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The Autumn cozy season is a transitional time, that influences the food we eat and most certainly never fails to trigger in me the urge to want to hibernate and bake all of its seasonal offerings. Despite living in a perpetual sunshine state, where every season looks the same, my internal clock shifts to ‘bake mode’ around this time upon seeing pumpkins in the local grocery stores. As someone who loves to make a great impact without much fuss and complication, I kicked things off by making one of the most delicious desserts we thoroughly enjoyed at a hotel during our recent staycation. It was an Orange Rosemary Olive Oil Cake finished with Candied Orange and Rosemary on top. I’ve had olive oil cakes before and have even made them in the past, never anything to really speak about, but this cake was so moist and mouthwatering – hitting parts of your palette that you didn’t know were there before. My husband and I could not stop thinking about that cake, thereafter.
Hence, I decided to make it a couple of weekends ago when we hosted friends for a lamb dinner, which we felt would be the perfect sweet and savory finish to the meal with all that rosemary in it. As soon as I had my menu for the night in mind, my husband suggested I make that cake. I scoured the internet hoping to find the recipe from that particular hotel, but to no avail. However, I eventually stumbled upon an Orange Cardamom Olive Oil Cake with a five-star review. Everyone online was boasting about how delicious the recipe was. Between the high praises it was receiving and the fact that it also looked flavorful, my apprehension was allayed about making it for the first time for my guests.
In my usual fashion of doing things, I modified that recipe, adding the rosemary like the one we had, and WOW! It turned out more amazing than I’d imagined. People had seconds and kept asking, “What kind of cake is this?”Lol. It turned out so fantastic that I felt it was worthy enough to take the time to share it with you.
What makes me love this cake, besides its deliciousness, is how easy it is to make. You don’t have to be a great baker to hit this one out of the park. It requires only a few baking staples, including a high-quality (non-peppery) extra virgin olive oil. I opted not to add the candied orange slices because we found that the cake didn’t need them, as they were too sweet and took away from the savoriness of all the other amazing ingredients of that cake. Aaaand, you can make it the day or two before!
Please tag me on Instagram when and if you bake this cake. I’d love to know. If you do, I’ll reshare your masterpiece. Enjoy!
