Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Recipe Date: September 1, 2025
Serving Size: 12
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Measurements: Imperial (US)

We had this moist and flavorful cake in a Montana restaurant and worked on recreating it.  Pair with Floating Balance Lost in Time, red blend for a delicious ending to almost any meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of a good quality extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar plus 2 tbsp for sprinkling on top
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • zest from 3 lemons
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking sode
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Directions

  1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Prepare a 9″ springform pan by greasing the bottom and sides well and lining the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.  Wrap the outside with foil to prevent leaks.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, eggs and sugar.
  3. Add the vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice.  Whisk briefly to combine.
  4. Sift together the salt, baking powder, baking soda, and flour.  Alternating with the milk, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in a couple of batches.  Try not to over-mix at this stage, you just want to combine everything until no streaks of dry flour remain.
  5. Pour the batter into the springform pan.  Sprinkle 2 tbsp of granulated sugar evenly over the top.
  6. Bake for 50-55 minutes.  The cake should be risen and starting to turn a bit golden brown on the top.  Note:  ovens very greatly and you may need to bake your cake longer to get it done in the center.  Lay a loose piece of foil over the top of your cake if yours seems to be getting brown towards the end of cooking.
  7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan.  Then gently remove the cake from the springform pan and allow to cool completely on the baking rack.
  8. When cool, dust the top with powdered sugar, if desired.

A note about baking time:  Home ovens are not very precise.  Many home ovens can be off by 25 degrees or more from the set temperature.  This means that if  you set your oven to 350 degrees, it might actually be 325 degrees.  Monitor baking time closely, as it can vary.  Insert a toothpick to check for doneness – it should come out clean or with a few crumbs.  If there is obvious wet batter clinging to it, bake your cake a little longer.

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