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.
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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!
Is it possible to substitute the sugar for honey either in part or whole? Looking for a way to cut the sugar. I’m sure I can use less sugar, but also wanted to know if I could replace it with honey.
Hello! Other readers have had success substituting honey for the sugar in this recipe, so I would definitely give that a try!
Easy to make. Very dense. Nearly flavorless. Maybe needs a LOT more nutmeg, spices? Would not make it again
Could this cake be baked in a Bundt pan?
Hi, Marlie! That should work, but it’s not something we’ve tried with this recipe. If you give it a go, please do stop back and let us know how it turned out.
So well spelt out that makes it easy to DIY.
Thank you very much for sharing.
I tried this cake 3 times. The flavir is great, but it keeps coming out a little dry and crumbly. Can 8 add a bit of milk to the batter?
It is a 35 degree morning here in New England, chilly but sunny, and the red and orange foliage on my trees looks spectacular. I just had breakfast – a slice of Italian Apple Olive Oil cake paired with a warm cup of coffee. Pure, heavenly bliss!
I made the Italian Apple Olive Oil cake for the first time two days ago and it will not be the last. It is so good! I mostly followed the recipe with just a few changes. I used a combination of Gala and Macoun apples, half the raisins, substituted 1/4 of the sugar for brown sugar, tripled the cinnamon and used sparkling sugar instead of confectioners. I’ll use the full amount of raisins next time and even more cinnamon but otherwise will stick to just to these few tweaks. This was super easy to prepare and my house smelled amazing while the cake cooked. Loved it!
Awww! What a lovely review. Thank you so much, Nic!
I made this using green apple olive oil. I liked it. It reminded me of a cake my grandmother made when I was young.
Oh, wow! That sounds like the perfect choice for this recipe!
I love this cake. The olive oil base makes it moist. The outside and sides have a slight crunch. Yum! Perfect for this time of year.
As a bonus, both my kids like it too!
(I’m curious what it would taste like with cardamom instead of cinnamon. Might have to try that next time.)
Would love to hear what you think if you give it a try, Carol!
There are better Olive oil cakes out there. Crumb, not so moist, not any real flavor, I’d give it a C- not bad but, not at all worth the effort or cost to make. I love cooking and followed the recipe to the t. Will not make again.
Made this today for a Mediterranean Potluck I attended. About 30 people came, but this turned out to be the only dessert. It was a hit and I got many compliments. Not a crumb left! The only thing I added was some chopped pecans, because I love nuts! I will make this again!
We love to hear this, Nancy!! Thanks so much!
Does this cake freeze well? Everyone loves it. I would like to bake to take on vacation. I would make before leaving but would not serve for 2 days. Should I freeze or just wrap well. Thanks for your help. Love your recipes!!
Hi, Theresa. I think it would be okay if you store it in an airtight class container for 2-3 days in a cool and dry place. You can also refrigerate or freeze it, but be sure to bring to room temperature before serving. Enjoy!
Hello – My cake was looser than the one you showed. I added 1/2 tspn salt, and also only 3/4 cup sugar (and it was plenty sweet and also delicous). I did not peel the apples – can you please explain the reason for peeling the apples, and is it expected to tighten up the cake if peel removed? Thanks! Otherwise great recipe!
I also added 1/4 tspn clove powder.
Hi, Melanie. The peeling of the apples is just a preference. Not doing so shouldn’t have affected how loose your cake turned out. It sounds like your batter had excess moisture from somewhere. Did you happen to drain the apples after they soaked in the orange juice as instructed?
This is delicious. Very moist and not too sweet. Thank you for the recipe.
In theory the recipe sounds great, but alas mine didn’t come out quite so good. Other than using less sugar mine came out very very crumbly and a little odd tasting. Not sure why. I gave it 5 stars cause it’s probably wonderful.
Could dates be substituted for the raisins, if so, should they be soaked, chopped, or mashed?
Hi, Martine. We’ve never tried this on with dates, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use them here in place of the raisins. My suggestion would be to go with chopped. Enjoy!
This cake is delicious! My family loved it. I followed the recipe as written. It is a beautiful, natural, rustic presentation with delicate flavors and ample moisture.