Spiced Orange Olive Oil Christmas Cake
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (approx. 2 oranges)
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round springform pan or cake pan with a little olive oil and line the bottom with parchment paper. This ensures the cake releases easily once it is finished baking.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure there are no lumps and that the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together using a whisk or an electric hand mixer. Continue beating for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is pale, thick, and slightly frothy.
- Slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil while whisking constantly. Once incorporated, stir in the fresh orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract. The mixture should look bright and smell wonderfully citrusy.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to gently fold the ingredients together just until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake tough.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Place it in the center of the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edges and remove the sides of the springform pan. Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, dust the top generously with powdered sugar before serving.