This apple cake with olive oil has it’s origins in the coastal region of Liguria, Italy. A simple and delicious olive oil cake recipe with sweet chunks of fresh apples and plump raisins with hints of cinnamon. Perfectly moist and dense with just enough crumble!
People of the Mediterranean, at least the part I grew up in, love their tea time.
I don’t want you to picture an English high tea situation, as lovely as that sound, but a more casual affair. Just time with friends and family to catch up on life over a cup of tea (no special china needed.)
At my parents’ home, it was black tea with some dried fruits and nuts on the side, and, on occasion, a little strudel. In my home, it’s usually a no-fuss crustless ricotta cheesecake, red wine poached pears, or a simple cake much like today’s apple cake recipe.
Whether you’re into afternoon tea or morning coffee with friends, this Italian apple olive oil cake–with chunks of sweet apple and plump raisins–will fit the bill!
And if you’re looking for something sweet enough, but not too sweet, this olive oil cake is just that! But sweet-toothed folks can easily add a drizzle of warmed dark honey or caramel, maybe even a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream, if you’re feeling indulgent.
This apple cake is easy to make, and you’ll love the little Italian twist, borrowed from Liguira, Italy!
Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake
This olive oil cake is a modern version of one from the coastal region of Liguria, Italy. It’s a no-frosting and no-fuss type cake, the kind Italian nonnas might whip up on short notice!
Here’s the gist. Simple rustic olive oil cake with chunks of sweet fresh apple and plump raisins with warm hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s dense with just enough crumble.
Extra virgin olive oil is obviously key in this cake, it lends great moisture and tenderness and provides a layer of complexity and richness to this rustic cake. (I used this Private Reserve EVOO, by the way.)
Can I Use Olive Oil in Cake?
People of the Mediterranean have been baking with olive oil for years (even in things like banana bread!) But the question may still pop up, “can I use olive oil in cake?”
The short answer is: yes! Even die-hard butter fans agree that olive oil makes exceptionally good cakes.
Here are three reasons why olive oil is great in cakes:
1. At room temperature, olive oil is liquid, so it does add superior moisture overtime even with leftovers.
2. Using quality extra virgin olive oil in place of butter is a great way to cut saturated fats and add more monosaturated fats, which promote good cholesterol.
3. Very simply, a good extra virgin olive oil, like this one I used, will add a wonderful, rich and nounaced flavor to your cake without calling too much attention to itself.
TIPS FOR THIS OLIVE OIL CAKE RECIPE
Three important tips for making this cake:
1. The batter for this particular olive oil cake will be thick. Trust me, it’s meant to be. Resist the urge to add water or anything else to loosen it.
2. What kind of apples to use and how to cut them for this recipe? This time I used gala apples, but you can use other baking apples you like (Honey Crisp Apples or Pink Lady Apples. It’s even better if you use a couple apple varieties for a more complex flavor. For example, instead of just gala apples, you can mix in Granny Smith apples, which have a more tart, subtly acidic flavor.
I prefer to chop the apples to a fairly small chop/dice for a more rustic texture. That way, they won’t completely disappear in the cake, instead you get some sweet apple bites in each piece.
If you’re someone who enjoys more citrusy flavor profile, then be sure to check out my orange cardamom olive oil cake. And, chocolate lovers, don’t miss my chocolate olive oil cake!
3. Use Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. As the name implies, this is an olive oil cake, and you should be able to detect some olive oil notes. Don’t worry, it will not be overwhelming, but the slightly savory notes of extra virgin olive oil will lend an appealing flavor complexity.
My best advice to you is to use only quality extra virgin olive oil or you may end up with less than describable flavor. Worse, rancid!
I used our Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil from organically grown and processed Koroeniki olives. An exquisite cold extracted and unfiltered oil with a delicate intensity, vivid color, and low acidity of 0.4%. Read more about this oil here.
Can this be a Vegan cake?
It’s quite simple to make a vegan version of this Italian apple olive oil cake. Obviously, the one ingredient you need to replace is the eggs.
While I have not personally tried it, one awesome reader, Elena, just wrote in to share her vegan take on this apple olive oil cake: “I used about 1 cup of coconut milk (in which I soaked the raisins) and 1 cup of orange juice , to replace the 2 eggs. I also added a handful of walnuts, so delicious!”
Watch How to Make this Apple Olive Oil Cake
More apple recipes to try
- Easy Baked Apples
- Apple Strudel (with Phyllo)
- Cranberry Apple Freekeh
Browse more dessert recipes. Browse all Mediterranean recipes.
Visit Our Shop
Print
Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cake 1x
Description
Simple and rustic Apple Olive Oil Cake with chunks of apple, raisins and the perfect combination of spices. The kind of no-fuss olive oil cake you’ll love.
Ingredients
- 2 large Gala apples, peeled and chopped as finely as possible
- Orange juice to soak apples in
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup gold raisins, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes and then drained well
- Confectioner’s sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the chopped apples in a bowl and add orange juice; just enough juice to toss and coat apples so as to prevent browning.
- In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside for now
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, add sugar and extra virgin olive oil. Mix on low for 2 minutes until well-combined
- While mixer is on, add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to mix another 2 minutes until mixture increases in volume (it should be thicker but still runny)
- In the large bowl with the dry ingredients, make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Add the wet mixture (the sugar and olive oil mixture) into the well. Using a wooden spoon, stir until just blended; it will be a thick batter (do not add anything to loosen it).
- Drain raisins (which have been soaking in water) completely; and rid apples of excess juice. Add both raisins and apples to the batter and mix with spoon until well-combined. Again, batter will be fairly thick.
- Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Spoon thick batter into the pan, and level the top with the back of your wooden spoon.
- Bake in 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick or wooden skewer comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan. When ready, simply lift parchment up to transfer cake into a serving dish. Dust with confectioner’s sugar. Alternatively, heat some dark honey to serve on top (those with a sweeter tooth like this option.)
Notes
- Important Tip using excellent extra virgin olive oil makes the biggest difference in this cake. Inferior olive oils will produce less than desirable taste. We use our Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil, Or Early Harvest extra virgin olive oil for deeper flavor.
- Can this be Vegan? While I have not personally tried the vegan version of this cake, one of our readers, Elena just wrote in to share her vegan take on this apple olive oil cake: “I used about 1 cup of coconut milk (in which I soaked the raisins) and 1 cup of orange juice , to replace the 2 eggs. I also added a handful of walnuts, so delicious!”
- Storage This cake is best consumed within 2-3 days or so. Store it in an airtight class container for 2-3 days in a cool and dry place. You can refrigerate, but bring to room temperature before serving.
- Recommended for this Recipe Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives); all-natural ground nutmeg
- SHOP OUR BUNDLES EVOO Bundle ; Ultimate Mediterranean Spice Bundle
- Visit The Mediterranean Dish store for more!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Cuisine: Italian/Mediterranean
*Note: This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2017 and has been recently updated with new content and media for readers’ benefit. Enjoy!
Can I use oatmeal instead of flour?
To be honest, Nizam, I am not sure the consistency would be the same.
Want to cry cause I realised the recipe requires extra virgin but I used a good quality olive oil, hopefully it still tastes great -_-
Ashley, if you used quality oil, it really should be fine. I hope you enjoy it! XOXO
Wow, was this good! So moist and lovely-dense and just right! I actually baked it in my cast iron skillet, so it got a fan-TAS-tic crust. I cut the sugar in half; after tasting I maybe added another tablespoon of sugar back in. Between the apples, the Craisins I subbed for raisins, and the OJ. My Diabetic father-in-law LOVED it, too, which was great – since he is insulin-dependent, I’m always looking for treats that he can enjoy! What a fabulous recipe! Olive oil cakes… Who knew (besides you and every Italian Nonna on the planet, apparently! *grin*)…?
5 stars!!!
Awesome, Paula! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello! The Apple Olive Cake was divine! Thank you for sharing!
Paula
Another recipe I wish to try! Question: Do you think that I could get away using a hand mixer? I have a stand mixer, but for lack of counter space, I had to put it away!
Hi Neil! Yes, I think that would work. Enjoy!
Just wanted to say I loved this recipe. I cut the sugar down further to suit the taste of me and my family. It was a success. So delicious, fragrant, and not dry at all. I have never used olive oil in a cake, and now I definitely want to make more olive oil cakes.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
That’s great! I am so glad you enjoyed this cake! You’re the first person I hear from who cut the sugar even further! I’ve heard it wasn’t sweet enough, but it really isn’t meant to be too sweet a cake! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
HI Suzy
I am gluten free – do you think this would work using almond flour?
Hi Rose, there are gluten free flours where you can substitute 1 to 1. I think cup 4 cup is a good option, but I honestly don’t bake with gluten free flours so I am not sure. But if you do try almond flour, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I made this and I loved it. After coming out of the oven and cooling off, the cake sank in the middle. What did I do wrong?
So glad to hear it! Hmmm, it’s really hard to say, Trisha.
Rose, there are web sites that will give you recipes for gluten free mixes. Then use Suzy’s recipe substituting the exact amount of the GF mix. More liquid might be needed. It is best to use a combination of gluten free flours and starches and not just almond flour alone. I have great success doing this.
Any suggestions for making this a gluten free variation? Have you tried this with coconut flour instead of all-purpose? If so, do you think you need to add anything like arrowroot to thicken it?
Hi, there! I am sorry I don’t have a great answer on this one. I do hear that there are some gluten free flours like cup 4 cup (this one: http://amzn.to/2yH91YB)
that you can use without changing much of the recipe.
I don’t use white flour or sugar. Would almond flour and coconut sugar substitute?
I haven’t used coconut sugar before, but I think it could work here just fine. The flour may be more tricky. Are you after a gluten-free flour?
Are you able to use applesauce if you don’t want the chunkiness of the apples?
Probably the best option would be to chop the apples very finely in a food processor, then drain well. That’s my guess.
Can this be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze leftovers and thaw overnight in the fridge.
This Apple Olive Oil cake looks really yummy. I love that it’s a bit dense and less sweet. Can’t wait to try this special treat!
It really is! i can’t wait for you to try it!
I just love the flavor olive oil cakes have, so I love that this is combined with an apple cake! Perfect!
Can I substitute or omit the raisins ? My Italian wife is not a big fan of raisins..
Sure, you can try dried cranberries or bits of apricot or figs..just as long as they’re chopped pretty small.
Your cake looks delicious! I love all those chunks of apples.
Thanks, Coleen! We love it!