Zesty, velvety, with subtle warmth...this cake will open your eyes to the beauty of olive oil in cakes! Lemon and cardamom are always a match made in heaven, and the combination of these ingredients mixed with olive oil just takes this guy to the next level. This is a special cake, so make it when you're feeling down to try something new!
Looking at these pics and thinking my background looks different? It is! I've relocated to my parents' home in Puerto Rico for the past three weeks. Loads of family bonding time, not enough new recipe development time. But I have managed to whip this one up and I hope you guys like it! A bit of a different one I would say... But I promise that lemon, cardamom, and olive oil DO MAKE A GOOD CAKE. Trust me, trust the recipe, thank me later.
If you're not feeling too adventurous though, feel free to eliminate the cardamom and substitute the olive oil for coconut oil. It'll lead to a different taste and mouth feel, but I promise that combo will also be incredibly tasty. Lemon, Cardamom, and Olive Oil doesn't float your boat? Then check out my Rose Water Cake recipe! Not as "crazy" sounding as putting olive oil in a cake, but still slightly different by the use of rose water. I promise it won't disappoint.
Kitchen equipment you will need:
2 mixing bowls (or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment)
measuring cups and spoons (or a scale)
parchment paper
1 pound loaf pan*
wire cooling rack (if you have one)
small sieve
*(I have this one from #amazon but any loaf pan should be fine. If you don't have a loaf pan, then use a standard 9" cake tin or any other rectangular mold you may have, but please keep in mind that baking times will change. Also - Loaf pans are dope, so get yourself a loaf pan - it's called #adulting)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (100g) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/4 cups (250g) White Granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Ground Cardamom
3 Large Eggs
1 cup (223g) Sour Cream (Full Fat)
1 1/2 cups (230g) All Purpose Flour (always use Unbleached Flour. I use King Arthur Baking Co. All Purpose Flour)
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
Zest and Juice of 2 Lemons (about a 1/4 cup (55g) lemon juice)
Dusting of Confectioners' Sugar for the top once the cake is cool
Ok. Let's go!
RECIPE LEVEL: Intermediate? (You can do it - just try!)
HANDS-ON TIME: 15 - 20 minutes
BAKING TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly butter your loaf pan and line with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Zest lemons first and then juice them. Set aside juice for later.
3. Beat olive oil, cardamom, lemon zest, and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low-medium speed for about 5 minutes. If you don't have a stand mixer, do this by hand. You are looking to not only combine these ingredients, but also get the oils from the zest and cardamom to almost infuse into the sugar and olive oil.
4. Add eggs one at a time making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add about a third of the dry ingredients into the olive oil, sugar, cardamom, and lemon zest mixture. Before it is fully incorporated, add about a third of your sour cream. Then continue alternating adding the flour and the sour cream to the mixture until fully incorporated. (DO NOT over mix - you do not want to work the gluten too much in the flour.)
6. Slowly add the lemon juice at the end and incorporate by hand until fully combined.
7. Pour your mixture into your lined loaf pan and bake for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, but check it after the hour has passed in case your oven runs hot. You should be able to insert a cocktail stick or sharp knife in the middle of the cake and it should come out completely clean.
8. Once baked, set on a wire rack to cool slightly. Remove from the loaf pan and let cool completely. Once the cake is completely cold, you can dust it with confectioners sugar and devour.
Please enjoy this cake in the same way Tina Fey enjoys hers. It would make me so happy. Make sure to tag me on Instagram @masamamafood if you make it!
Buen provecho!
Tag me @masamamafood!
