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A loaf cake with white icing, topped with fresh figs, raspberries, edible flowers, and green leaves, sits on a wire rack—an artful creation by a Nantucket private chef—with lemons blurred in the background.
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5 from 7 votes

Olive Oil Honey Cake Recipe

This olive oil honey cake is simple yet elegant with a moist tender crumb and delicate flavor of the fruity balanced olive oil and sweet floral honey. It can easily be made vegan by swapping the honey for maple syrup.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best olive oil cake, honey cake recipe
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 337kcal
Author: Kaity Farrell

Ingredients

Cake

  • 210 g all-purpose flour 1-1/2 cups
  • 67 g granulated sugar 1/3 cup
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest from 2 whole lemons
  • 67 g Carapelli Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/3 cup
  • 130 g unsweetened non-dairy milk 1/2 cup, such as soy or almond milk
  • 113 g honey 1/3 cup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Honey-Lemon Syrup

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Lemon Glaze

  • 130 g powdered sugar 1 cup
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice and up to 2 tablespoons

Garnish - Optional

  • 3 whole fresh figs optional
  • 1/3 cup raspberries optional
  • 1/4 cup edible flowers optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease a standard 8x4" loaf pan. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom and long sides of the loaf pan with a little overhang.
  • Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and lemon zest in a medium-size mixing bowl.
  • In a separate bowl whisk together olive oil, milk, honey, vinegar, and vanilla.
  • Add wet mixture to dry and stir with a spatula until incorporated about 1 minute.
  • Spread cake batter into prepared pan and bake on center rack for about 45 minutes or until it is dark golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • To make Honey-Lemon Syrup simply whisk together the lemon juice and honey until dissolved.
  • When cake is done remove from oven cool cake in pan on cool rack for 10 minutes. Brush the top of the cake with honey-lemon syrup while it is still warm. Lift cake out of the loaf pan using the parchment paper overhang and cool to room temperature.
  • To make the lemon glaze, whisk lemon juice and powdered sugar until smooth. Start with 1-1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice and add more if the glaze seems too thick. Pour glaze over cooled cake.
  • Optionally decorate the top of the cake with fresh figs, raspberries and edible flowers.

Notes

  • Swap honey with maple syrup or golden syrup to make this cake vegan-friendly.
  • Store ungarnished cake at room temperature, wrapped or in a sealed container for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg