Olive Oil Cake Recipe With Easy Citrus Glaze

Olive oil cake is a rich cake moistened with olive oil, similar to a pound cake. The crumb is tight and dense, but the cake is moist and tender. Since olive oil is the main flavor component in this cake, use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil. Bake the cake in a bundt pan, loaf pan, springform pan, or round cake pan, depending on preference. There are various versions of olive oil cake, ranging from flat and bread-like, to moist and fluffy, like the famous Italian version. Jump to recipe.

Olive oil cake tastes like a moist vanilla cake with a fruity, earthy element from olive oil. Much like buttermilk adds a tangy flavor and tender texture to cakes, olive oil adds a moist texture without an overwhelming taste. Lemon zest, orange zest, and fresh berries are common additions to olive oil cake because those flavors complement olive oil.

Olive oil cake works with other flavors, like citrus, chocolate, and fresh fruit. Try any of the four variations of olive oil cake below:

1. 1. Chocolate olive oil cake: Olive oil and chocolate are decadent flavors that work well in cakes. Use unsweetened cocoa powder for a deep chocolate flavor and extra-virgin olive for a fruity flavor. Glaze the cake with chocolate ganache for an extra chocolate flavor.
2. 2. Lemon olive oil cake: Lemon olive oil cake tastes bright, grassy, and tart, with just the right balance of sourness from the fresh lemon and fat from the olive oil. The oil and lemon flavors balance each other out, so the cake isn’t overly rich or sweet. Lemon olive oil cake also tastes great when glazed; topped with whipped cream, blueberries, and raspberries; or served with a honeyed citrus fruit salad with fresh mint.
3. 3. Olive oil layer cake: Make two round olive oil cakes and layer them with buttercream frosting or whipped cream. Flavor the frosting with citrus zest and juice, fresh berries, or leave it plain. Frost the whole cake or just between the layers for a rustic look.
4. 4. Orange olive oil cake: Orange olive oil cake is a dessert featuring olive oil and the juice and zest of fresh oranges. This citrus cake has a dense, moist crumb and a fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth texture, similar to a pound cake, and relies on olive oil as the primary fat component instead of dairy products like butter, milk, or sour cream. Learn how to make orange olive oil cake.

Use the three tips below for making moist, dense, and fruity olive oil cake:

1. 1. Add cake flour to the dry ingredients. Since olive oil cake tends to be denser than other cakes, add cake flour to the dry ingredients for a light and airy cake. Use a combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour so the cake has structure.
2. 2. Glaze the olive oil cake. To add more sweetness to the top of the cake, make a thick glaze with powdered sugar, buttermilk, and optional lemon juice or orange juice. Cool the cake to room temperature before pouring the glaze, so it sticks to the cake rather than soaking in.
3. 3. Use high-quality olive oil. Olive oil is one of the main ingredients of this cake, so use the highest quality olive oil available. The olive oil in the cake balances with the other flavor components, so extra-virgin olive oil is standard, but for a more mild olive oil taste, use virgin olive oil.