This week we’re taking a break from the booze and adding in some much needed nutrition (to go along with whatever I’ll drink this weekend… the break was for blogging, not actual drinking. I may have to make myself a Paper Plane when I’m …
Nope, we’re not talking about the coffee drink. This Americano is smooth and rich, gentle and bitter, is caffeine free, and puts you in a delightfully calm mood. And apparently it was the first cocktail mentioned in the James Bond novels and has stayed …
Say it with me friends, Aperitivo. Orange. Olive. Oil. Cake.
Now take a moment to think about all those words together, creating the most moist and luscious, rich yet bitter-sweet, slightly orangey and perfectly sweetened cake. That’s this cake.
Made with olive oil, orange zest, and Bruto Americano it’s a keeper for any time of year, any time of day (think breakfast here, people. Breakfast. 😉
I find this cake best paired with coffee, or a cocktail.
Need some ideas? How about the Classic Americano? Nope, not coffee but equally delicious.
Or check out this Bourbon Paper Plane, which I did paired with this cake for a happy hour – and pair well it did!
Aperitivo Olive Oil Cake
Super moist, delightfully creamy, full of flavor, and absolutely delicious. This Aperitivo Olive Oil Cake is easy to make and bright in flavor. Fresh orange and herby botanicals are well balanced, this cake is light and fluffy, and perfectly sweetened.
1 ¼cupgranulated sugar+ 1 tbsp sugar reserved for topping
1tspfine sea salt
½tspbaking powder
½tspbaking soda
1 ⅓cupextra virgin olive oil
1 ¼cupoat milkor milk of choice, at room temp
3large eggsat room temp
1tspvanilla extract
1 ½tbsporange zestzest from about 2 oranges
¼cupfresh orange juicejuice from about 1 large orange
¼cupaperitivosuch as Aperol, Campari, or Bruto Americano (I used Bruto Americano)
1tbspconfectioner's sugarfor garnish
1canoat whipped topping or whipped cream of choice*
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan or spring form pan that is at least 2 inches deep (it will spill over if it is smaller) with cooking spray. (Use 2 pans if your cake pan is less than 2 inches deep.)
In a bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Whisk to combine.
In another bowl, whisk the olive oil, milk, eggs, orange juice, orange zest, and aperitivo of choice.
Stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of granulated sugar. If using 2 pans, divide the batter evenly between the two pans. Check for doneness after 30 minutes of baking. Baking time will be shorter.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top is golden and a cake tester comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
Run a knife around the edge of the pan, invert the cake onto the rack and allow to cool.Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with fresh whipped cream.
Notes
This is incredible topped with oat (or dairy) whipped cream, greek yogurt, or vanilla ice cream!