Extra virgin olive oil with a hint of fresh orange zest produces a subtle and flavorful cake, not overly sweet, with the satisfying texture of a pound cake. This cake improves over a day or two and toasted slices are nice for breakfast, even as much as a week later. Don’t be afraid of the olive oil…
Ingredients:
- 3 cups (13.5 ounces) all-purpose unbleached flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (14 ounces) sugar
- 1 cup flavorful Olive the Best Picual Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest (from 1 medium orange)
- 5 cold eggs
- 1 cup medium Olive the Best Sherry Reserve Wine Vinegar
- A 10- to 12- cup tube or Bundt pan or two 5 to 6-cup loaf pans
Directions:
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the pans or line the loaf pans with parchment.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt thoroughly and sift together onto a piece of wax paper. Set aside.
In a large mixer bowl (with the whisk attachment if you have a choice), beat the sugar, oil, and orange zest until well blended. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue to beat until the mixture is thick and pale, 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and add one-third of the flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended. Stop the mixer and add one half of the sherry. Beat just until it is blended. Repeat with another third of the flour, followed by the remaining sherry, and then the remaining flour.
Scrape the batter into the pan(s). Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 50-60 minutes for either the tube pan or the loaves. Cool the cake in the pan(s) on a rack for about 15 minutes. Slide a skewer around the tube then slide a thin knife around the sides of the pan(s) to release the cake(s). Invert the pans and invert again, setting the cake right side up on a rack to cool completely.
To see the original recipe go here: Recipe courtesy of Alice Medrich’s Pure Dessert.