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Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Torta di Cioccolato di Olio di Oliva

Mary Ann Esposito

Even cakes taste better made with olive oil, and this super chocolate, dense cake is so moist that it keeps well for a week in the refrigerator, but I can say with certainty that it will never last that long; as an alternative the batter can be poured into cupcake pans for smaller versions. This cake freezes well too.

CAKE

3 cups King Arthur™ Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa (Perugina, if available)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups cold water

FROSTING

2 8-ounce packages Philadelphia Lite Cream Cheese, at room temperature
3 1/2 to 4 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon oil or 1 tablespoon almond extract
Crystallized white sugar for sprinkling on topButter and flour two 9-inch cake pans and set aside.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. With a hand mixer on low speed beat in the oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared pans. If using silicone muffin pans, no pan preparation is necessary. If using regular muffin pans, lightly grease them with butter. If using regular 9-inch cake pans, the same preparation.

Bake for 30 minutes or until a cake skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Do not overbake the cake. It should be firm to the touch, and a cake skewer inserted in the middle of the cake should come out clean.

Put the cake pans on cooling racks and cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing the cakes from the pans to cool completely. Frost when cool with frosting below.

Beat the cream cheese in a bowl until smooth; gradually add in enough of the sugar to make a smooth frosting that is not runny. Stir in the cinnamon oil or the almond extract.

Frost the cake layers and sprinkle the crystallized sugar over the top. Or if you are making the cupcakes, frost them and sprinkle the tops with the sugar.

Cut the cake into wedges to serve.

Note: You may use either regular all purpose flour or cake flour in this recipe; both will give great results. For the icing, use either the cream cheese or an equal amount of Marscapone cheese for an even richer frosting.

item recipe is featured in Episode 1201 of Season 12.

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Comments

Therese

February 2, 2011 at 9:36am | Permalink

This is an amazingly tasty chocolate cake. I could not believe that a cake without eggs, milk, or sour cream could be so good!

Laura

February 12, 2011 at 7:38pm | Permalink

The cake had good flavor and texture. It was delicate in holding its form as a larger cake. I will make smaller cakes from it next time.

Bakemeacake

April 6, 2011 at 10:28pm | Permalink

This is the one of the best chocolate cakes I've had. Generally, I don't even eat chocolate cake! I've made this three or four times. It is easy, delicious, and the olive oil helps the cake last longer. I keep it in the fridge and serve it cold--yum!

Stephanie

April 13, 2011 at 2:32pm | Permalink

We are getting ready to move, and I was having a major pregnancy craving for chocolate cake,but we didn't have any eggs. A Google search brought me to your recipe. My 3 year old son and I made this recipe as cupcakes after watching your video together, they are in the oven now. He is so excited, he is sitting on my kitchen stool in front of the oven. Thank you so much for bringing this recipe into our kitchen.

Paula B.

April 15, 2011 at 3:22pm | Permalink

Just made a flourless chocolate cake and it was fantastic, now I am searching for all kinds of chocolate cake. I had heard that olive oil was a great addition to cake baking. Love the frosting recipe also. Think I will make this tomorrow! First visit to Ciao Italia's site but a fan already!

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Therese

February 2, 2011 at 9:36am | Permalink

This is an amazingly tasty chocolate cake. I could not believe that a cake without eggs, milk, or sour cream could be so good!
Laura

February 12, 2011 at 7:38pm | Permalink

The cake had good flavor and texture. It was delicate in holding its form as a larger cake. I will make smaller cakes from it next time.
Bakemeacake

April 6, 2011 at 10:28pm | Permalink

This is the one of the best chocolate cakes I've had. Generally, I don't even eat chocolate cake! I've made this three or four times. It is easy, delicious, and the olive oil helps the cake last longer. I keep it in the fridge and serve it cold--yum!
Stephanie

April 13, 2011 at 2:32pm | Permalink

We are getting ready to move, and I was having a major pregnancy craving for chocolate cake,but we didn't have any eggs. A Google search brought me to your recipe. My 3 year old son and I made this recipe as cupcakes after watching your video together, they are in the oven now. He is so excited, he is sitting on my kitchen stool in front of the oven. Thank you so much for bringing this recipe into our kitchen.
Paula B.

April 15, 2011 at 3:22pm | Permalink

Just made a flourless chocolate cake and it was fantastic, now I am searching for all kinds of chocolate cake. I had heard that olive oil was a great addition to cake baking. Love the frosting recipe also. Think I will make this tomorrow! First visit to Ciao Italia's site but a fan already!