Italian Apple Olive Oil Cake

This perfectly rustic apple and raisin olive oil cake will stay moist for days, thanks to a plentiful amount of extra virgin olive oil in it. It’s simple enough to be a go-to breakfast or dessert, and pretty enough to be a treat all year through but especially in the Fall season. Thanks to The Mediterranean Dish for this delicious cake recipe!

 

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 Ciccio’s Olives EVOO
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup gold raisins, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes and then drained well

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the chopped apples in a bowl and add orange juice; just enough juice to toss and coat apples so as to prevent browning.
3. In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside for now
4. 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
5. 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)
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Bake in 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick or wooden skewer comes out clean.
10. 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.)