I've always loved baking, but olive oil cake is one recipe that truly captured my curiosity. There's something so alluring about the idea of incorporating this liquid gold into a sweet cake batter. The first time I took a bite of an authentic Italian olive oil cake years ago, I just knew I had to try making one myself.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
After some trial and error, I've landed on a version that I'm really proud of. It delivers on both health and flavor, marrying ingredients like whole wheat flour and honey.
You won't even notice the whole wheat, it just lends moisture. The star is definitively the olive oil, which gives the cake an almost fluffy texture and subtle fruity taste.
I love to garnish it simply with sliced pears and a drizzle of honey for some natural sweetness. The cardamom is optional, but it adds a lovely aroma. Baking this cake makes the whole house smell amazing!
Ingredients
- whole-wheat flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- round cardamom (optional)
- salt
- eggs
- vanilla extract or the seeds from one vanilla pod
- extra virgin olive oil
- honey *
- plain yoghurt
- pear
Equipment
You'll need a round 20cm (8 inch) cake pan for this recipe. An electric mixer is essential for the eggs, but a good old whisk will do just fine.
FAQs
Now, you might be asking, "Can I use regular flour?" or "Can I substitute the olive oil?"
While I prefer to use regular whole wheat flour, you can substitute all-purpose flour if you'd like. And while olive oil is traditional, you can also use vegetable or canola oil instead. The most important thing is enjoying the process and the end result!
Let me know if you give this olive oil cake a try. I'd love to hear how it turns out for you and any tweaks you make to the recipe to make it your own. Happy baking!
📖 Recipe
Honey & Pear Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- 1.5 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ tablespoon baking soda
- ⅓ tablespoon ground cardamom optional
- ¼ tablespoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or the seeds from one vanilla pod
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup honey *
- ¾ cup plain yoghurt
- 1 pear cored, unpeeled, cut into 8 slices
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190C).
- Prepare your cake pan by greasing and flouring it thoroughly. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cardamom (if using).
- In another bowl, beat the eggs with the vanilla using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Add the oil, honey, and yoghurt, mixing until just combined.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients in two batches, mixing just until combined each time. Remember, don't over-mix!
- Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan and arrange the pear slices on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until deep golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let it cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan before unmolding. Serve warm or at room temperature, drizzled with extra honey if desired.
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