I hate to be Debbie Downer, but I must share some disheartening news with you about olive oil. The extra-virgin olive oil you find at your local supermarket very likely is not extra-virgin at all. It turns out that the USDA doesn’t even recognize classifications such as “extra-virgin.” As a result, bottlers all over the world can blend olive oil with cheaper vegetable oils and sell it for a premium price as “extra-virgin.” If you care to learn more about the widespread fraud in the olive oil industry read this: Slippery Business, The New Yorker, August 13, 2007.
A recent visit to the Temecula Olive Oil Company’s shop forever changed how I think about olive oil. I learned so many incredible things, but I cannot, I regret, share them all with you at this moment. You’ll just have to trust me that the company is awesome, their olive oil is delicious, and, as with all foods it seems, it pays to know your grower.
Now, about this recipe. I made this cake — a longtime family favorite — using the TOOC’s citrus extra-virgin oil, and never has it tasted so delicious. I didn’t even use fresh-squeezed orange juice (the horror!). As you can see, I baked this batch in my mini springform pans, but a standard 9-inch springform pan works just as well. This cake puffs up a touch when it bakes, and sinks slightly when it cools. It is moist and delicious, perfect with coffee or tea, and only needs a dusting of powdered sugar to make it fit for consumption.
Note: If you cannot get TOOC extra-virgin olive oil or any other extra-virgin oil you know to be from a credible source, use an olive oil as opposed to an extra-virgin olive oil. I’ve made this cake with e.v.o.o. from the grocery store and the taste is too overpowering. That is not the case, however, with TOOC oil.
Oh, and apparently it’s tradition to make a cake on Election Day. My mother recently emailed me an article that offers several accounts of the cake’s history, which dates to 1771.
Oh, and if you’re looking to bake a traditional Election Day cake next Tuesday, here’s a recipe:
Election Cake - Thirty quarts of flour, 10 pound butter, 14 pound sugar, 12 pound raisins, 3 doz eggs, one pint wine, one quart brandy, 4 ounces cinnamon, 4 ounces fine colander seed, 3 ounces ground alspice; wet flour with milk to the consistence of bread over night, adding one quart yeast; the next morning work the butter and sugar together for half an hour, which will render the cake much lighter and whiter; when it has rise light work in every other ingredient except the plumbs, which work in when going into the oven.
Recipe from Amelia Simmon’s cookbook American Cookery, 2nd Edition, 1796.
Orange And Olive Oil Cake
Yield = One 9-inch cake or six 4-inch cakes, Serves 10-12 people
Butter for greasing the pan
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1¾ cups sugar
2 tsp. grated orange zest
2/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (the juice from about 2 oranges)
2/3 cup olive oil, such as any made by the Temecula Olive Oil Company,
1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Butter a springform pan (or pans) or a 9-inch cake pan. (If using a cake pan, place a round of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.)
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. With an electric mixer, beat the eggs until blended, then gradually add in the sugar, beating until thick. The mixture will be pale yellow. In a separate bowl, whisk the zest, juice and oil. Add to the egg mixture in thirds alternating with the flour mixture.
4. Spread batter into pan and bake for about 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack for 15 minutes.
5. Sift confectioners’ sugar over top before cutting and serving.
Print This Recipe
Browse Timeline
Comments ( 45 )
Manggy added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 1:39 amOoh, I’ve had lemon olive oil cake before, and it’s so delightfully moist and light. Yours look beautiful; just lemme get my 10 pounds butter together
I didn’t know that about extra-virgin olive oil (no, I won’t use the acronym); will have to check my labels now, thanks.
VeggieGirl added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 4:39 amInteresting info on the oil! Thanks!
Lovely cake!
RecipeGirl added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 6:36 amWhen I saw your first picture, I had to do a double take… it looks like something I took out of the oven last night! I’ll blog about that later… it was much different than yours (but it did have olive oil in it!)
Thanks for the story about election day cake. The things you never knew?
And yet another place I’ll have to add to my list of foodie places to visit in SoCal! A trip to Temecula is always a treat if there is wine involved
Any Little Reason added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 8:21 amI love those mini springform pans - how cute! The cake looks delicious!
Sharon added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 8:40 amThanks for the tip about the olive oil. I see there’s a Temecula Olive Oil shop in SD so I will have to check it out!
Karen added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 9:22 amThis sounds (and looks) great! I’ve already bookmared Temecula Olive Oil Co in my favorites… going to check them out.
blueberryhil added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 9:25 amThank you so much for the information about olive oil. I had no idea!
I would like to reccommend another olive oil producer: Sciabica. They are a wonderful, family run operation based in Modesto, CA. I can personally attest to both the character of the owners and the quality of the olive oil. You can buy their oil at their flagship store in Modesto, at a variety of Northern California farmers markets, or online.
Alice Q. Foodie added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 9:34 amThose are beautiful Alexandra! I love their olive oil. I discovered it when I stopped by their cute little shop in Temecula a couple of months ago. It’s almost too good to cook with (baking excluded) but so good for salads, etc!
The Food Librarian added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 11:01 amThis is stunning! Just lovely. I have a cup of tea in my hand and want to reach into the computer and grab a piece!
Patsyk added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 11:55 amWow! I didn’t realize that they could get away with labeling the olive oils that way. Thanks for the info!
The cakes look adorable! I need to get some mini springform pans!
Bake your cake and eat it too added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 11:58 amHuh. That is good to know about the olive oil and I have been wondering about that since the other night I made some artisan bread and dipped it in “EVOO” and it was just SO bitter nad overpowering. Now I know why! Thanks! Lovely cakes.
Joe Horn added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 12:21 pmthanks for the link to the article. I’ve heard this before, but never had the chance to do the research. All the more reason to buy local!
Thanks
The Blonde Duck added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 12:24 pmI’m so glad you said that! That’s terrible that I’ve been buying “good” extra virgin olive oil that’s probably just veggie oil and olive oil! Bah Humbug!
And the pirate ship would have freaked me out too…
Rosa's Yummy Yums added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 12:41 pmWhat wonderful cakes! They must have a delightful flavor! I love their texture…
Cheers,
Rosa
Sara added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 1:06 pmI have always wanted to make an olive oil cake - I even have blood orange olive oil at home, I bet it would be fabulous in this recipe.
Maris added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 2:05 pmI’d never heard of baking cake with olive oil until I started reading food blogs. I definitely need to try this ASAP!
Mama JJ added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 6:09 pmSo what’s the difference between using plain olive oil (I don’t have the fancy stuff) and canola oil? I mean, what does the oil do to the cake to make it so special? In other words, if you were to bake two cakes, one with the plain olive oil and one with canola oil, what would the difference be?
Very interesting info on the olive oil—thanks for tipping us off.
-JJ
Bunny added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 7:53 pmThis cakes look beautiful,they’re perfect. Thanks for the information about the oil oil,I didn’t know that!
Gigi added these pithy words on Oct 31 08 at 9:17 pmGreat looking cakes Alexandra! And thanks for info on the olive oil. I am bookmarking this recipe for election night. I have a friend whose birthday is Nov. 4th and she does not like icing on cake and this sounds perfect for her!
Meg added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 4:18 amWhat a delicious cake! Thanks for the heads up about olive oil! Good to know!
Grace added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 7:10 amthe debbie downer sketches crack me up. sadly, i’ve never had olive oil cake (or true extra-virgin olive oil, i suspect), but your creations look great.
Foodycat added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 2:31 pmI guess you are supposed to have a lot of guests around for the election cake!
Your cakes look absolutely beautiful.
Helene added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 6:00 pmThis looks so yummy. It’s good to know about the olive oil.
noble pig added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 6:43 pmWhat interesting news about EVOO, I would love to try the Temecula Oil, I think I’ll order some. The cake sounds divine.
Bea added these pithy words on Nov 01 08 at 7:45 pmI love the Temecula Olive Oil Company! We visited with my husband and both our parents last spring–a weekend in Temecula–and it was wonderful! Olive Oil tasting, now that was different. We learned a lot, and bought a few bottles too. The citrus olive oil is AWSOME! A little goes a long way and the smell and flavor are just perfect. Good thing they ship since we now live in DC.
Peter M added these pithy words on Nov 02 08 at 3:07 pmThe NY Times article I know and one should be skeptical of those cheap bottles of olive oil. I use reg. olive oil for cooking, the x-tra virgin stuff for finishing meals or salads.
I assume you used reg/ olive oil here?
Emiline added these pithy words on Nov 02 08 at 6:44 pmI didn’t know what about olive oil… thanks.
I love the stuff, though. Is drinking it wrong? Cause it’s good for your hair, you know.
Come on! That cake looks amazing!
Jacque added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 7:56 amLOL, I’m not sure I’ll be getting to that old-fashioned election day cake anytime soon. Sounds interesting though.
Your cakes sound and look wonderful. How exciting for you to learn about olive oil and to have a reliable source available.
Cassoulet Cafe added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 9:02 amI will make this tomorrow! (We have company coming over)
This looks wonderful.I am not surprised about the credibility of olive oil ….claims to be EV. I have gotten so many nasty tasting bottles of EVOO over the years. If we can’t get the Temecula, what brand do you recommend?
And when you say “use olive oil” do you mean the light kind that doesn’t say EV?
Clumbsy Cookie added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 10:31 amOlive oil is sooooooooo good and I can imagine it’s even better with orange! They look lovely!
Maria added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 12:33 pmOlive oil in cake, never tried it…it looks lovely!!
Ruth added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 4:46 pmYour cake looks fantastic and sounds delcious. Your photos are out of this world!
ttfn300 added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 5:53 pmholy geez, i’ll take some cake! and those mini springform pans!! so neat
giz added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 8:57 pmI would certainly now like to learn more about the olive oil industry.
Your cakes are beautiful and I love that they’re in small sizes.
eliza added these pithy words on Nov 03 08 at 10:21 pmmmm…mmm…looks very yummy! it’s so disheartening to hear about the oil, but i guess i need to visit TOO next time i visit CA
Natalie added these pithy words on Nov 07 08 at 2:15 pmThis cake was SO good! I used an Australian evoo that I found in my local Harris Teeter called “Njoi”. It was very good, not too overpowering at all. The cake cleared out fast at our election party!
Kim added these pithy words on Nov 08 08 at 6:02 amI have never had an olive oil cake before though have been tempted. Your version with the organge sounds really good. Love your photos and this is on my must make soon list. Thanks!
alexandra's kitchen added these pithy words on Nov 08 08 at 8:02 amNatalie, that makes me so happy! I am so glad you had success with the olive oil cake!
Sophie added these pithy words on Mar 11 09 at 6:43 amHello, Your mini cakes look so appetizing, Alexandra!!! MMMMMMMMMM…
tswrmbrakb added these pithy words on Apr 27 09 at 4:25 pmxGVr7H brtaibygwfpb, [url=http://svtfhyqffxpp.com/]svtfhyqffxpp[/url], [link=http://iwtzrmufppih.com/]iwtzrmufppih[/link], http://auwahfpsvzjj.com/
volks added these pithy words on Apr 29 09 at 2:17 am; generic viagra xucsd; viagra czw; ambien ogtiz; xanax =-]]]; tramadol 8-]; cialis xrzpty; propecia wnha;
jonn1 added these pithy words on Apr 30 09 at 9:02 am; buy tamiflu =-))); tamiflu ohpi; buy tamiflu yghnq;
manka added these pithy words on May 01 09 at 12:24 pm; buy tamiflu 665; tamiflu =)); tamiflu 8199;
wolf added these pithy words on May 13 09 at 4:45 am; life insurance ogr; health insurance 065; homeowner insurance 100; mortgage loans >:-DD; auto insurance quote >:((; %D;
lynn@queenofthecastlerecipes added these pithy words on Jul 29 09 at 6:13 pmThis certainly does look yummy!
