Orange Olive Oil Cake

This Orange Olive Oil Cake is light, perfectly moist, and packed with zesty orange flavor. Perfect for a special occasion but easy enough to make for an everyday treat!

Jump to:

• How to Make An Orange Olive Oil Cake 
• Helpful Tools
• Helpful Tips & Variations
• FAQs
• More Tasty Desserts
• 📖 Recipe

Olive oil in a cake? Ok, it might sound a little unconventional but I promise that your taste buds will totally approve. Replacing butter with olive oil tends to produce a cake with a softer texture that stays mor moist than a cake made with butter - thanks to the extra fat in the olive oil!

This particular olive oil cake is loaded up with fresh flavor from orange juice and zest, for a totally delicious anytime treat.

This Orange Olive Oil Cake is:

• Made from scratch with fresh ingredients.
• Moist & flavorful.
• Great for a special occasion dessert.
• Beautiful!

And if you love this recipe, you might also enjoy my lemon blueberry bundt cake, caramelized orange and cardamom upside down cake, or this vegan lemon cake!

How to Make An Orange Olive Oil Cake 

Full steps along with measurements are at the bottom of the post. This is a quick walk through on how it is made. 

1. Preheat and prep the 9" pan. Set aside. 
2. Next in a bowl add dry ingredients together. Toss and set aside. 
3. In a bowl add your sugar, oil, and orange juice and zest. Mix well then add in the eggs. 
4. Once smooth work in the flour and sour cream. 
5. Pour into the baking pan and bake in a preheated oven. 
6. Once done, let cool and then dust with powdered sugar and orange slices. 

Helpful Tools

9" Pan Baking Pan

I used a 9" round cake pan for this olive oil cake. You will find it is a thinner cake, so a shallower pan will work just fine. You could also get away with an 8" baking pan if needed, but may need to increase the baking time slightly.

Stand Mixer 

You can whisk this cake batter by hand if desired, but a stand mixer will certainly cut down on time and energy needed. I love my KitchenAid Classic Mixer.

Zester 

You will want to buy a zester (like this one!) so you can get the peel off the orange easily. They are pretty affordable and very handy to use for any recipes that calls for citrus zest.

Parchment Rounds 

You can buy pre-shaped parchment rounds to place in the bottom of the round cake pan. These are super handy and way easier than cutting them to size from a larger sheet of parchment paper.

Helpful Tips & Variations

Mix the zest and sugar first.

To maximize the orange-y goodness, mix the orange zest and sugar together in a bowl before adding the other ingredients. This helps the zest release all the flavorful oils. Let it sit 1-2 minutes then add it into the other ingredients. 

Add Toppings

This orange olive oil cake can be served plain or with toppings such as whipped cream, slices of fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Use Blood Oranges 

Substitute blood oranges instead of regular oranges to give the cake a unique and even more vibrant color.

Make it a Chocolate Orange Cake

Add 2 tablespoon of cocoa powder to the cake batter for a chocolate orange cake. Or fold in some chocolate chips for another chocolatey option.

Spiced Cake 

Add warming spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to the cake batter to give it an extra warm and comforting flavor that pairs well with the orange zest and juice. This version is great for serving in the Fall!

FAQs

What does orange olive oil cake taste like?

Orange olive oil cake has a unique flavor that is sweet, moist, and citrusy, with a subtle hint of olive oil. The orange flavor comes from the fresh orange juice and zest that is added to the cake batter, which gives it a bright and zesty taste. The olive oil adds a rich and slightly nutty flavor to the cake, which complements the orange flavor well. The texture of the cake is typically dense and moist, with a tender crumb that is not overly sweet.

How do you store this olive oil cake? 

Orange olive oil cake will keep for up to 3-4 days at room temperature. Store it in a covered container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap. After that, the cake may start to dry out and lose its flavor.

Can I use a 9"x13" pan instead of a 9" round pan?

Yes, you can double the recipe and bake it in a 9" x 13" inch baking pan instead of a 9-inch round pan. Doubling the recipe and using a larger pan will affect the baking time. You will need to increase the baking time by 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

More Tasty Desserts

If you love this Orange Olive Oil cake, you might want to check out these other delicious dessert ideas:

• 35 Refreshing Summer Desserts
• Cranberry Orange Muffins
• Chocolate Orange Mousse
• Blood Orangecello Liqueur

📖 Recipe