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Chocolate Olive Oil Cake Recipe With Chocolate Ganache

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Dec 23, 2023 • 3 min read

Make rich and decadent chocolate olive oil cake with high-quality chocolate and olive oil. The cake is moist and dense, similar to a pound cake, with an earthy and fruity flavor. Serve chocolate olive oil cake with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

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What Is Chocolate Olive Oil Cake?

Chocolate olive oil cake is a classic olive oil cake with the addition of chocolate. Olive oil cake is naturally dairy-free, but some varieties of chocolate negate that. Use unsweetened cocoa powder, chocolate chips, or a chocolate ganache to flavor the olive oil cake. The fat in the olive oil creates a tender and moist cake without adding dairy, like buttermilk or sour cream, to the cake batter. Bake a chocolate olive oil cake in a loaf pan, a round cake pan, a bundt pan, or a springform pan, depending on the desired appearance.

Olive oil and chocolate are the main flavor components, so use good-quality ingredients. Olive oil adds a fruity, earthy taste to the cake, and the chocolate adds varying levels of sweetness and chocolate flavor, depending on the type of chocolate. The moist chocolate cake tastes like a regular chocolate cake with a hint of olive oil. Jump to recipe.

3 Tips for Making Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Use the tips below for earthy, fruity, and sweet chocolate olive oil cake:

  1. 1. Add espresso to the cake batter. Espresso in chocolate cake enhances the chocolate flavor rather than making the cake taste like coffee. Use instant espresso granules dissolved in boiling water or freshly brewed espresso.
  2. 2. Make a topping for the chocolate olive oil cake. Make a thick chocolate glaze with melted chocolate, milk, and powdered sugar to drizzle over the top of a bundt cake, loaf cake, or single-layer cake. Alternatively, make a chocolate ganache for a thicker topping or whipped ganache instead of buttercream frosting in a layer cake. A dollop of fresh whipped cream or whipped mascarpone cheese works, too.
  3. 3. Use cocoa powder in the cake batter. Add cocoa powder to the dry ingredients to impart a chocolatey flavor. It blends into the cake batter better than melted chocolate or chocolate chips. Use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-process for a deeper chocolate flavor.

Easy Chocolate Olive Oil Cake Recipe

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makes

1 8-inch round cake

prep time

15 min

total time

1 hr 25 min

cook time

1 hr 10 min

Ingredients

Note: The total time does not include 2 hours and 40 minutes of inactive time.

For the chocolate olive oil cake:

For the chocolate ganache:

Garnishes:

Make the chocolate olive oil cake:

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    Spray a round, 8-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottom of the cake pan with parchment paper.

  3. 3

    In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set the flour mixture aside.

  4. 4

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.

  5. 5

    Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.

  6. 6

    Add the olive oil, mixing until combined.

  7. 7

    Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.

  8. 8

    Bake the cake until golden brown, and a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean, about 1 hour.

  9. 9

    Cool the cake in the pan for about 10 minutes.

  10. 10

    Transfer the cake to a wire cooling rack to cool completely, about 2 hours.

Make the chocolate ganache:

  1. 1

    In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped chocolate.

  2. 2

    In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the heavy cream until tiny bubbles form around the edge, about 7 minutes.

  3. 3

    Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate and let it sit for about 3 minutes.

  4. 4

    Using a whisk or wooden spoon, stir the ganache until thick and smooth.

Glaze the chocolate olive oil cake:

  1. 1

    Place the wire rack with the cake on it on a baking sheet.

  2. 2

    Pour the chocolate ganache over the top of the cooled cake, letting it drip over the sides.

  3. 3

    Let the glaze set for about 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Garnish the cake with chocolate shavings and coarse sea salt.

  5. 5

    Cut and serve the olive oil cake.

  6. 6

    Cover leftover cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

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