Description
Ina Garten’s olive oil cake combines Mediterranean flavors with elegant simplicity. Moist crumb and delicate citrus notes create a memorable dessert that transports palates to sunny coastal landscapes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tbsps (45 mL) lemon juice
- ⅔ cup (160 mL) olive oil
- ½ cup (120 mL) Greek yogurt
- 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
Instructions
- Preparation: Generously coat a 9-inch round cake pan with olive oil, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Dry Mixture: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, sifting together to create a uniform powdery blend.
- Wet Integration: Form a central well in the dry ingredients and add whole eggs, Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest, whisking with sweeping motions until the batter becomes silky and homogeneous.
- Baking Process: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to eliminate air bubbles, then place in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes.
- Doneness Check: Test cake’s readiness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean; let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
- Finishing Touch: Once cooled to room temperature, optionally garnish with fresh blueberries and a dollop of Greek yogurt before serving.
Notes
- Olive Oil Selection: Choose a high-quality, extra virgin olive oil with a mild flavor to enhance the cake’s delicate taste without overpowering other ingredients.
- Whisking Technique: Mix ingredients gently but thoroughly, avoiding overmixing to prevent a dense, tough cake texture.
- Temperature Precision: Allow eggs and yogurt to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother batter and more even baking.
- Zest and Juice Tip: Grate lemon zest before juicing to maximize flavor extraction and prevent dry citrus segments.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg