Healthy Eating

Vegan Olive Oil Cake | The Picky Eater

August 18, 2023

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There is nothing quite like this lemon vegan olive oil cake. Its sweet lemon flavor, incomparably moist texture, and delicate crumb make it a show-stopper whenever I serve it! It’s subtle and elegant, the absolute perfect dessert!

I absolutely love olive oil cakes. It’s a rich, moist cake, that likely originated in the Mediterranean. Why is it called an olive oil cake? Because it uses olive oil instead of butter for the fat in your cake! I love this style of cake, because not only does the olive oil add a really subtle flavor, it makes your cake super moist – and I think sometimes works even better than butter to get that perfect tender crumb!

Typically, olive oil cakes aren’t vegan friendly, because they use eggs in the batter. So I decided to create this vegan olive oil cake recipe that tastes just as good as the authentic version!

Since it’s such a simple cake, it’s also the perfect base for you to build on with your own spin. Add extra flavor to the batter with extracts or herbs, garnish with drizzles of icing or sweet fruit, or leave it all alone and just enjoy its sweet simplicity.

All you need to make this easy recipe is a handful of everyday ingredients – you probably have most in your fridge and pantry already. It only takes a few minutes to mix the ingredients together before baking — the only hard part about this recipe is waiting for this vegan citrus cake to cool so you can dig in!

So the next time you’re looking for a cake that will have all of your guests asking for the recipe, try this easy vegan olive oil cake!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Incredible Texture: This vegan lemon cake is so moist and spongy – it’s a great alternative to other styles of cake.
Versatile: Serve this eggless olive oil cake at any event, from casual cookouts to brunch, or take it to a special occasion like a baby shower or birthday party.
Customizable: You can swap several of the ingredients for flavor changes or dietary preferences, and you can dress it up with a variety of different garnishes.
Healthy Fat: Using olive oil makes the sweet treat a little more heart-healthy.

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🥘 Ingredients

It doesn’t take many ingredients to make this delicate and delicious cake! Here’s what you need:

All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour gives this olive oil vegan cake with lemon its structure and texture.
Baking Powder: This leavening agent helps the cake rise.
Sugar: Granulated sugar works well for this vegan dessert, dissolving quickly when mixed with wet ingredients. I like using organic cane sugar, to ensure it’s 100% vegan friendly.
Almond Milk: This plant-based milk contributes a subtle nuttiness.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil helps to create a delicate texture and a moist crumb.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla rounds out the flavors of this egg free olive oil cake, and creates a warm fragrance.
Lemon Juice & Lemon Zest: Just a little bit of lemon juice and zest helps to make the cake bright and citrusy.
Powdered Sugar: Optional, for topping this vegan lemon olive oil cake!

🍲 Ingredient Substitutions

Citrus: Instead of lemon juice and zest, use orange juice and orange zest. You can also try lime or grapefruit, too.
Sugar: You can try brown sugar or coconut sugar if you don’t have regular granulated sugar, but it may change the texture and color of your cake slightly.
Milk: Use any non-dairy milk — oat milk, coconut milk, and soy milk will all work well in this plant based lemon olive oil cake.
Extract: Replace some or all of the vanilla extract with almond extract for nutty flavor.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Olive Oil Cake

Here’s how to make this easy vegan olive oil cake recipe. For more detailed instructions and nutrition facts, see the recipe card below.

Combine Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 320 degrees F and line your cake pan with parchment paper. Sift the flour, baking powder, and sugar into a large bowl or combine by whisking.

Dry ingredients for cake mixed in a mixing bowl.

Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the rest of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix together.

Wet ingredients for cake mixed in a mixing bowl.

Mix The Two Together: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until the batter is smooth, being careful not to overmix.

Batter for dairy free olive oil cake in a mixing bowl.

Bake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, and bake until it passes the toothpick test (when a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean after being inserted into the center of the cake). You can make this in a loaf pan or a cake pan – I have done both!

Vegan cake batter in a baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Cool On A Wire Rack: Let your vegan olive oil lemon cake cool, then invert it onto a cooling rack to come to room temperature.

Vegan lemon olive oil loaf cooling on a wire rack.

Decorate: Using a sifter, dust the top of the cooled cake with powdered sugar before serving. Serve this olive oil dessert recipe immediately.

Easy lemon vegan olive oil cake on a cake stand with a piece cut out and served on a plate.

💭 Expert Tips

Pay Attention To Time: Depending on the tin you use, the cake may need more time to bake. A cake baked in a loaf tin will need about 50 minutes, while a round tin may only need 40 minutes.
Don’t Over-mix: To avoid a chewy texture, avoid over-mixing the batter.
Use Good Ingredients: For the best flavor, use high-quality olive oil.
Allow Time For Cooling: Ensure that your dairy free olive oil cake with lemon is completely cooled before adding powdered sugar or any other garnishes.

📖 Variations

This simple cake can be a canvas for your creativity in the kitchen. Here are some of our favorite ways to change things up:

Make A Chocolate Cake: Make a chocolate olive oil cake by adding cocoa powder.
Make A Vegan Lemon Loaf Cake: Bake this cake in a loaf pan instead of a cake pan! The baking time may change, so you’ll need to check your cake more frequently throughout the baking process to ensure it doesn’t over bake.
Vegan Orange Olive Oil Cake: Use orange juice and orange zest instead of lemon in this recipe!
Healthy Olive Oil Cake: To make this cake healthier, use whole wheat pastry flour instead of all purpose flour, and use half the amount of sugar this recipe calls for. Your cake won’t be as sweet but it will be much healthier!
Olive Oil Layer Cake: Make a layer cake by doubling the recipe and making two round cakes. Spread icing in between and around the sides and top of the cakes once cooled.
Infuse Herbal Flavor: Try adding rosemary to the cake for a unique addition of flavor.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

This amazing cake is incredible all on its own, but there are plenty of other ways to serve it, too!

Garnishes: Instead of dusting powdered sugar, drizzle a sweet lemon glaze over top of the cake. Or, place fresh berries or slices of citrus fruit on top.
Pairings: We love to serve this with a simple cup of tea, whether it’s black tea or a fruity herbal variety. It’s also perfect with a scoop of tofu ice cream, breakfast fruit salad, or a glass of vegan horchata.

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

Vegan Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake: To make this cake gluten-free, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour for all-purpose flour. You could also try a combination of gluten free flours like almond flour, tapioca flour, and oat flour – but keep in mind the texture of your cake may change.
Sugar-Free Option: For a sugar-free cake, use your favorite sugar alternative.

🫙 Storage Directions

To Store In The Fridge: Store leftover cake in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
To Freeze: Freeze the cake for up to 2 months. Be sure to wrap it tightly with plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer and allow it to thaw completely before serving.

❓Recipe FAQs

What is special about olive oil cake?

Italian lemon olive oil cake is uniquely rich, fluffy, moist and delicate. The cake was traditionally made to celebrate the harvest of olives in the Mediterranean.

Does olive oil change the taste of a cake?

Yes, olive oil can make a difference in the flavor of a cake – in a good way! Olive oil imparts a subtle fruity flavor and can enhance the flavor of the other ingredients in the cake. But mostly, it makes the texture of your cake super moist and delicious. Easy olive oil cake will not taste like olive oil – it will taste like whatever other flavors you add to your cake!

Why is my olive oil cake so dense?

Typically, your cake may be too dense because of either over mixing or over baking. It’s important to mix your ingredients gently, and bake just until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Is olive oil cake healthy?

Using olive oil can be healthier for your heart than using butter. It also has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and has been known to reduce cholesterol. But with all cakes, they are typically high in sugar and calories, so it’s important to enjoy them in moderation!

Lemon vegan olive oil cake on a cake stand with a piece cut out and served on a plate.

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