Hidden Citrus and Olive Oil Cake with Cardamom Sugar Dust
A moist olive oil cake bursting with bright citrus flavors, finished with a fragrant cardamom sugar dust for a delicate finish. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
- Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt.
- Step 3: In a separate large bowl, whisk 1 cup granulated sugar with 3 large eggs until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Step 4: Slowly drizzle in 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify.
- Step 5: Add 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 tsp lemon zest, 2 tsp orange zest, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Step 6: Gradually fold the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
- Step 7: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Step 8: While cake cools, mix 1/4 cup powdered sugar with 1 tsp ground cardamom.
- Step 9: Once cake is completely cooled, dust the top evenly with the cardamom sugar mixture before slicing and serving.









