Friday, August 7, 2009

Mediterranean Chocolate Cake with Lemon and Olive Oil




This is the finished cake, warm and waiting to be cut.



A single slice of this delicious, but different chocolate cake.


Light olive oil is lighter only in color and taste. It is not a diet version of olive oil.


From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This cake is unusual in its simplicity and the ingredients that are used to make it. It's flavored with unsweetened cocoa, olive oil and lemon zest. It's a great family dessert and because it does not require an electric mixer, the youngest members of the family can help make it. Light olive oil, seen in the picture above, is lighter in color and flavor than regular or extra-virgin olive oil, so it's perfect for baking certain desserts and dishes in which the taste of olive oil is not desired. It can be purchased in any well-stocked grocery store. This cake tastes best when served warm. It should be glazed just before serving. I hope you're willing to experiment and give this cake a try. You will not be disappointed.

Mediterranean Chocolate Cake with Lemon and Olive Oil...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Cake
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
2/3 cup light olive oil
Glaze
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Pich salt
1 tablespoon light olive oil
1 to 2 teaspoons water

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan or a deep 9-inch round cake pan with light olive oil. Set aside.
2) Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl.
3) Place eggs and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Gradually whisk in sugar and lemon zest.
4) Sift flour mixture into egg mixture. Fold in until the mixture is smooth.
5) Gradually fold in olive oil. When mixture is smooth, fold into prepared pan.
6) Bake in center of oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
7) Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and continue to cool on a rack.
8) For glaze, combine confectioners' sugar and water in a small saucepan and stir until smooth.
9) Mix cocoa and salt in a small bowl. Stir into sugar mixture and blend well. Add olive oil and stir until combined.
10) Place pan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until mixture is just warm. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons water to thin mixture to glaze consistency.
11) Drizzle glaze over top of cake. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Yield: 8 to 10 slices.

Recipe courtesy of North American Olive oil Association

This recipe is being linked to Designs By Gollum - Foodie Friday

48 comments :

Dee said...

WOW! you are one busy lady! i wish i had your culinary stamina haha

this cake sounds really interesting! this weekend i am planning to bake something in a cake pan i found a while ago, it looks so pretty! maybe this will be the recipe i finally get to use with it

Creative Classroom Core said...

What an amazing photo!!!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Unusual but I'm sure it's yummy. What a beautiful picture.

Gracie said...

Any thing mediterranean...I am so there.
Yummy
Gracie

My Little Space said...

Yummy cake! Is Zach helping you as well?

Martha said...

This WILL be the next chocolate cake I bake. I love olive oil cakes. Thanks for sharing.

Through My Kitchen Window said...

I must say that although I already make a chocolate cake using olive oil, I have never seen it used in the glaze. How fascinating. Perhaps that's why the glaze has such a lovely sheen. Terrific photo.

susan said...

Mary-The picture with the lemon zest is beautiful. It is an unfamiliar combination to me, but I love lemon and imagine that it is a good addition to anything. I may have to give this a try!

petite nyonya said...

Oh my goodness! Your cake looks extremely inviting! I also really like the way you let the chocolate icing to flow freely on the sides. Very beautiful!

Debbie said...

What a delicious cake. I have made a blueberry olive oil cake that is delicious. Olive oil really does work so well in cakes. I will try yours. Thanks for the recipe!

Donna-FFW said...

What a most beautiful picture of the cake. How intriguing are those ingredients.

Selba said...

I like the idea of using olive oil, instead of butter or margarine :)

The chocolate cake totally looks delicious!

g.suzie said...

That cake looks so delicious, I love your recipes, you are an amazing cook I can tell!

Prasukitchen.blogspot.com said...

wow this cakes sounds intresting and yummy ...
loved it .
please stop by at my blog if u get a chance

Joyce said...

Sounds different with the light olive oil. I love chocolate and I adore lemon so I will bookmark this one for my cooking club. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce

a quiet life said...

looks beautiful i can almost smell it, but gosh i think i need sugar...

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Love this idea! It looks so beautiful!

Ann said...

Lovely pictures adn it looks soo mouth watering!

honeysuckle said...

Your picture made me frool, and it's only 8 am! Sounds and looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Have a happy day!

Gaby said...

yummmy! I love chocolate cake and this sounds so delicious!

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Your photos are incredible!!!!

I've been wanting to try an olive oil cake for a while now...your's looks delicious!

Hootin Anni said...

Oh Mary, you don't know how often I crave chocolate. And this recipe is no exception. Gonna make this. My dear man will be so pleased with me....heck, he may buy me a diamond after serving this up for him! [ya, right!! In your dreams Anni]

Have a joyous day today.

Susan said...

Wow, this looks and sounds absoulutely wonderful. I have become intrigued by olive oil in sweet baking and will think of this the next time I need to bake a cake.

Mary Bergfeld said...

MLS, Zach is, indeed, helping. His younger brother Drew is helping me make cookies this morning.

NKP said...

I have always wanted to try an olive oil cake, looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

I love cakes without butter! This looks fabulous.

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Wow... this looks delicious... you bet I'm going to try this one.. I love anything with chocolate.. and the strawberry the crowning touch.. hugs ~lynne~

Karen said...

I bet this was a very moist cake. Gorgeous pictures!

La Bella Cooks said...

Your photos are amazing! This cake is right up my alley with loads of chocolate. Looks wonderful.

Cathy said...

Unusual, but interesting and very beautiful. The chocolate glaze and lemon zest create a lovely cake. I'm so curious, I have to try this one.

Puna said...

This looks divine...

Katy ~ said...

I have long been intrigued by olive oil in a cake. The picture of yours convinces me I must try this. It looks so good.

The Blonde Duck said...

Those shots are so cool! It's like the cake is floating!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Such a pretty cake--it sounds unique and good!

Unknown said...

WOW!!! this cake looks to good to eat. THANKS!!! for the recipe. Geri

Kathleen said...

That looks fabulous, Mary!

pigpigscorner said...

It looks amazing and sounds delicious! I've never seen Light olive oil actually. Will keep an eye out for it!

Heather S-G said...

This sounds really great...I may have to try it next time I bake a chocolate cake :D

The Cooking Photographer said...

I use olive oil in almost all my baking. I'm not sure why, but I'm emotionally attached to doing so.

This cake looks wonderful Mary, but I just wonder who gets to eat all your amazing food!

Fifi Flowers said...

That looks DIVINE... I guess it would be good with a glass of lemonade! THough I prefer my chocolate with a glass of red wine... YUM!

theUngourmet said...

Terrific shot of your cake! I have used olive oil in other baked goods but not a cake. This recipe sounds delicious!

noble pig said...

This sounds absolutely delicious!

Unknown said...

You make such beautiful food. It would be a I hope to see you at Crock Pot Wednesdays at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com this week. Mr. Linky is up and ready for you. to be seated at your table.

Megan said...

Great pics and I'm always a sucker for food with unusual ingredients. Looks beautiful.

Pam said...

Oh my goodness - this looks amazing Mary. I love the dripping frosting.

Chef Fresco said...

Yum! Beautiful pic! And that frosting looks delish

Lisa said...

Fabulous looking cake. I really like the addition of lemon and olive oil. It keeps things interesting!

free online adventure games said...

I've been following your blog for some time, and I love how simple you make "complicated" dishes become. This is another great example. Can't wait to try it.

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