Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club
Explore Recipes Desserts Page 18

Fig and Almond Olive Oil Cake

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

There are several things I love about this cake: it’s easy; it’s gluten-free; it’s Paleo-friendly; it uses a modest amount of extra virgin olive oil (some cakes call for as much as a cup of your precious liquid gold); and it utilizes figs, which forever more will remind me of my latest idyll in Abruzzo. I ate the best figs of my life on this trip, all plucked from the trees on the Di Mercurio farm. If you can’t find fresh figs, top the cake with slices of fresh pear that have been tossed in a light coating of sugar and lemon juice.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 small lemon
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups fine almond flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 8 to 10 fresh ripe figs, stemmed and sliced crosswise
  • Crème fraîche or sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, olive oil, eggs, and salt. Add the almond our and baking powder; whisk again until combined.

Step 3

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and top with g slices. (Arrange in concentric circles.) Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is set. Transfer the cake to a rack and let it cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, invert the cake onto a cooling rack and let cool completely. Top with a second rack and turn the cake g side up for serving. Serve each slice with a dollop of crème fraiche or whipped cream.

Serves 8 — Recipe adapted from gourmandeinthekitchen.com

Towpath Olive Oil Cake

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

This recipe was recommended to us by a talented baker who pronounced it a keeper, one of the best cake recipes in her files. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup best quality extra virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • Juice of 1 orange 

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter the sides of a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. 

Step 2

In a small bowl, stir the flour and baking powder together. 

Step 3

Place the sugar and eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until thick and pale yellow, about 3 to 5 minutes. 

Step 4

Add the olive oil, milk, orange zest, and orange juice and beat for another minute or two. Turn off the machine and fold in the flour mixture by hand. 

Step 5

Scrape into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack completely before serving. 

Makes one 9-inch cake, serving 8 to 10 — Recipe from The London Cookbook by Aleksandra Crapanzano, Ten Speed Press (2016) 

Chocolate Mousse with Olive Oil and Sea Salt

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Olive oil adds intrigue and richness to this decadent dessert. Heat the egg-and-milk mixture very slowly in a heavy-bottomed pan to avoid curdling the eggs. If desired, substitute 1 tablespoon of orange-flavored liqueur for 1 tablespoon of coffee and garnish with candied orange peel. 

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs, thoroughly beaten
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 6 ounces good-quality semi-sweet dark chocolate
  • 3 tablespoons freshly brewed strong coffee
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Tiny pinch fine salt Sea salt, such as Maldon, or grey lavender salt, to serve
  • Lightly sweetened whipped cream, to serve 

Directions

Step 1

Whisk the milk and eggs together, beating for at least a minute. Put in a small, heavy saucepan over low heat. Put a thermometer into the milk mixture and carefully heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 160°F. Take off the heat. 

Step 2

In another small, heavy saucepan, put the chocolate over low heat. (Break up the chocolate into shards if not using small baking pieces.) Heat slowly, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is completely melted. Take off the heat and stir in the coffee and the olive oil. 

Step 3

Add the milk-and-egg mixture to a blender or food processor, along with the maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of fine salt. Blend. With the food processor or blender running, slowly pour in the chocolate-and-coffee mixture and blend until well combined. The final mix will be frothy and smooth. 

Step 4

Fill four 6-ounce ramekins and put in the refrigerator to chill. Depending on the size and depth of the dish, this mousse will take from a half hour to three hours to set. Serve with whipped cream and just a pinch of rough salt. 

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from thekitchn.com

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Well-known cookbook author Rozanne Gold shared this recipe on an episode of Martha Stewart’s Cooking Today on Sirius XM 110. These cookies’ oval shape, payload of olive oil, and the fact that they’re rolled in chocolate chips make them unusual and very professional looking (and tasting!).

Ingredients

  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 extra-large eggs
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 6 ounces miniature chocolate chips

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Step 2

Put the flour and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and mix until a smooth dough forms. The mixture will be slightly crumbly and a little oily. Knead several times on the counter. Form into 24 balls and then shape into small ovals that are 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Roll the tops and sides in miniature chocolate chips.

Step 3

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat. Place the cookies 1 inch apart. Bake for 25 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan. Remove with a thin-bladed spatula.

Makes 24 cookies — Recipe from Rozanne Gold on Cooking Today, June 14, 2012