Name: Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: unsalted butter (for greasing pan); 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour (plus extra for pan); 2/3 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1/3 cup olive oil; 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 Tablespoons lemon juice (approximately 1-2 lemons); 1 Tablespoon lemon zest (approximately 1-2 lemons); 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; powdered sugar (for garnish); fresh berries (for garnish)

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This Italian lemon olive oil cake uses everyday ingredients, but is packed full of delicious fruity flavor. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest, this cake is both light and tender.

round olive oil cake topped with powdered sugar and fresh berries on a cooling rack

This post was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated for content.

Adding olive oil to sweets is very typical in Italian baking. It adds a rich fruity flavor and makes a super moist cake that you just can't get from butter alone.

Traditional Italian olive oil cake is served dusted in powdered sugar, with fresh berries and is the perfect cake for any time of year.

Serve this simple cake for Sunday dinner or a special occasion alongside braciole, risotto or Italian wedding soup!

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🍋 Ingredient notes
📋 Substitutions and variations
🥣 Step by step instructions
⭐ Expert tips
⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
🧁 More dessert recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

🍋 Ingredient notes

lemons, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, powdered sugar, berries, olive oil, eggs and vanilla

Olive Oil - Instead of butter or vegetable oil, this cake uses olive oil for the fat. The light fruity flavor of the olive oil pairs perfectly with the citrus flavor of the lemon. For the best tasting cake, use a good quality olive oil that is mildly flavored.
Berries - I love serving this cake sprinkled lightly in powdered sugar with fresh berries. They compliment the lemon flavor and olive oil in the cake and make for a fresh and light dessert. Any type of fresh berries can be used or they can be omitted if you like.

📋 Substitutions and variations

Toppings - For an extra special touch, serve this cake with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a drizzle of fresh strawberry puree.
Orange - Try an orange flavored version of this cake by substituting the lemon juice and zest with orange juice and zest.
Nuts - Add ½ cup of chopped pistachios or almonds to the batter for added crunch.

🥣 Step by step instructions

First, grease a 9 inch cake pan with butter and sprinkle it with flour so that the whole pan is coated. In a large bowl, combine the eggs and sugar and beat with a hand mixer until the eggs are pale yellow and shiny.

floured round cake pan and eggs and sugar mixed in a large brown glass bowl

With the mixer on low, drizzle in the olive oil and vanilla extract and then mix in the lemon zest and juice.

In a separate bowl, sift together the remaining all purpose flour with the baking powder and salt. With the electric mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture. Mix with the wet ingredients until they are just combined.

lemon zest in olive oil cake batter and dry ingredients added to cake batter

Transfer batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. The top of the cake should be golden brown and a toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the middle.

finished cake batter in a round floured pan and freshly baked olive oil cake

Let the cake cool for about 15 minutes and then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle the top with the powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

round olive oil cake on a cooling rack topped with powdered sugar and fresh berries

If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.

⭐ Expert tips

Make sure to grease the pan thoroughly and also coat the entire bottom and sides lightly with flour. This will help to ensure the cake doesn't stick to the pan after baking. You can also use a parchment paper circle to help make sure it doesn't stick.
Make sure to beat the eggs and sugar for at least 1-2 minutes until they are pale yellow and shiny. This helps to aerate the batter to make the cake light and provides the best texture.
Only mix the flour into the batter until it is just combined. If you over mix the batter once the flour is added, the cake will become dense and tough.
The cake is done when it is light golden brown. To prevent over baking, check the middle of the cake with a toothpick towards the end of the cooking time. When it comes out clean, the cake is done.

round cake covered in powdered sugar and berries with two slices cut from it

⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions

This olive oil cake can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cool the cake completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature. At serving time, unwrap the cake, sprinkle it with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

The easy recipe can also be baked, cooled and wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw the cake at room temperature and serve with powdered sugar and fresh berries

Leftover cake will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For best results, store fresh berries separately from the cake.

For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for this Italian olive cake with lemon.

🧁 More dessert recipes

If you loved this lemon olive oil cake recipe, check out these other desserts that I know you will love too!

Don't Forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

📖 Recipe

round olive oil cake topped with powdered sugar and fresh berries

Italian Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Amanda

This Italian lemon olive oil cake uses everyday ingredients, but is packed full of delicious fruity flavor. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest, this cake is both light and tender.

4.89 from 60 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Cooling Time 15

Total Time 55

Course Dessert, Sweets

Cuisine Italian

Servings servings

Calories 237 kcal

Ingredients

unsalted butter for greasing pan
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour plus extra for pan
⅔ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
⅓ cup olive oil
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons lemon juice approximately 1-2 lemons
1 Tablespoon lemon zest approximately 1-2 lemons
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
powdered sugar for garnish
fresh berries for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚ and grease a 9 inch round cake pan with butter and sprinkle flour around the pan to coat it completely.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and eggs. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes until pale yellow and shiny.
With the mixer on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and the vanilla extract.
Add the lemon juice and zest and mix on low until just combined.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Pour batter in the prepared cake pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes and then top with powdered sugar and berries and serve.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Melissa D'Arabian's Orange Olive Oil Cake.

Use a good quality olive oil with a mild flavor for the best end results.
Make sure to grease and flour the pan thoroughly to prevent sticking.
Beat the eggs and sugar for the full time to make sure the batter is aerated. This makes the cake light and provides the best texture.
Don't over mix the cake once the dry ingredients are added or it will become dense.
To prevent over baking, check the middle of the cake with a toothpick towards the end of the cooking time. When it comes out clean, the cake is done.

Substitutions and Variations

Toppings - Any type of fresh berries can be added to the top of this cake as well as whipped cream or a drizzle of strawberry puree.
Orange - Substitute the lemon juice and zest with orange juice and zest.
Nuts - Add ½ cup of chopped pistachios or almonds.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

The cake can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cool it completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature. At serving time, unwrap the cake, sprinkle it with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

The cake can also be baked, cooled and wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw the cake at room temperature and serve with powdered sugar and fresh berries

Leftover cake will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days. For best results, store fresh berries separately from the cake.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 237kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 217mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 68IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg

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