautiful golden color. Oranges placed on the side, oliv eoil bottle in the back

HOW TO MAKE ORANGE OLIVE OIL CAKE

Check out this quick video in which I show the recipe:

Now, let's go over the steps quickly. It doesn't get much simpler than this recipe:

Mix all the wet ingredients in a bowl, and whisk together until combined
Add the sugar and whisk it in - you don't need to do this for too long
Sift in the remaining dry ingredients and gently fold until combined
Pour the batter into a cake tin, and sprinkle over some more sugar on the top
Bake, and allow to come to room temperature
Dust with powdered sugar & serve!

See - simple!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I substitute the olive oil with butter?

No, I don't recommend substituting the olive oil with butter, as butter and oil have different fat content and different types of fat, leading to different outcomes.

I don't like the flavor of olive oil. Can I use a different type of oil?

Yes. If you don't like the flavor of olive oil but still want to enjoy a yummy orange cake, you can substitute it with vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.

What is a substitute for orange in this recipe?

You can substitute the orange for lemon or another citrus fruit (e.g., grapefruit) but don't skip it.

What is a substitute for eggs?

You can use flax seed eggs in this recipe. For every 1 egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoon of water. Stir ad refrigerate for 10 minutes, then use just like the eggs.

What is a substitute for sour cream?

You can substitute the sour cream with greek yogurt or plain full fat yogurt in this recipe.

Can this cake be made ahead?

Yes, you can make this cake ahead of time. Dust with powdered sugar right before serving, though, as it gets absorbed over time.

How to store this orange olive oil cake?

Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months.

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