Clementine (Orange) Olive Oil Cake

I've seen several recipes for olive oil cake and they've intrigued me.  There are many different recipes, some with only orange, some with a ctrus mix, some with nuts, some without, some with a few Tbsp of oil, some with a full cup....a full cup of olive oil in cake?  Usually for cakes and other baked goods, you'd switch over to expeller-pressed canola or maybe even walnut oil, something healthy but with a less persistent flavor but mixed with citrus it sort of made sense that the olive oil would work....  It does.  The cake is delicious.  Gene even made a point of saying he liked it, and that was with knowing it was good for him. 

Does this save you calories as far as diet? No.  The counts are similar to a regular piece of cake, although in this one, because of the olive oil, the fat content is higher. However, does this save your health?  You decide.  Here are the ingredients in a standard boxed cake mix: bleached flour, sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonsee oil, corn syrup, modified corn starch, leavening, popylene glycol monoesters of fatty acids, corn starch, dextose, salt, distilled monoglycerides, dicalcium phosphate, maltodextrin, xantham gum, natural and artificial flavor, dye, nonfat milk.  Here are the ingredients in my cake:  whole wheat flour, honey, eggs, olive oil, orange zest, leavening, salt. It's not always all about calories. BUT if we want to look at those too, here they are side by side:

Boxed cake mix:  Cal: 170, Protein: 2, Carbs: 34, Fat: 3, Fiber: 0

Olive oil cake: Cal: 185, Protein: 3, Carbs: 21, Fat: 10, Fiber: 1

I'm still liking the all natural cake. I see a trade out between white sugar and olive oil, as far as calories.  Olive oil wins.

As far as flavor, we all know what an average cake tastes like. This one is more of what I call I country style cake. The crumb is coarsier and the heft weightier, more like a banana or zucchini bread, and the flavor is phenomenal. Nothing fake or artificial here.  The Tbsp of orange zest, I used Clementines, is powerfully enticing and the olive oil completely complements and enhances the citrus.

Glenna's Clementine & Olive Oil Cake

Recipe by Glenna Anderson Muse

Ingredients:

1 cup White Whole Wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 Eggs

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup honey

1 Tbsp Cutie's Clementine(or any orange) zest

1/4 cup Cutie's Clementine (or any orange) juice

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp powdered sugar for decoration (optional)

Directions:

1.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.   Mix first three ingredients together and set aside.

2.  Beat rest of ingredients together with a mixer until light and fluffy.

3.  Add dry ingredients to wet, in about 3 batches, mixing with each addition until just combined. Do not over beat.

4. Pour batter into greased 8"x8" baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

Optional:  sift 1 Tbsp powdered sugar over the top with or without a template of any kind.

Serves 12

Nutrition Data:  Calories: 185,  Protein: 3, Carbs:  21, Fat: 10, Fiber 1, Weight Watcher's Points: 4 pts plus 2 tsp healthy oil for the day.

Comments

[Kristin Rimkus]

I keep seeing these olive oil cakes. I'm going to have to try this. It looks delicious!

[Steve Parker, M.D.]

Oh, God. I wish I had time to make this cake!

[Glenna]

Kristin--Do it, you won't be disappointed!

Dr. Parker--It's wonderful! When you get the chance, make one, especially with Clementine's in season right now. Delicious and good for you--it's a double whammy of wonderful!

[Crystal]

I am intrigued!!! I will have to make this one today!!

[Healthy Foods Blog]

Honestly, it's kinda unique to me. I love the citrus thing on that cake. It looks so yummy and healthy.

[Canon Digital Cameras]

Great now I can make my own cake and at the same time test my cooking skills.

[DaviMack]

Yep - looks and sounds great, and much healthier than that boxed cake, for certain!

[Gift Registry]

If you plan on going on a diet then this is the food recommended for you.

[Popular Blogs]

I've been looking for a good olive oil recipe, thanks! Really cool pictures too.

[Popular Blogs]

I've been looking for a good olive oil recipe, thanks! Really cool pictures too.