Mark Bittman's Olive Oil Cake

Friday, August 28, 2009

Olive Oil Cake - Food Librarian

I can't believe it has been 8 weeks since my last blood donation. The summer is just flying by. September in a few days? What the heck? Last time I gave blood, I brought my own post-donation cookie. This time, I can't have dairy so I made an Olive Oil Cake.

I just picked up Mark Bittman's two classics from the library: How to cook everything and How to cook everything vegetarian. They are going on my wishlist of cookbooks.

Olive Oil Cake - Food Librarian
This cake was really lovely. It was moist and light. The eggs provide a nice sponge, and the glaze a bit of sweetness. I think you'll like it. And it was a delicious treat after giving blood! :)

I'll try this again with either lime, lemon or grapefruit...I love me the citrus.

Olive Oil Cake - Food Librarian Olive Oil Cake - Food Librarian
Whipping the egg whites separately and folding them into the batter gives this cake a nice lift.

Olive Oil Cake - Food Librarian
And don't forget...if you can give blood, it is much needed. Jan, the RN, at my blood donor center told me that the percent of eligible donors is now 46% of the population. And of the 46%, only 5% actually donate. So, if you can, please think about rolling up your sleeve to help out! Contact you local hospital or the Red Cross.

Olive Oil Cake
Adapted from Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything"

2 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
3/4 c sugar + 1/4 c sugar
4 eggs, separated
1/3 c freshly squeezed orange juice
2 t grated or finely minced orange or lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree.
2. Grease two 8- or 9-inch layer cake pans or one 9 x 13 pan. I used 9 x 13.
3. Combine in small bowl: flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Mix together oil, 3/4 c sugar until creamy. Add 4 egg yolks and beat until thick and fluffy (5-7 minutes)
5. Mix in dry ingredients until smooth. Add the orange juice and zest, and stir until blended. The batter will be pretty thick.
6. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy, then add the 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until soft peaks.
7. I stirred 1/4 of the egg white mixture into the wet ingredients to lighten the batter. Carefully fold in the remaining egg whites.
8. Pour into pan(s). Bake for 35 minutes. If you used rounds, let them cool for 15 minutes before depanning. If you used the 9 x 13 pan, let it cool in the pan. Let cool completely before glazing.

Orange Glaze
1/2 c freshly squeezed orange juice
1 T grated orange zest
1/2 t vanilla extract
3 c confectioners' sugar
Mix together. Glaze the cake.

Recipes:
How to cook everything vegetarian by Mark Bittman, page 852 (has optional glaze recipes)
How to cook everything by Mark Bittman (10th Anniversary Edition) page 914 | glazes on page 919 and 924
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37 comments:

Fahrenheit 350° said... [Reply to comment]

I can't give blood, but my husband gives blood and plasma every few months! They have him on a schedule! This cake looks amazing, and those cookbooks... who knew? They are going on my list too!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said... [Reply to comment]

That cake looks really good!

Cheers,

Rosa

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

That's so great that you give blood. I've been looking into giving blood in my little community but it seems they don't have the facility for it. Bummer.

I especially wanted to give blood because if you donate on a military base it goes straight to other military members. Talk about supporting the troops.

Donna-FFW said... [Reply to comment]

This sounds so lovely, so simple, and like it is just perfect for tea or coffee. I love the shot of theglaze dripping down!!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Just in the past few weeks I've been obsessed with How to Eat Everything Vegetarian...like reading it in bed just for fun. Your results for this recipe look gorgeous!

Mary said... [Reply to comment]

This cake is on my must try list...great post....tgif. I love Mark Bittman too...have you seen on the NYTimes website where you can watch little videos of him cooking?

Erica from Cooking for Seven said... [Reply to comment]

I am intrigued by olive oil cakes. It sounds delicious, but I don't know how my family would take it. :D
Your cake looks wonderful.

Audrie said... [Reply to comment]

I think the glaze on that cake looks divine!

Irene said... [Reply to comment]

This looks wonderful, Mary! Thanks for a non-dairy recipe, I'm always looking for that for lactose intolerant friends as well as for my friends who keep Kosher.

The Blonde Duck said... [Reply to comment]

I've never heard of olive oil cake. How interesting!

Kerstin said... [Reply to comment]

Olive oil cakes seem like they are in every restaurant now! I so need to try one, yours looks great!

Audrey said... [Reply to comment]

OK, spooky, I have both of these out too. I haven't had time to make anything, but this cake will be on top of my list! Looks wonderful.
And thanks for the reminder about blood donations. There's a mobile donation van that comes to my office...I just love it when I pass the iron test!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Will def have to make the cake it looks really good.

And thanks for the reminder about donating blood. I just made an appointment for Sunday.

Bec said... [Reply to comment]

Ok, I know it's a little off topic but I thought of you. I'm making Dole Pineapple Whip for my daughter's "Enchanted Tiki Room" bday party - what sort of cupcake would you make with that? I was thinking coconut but I'm not sure.

Hennifer said... [Reply to comment]

I give blood pretty regularly.
Every time I go and read the predonation reading I am sad that more and more exclusions come up. I understand them but find them sad.

On a positive note I too adore citrus and this cake looks and sounds so yummy.

Thank you for sharing.

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

Bec, You have a recipe for the Dole Whip??!!? My total favorite part of Dland! I think coconut would be good...(but full disclosure: I'm a shredded coconut hater). Could you do some without shredded coconut on top? Or a white cake with mango pieces on top? Or lime cupcakes? The cupcakes are soooo secondary to the Dole Whip! :) - mary

Maria said... [Reply to comment]

They won't let me give blood, I don't weigh enough. So odd! I appreciate the people that do:) Glad you tried this cake, it looks fantastic!

Monica H said... [Reply to comment]

That orange glaze looks so tasty!

Ingrid_3Bs said... [Reply to comment]

Love how the glaze is dripping down the sides. Yum!
~ingrid

Nancy/n.o.e said... [Reply to comment]

I love Bittman, I love his books, I love olive oil cake, I love giving blood (but I'm way overdue, so thanks for the little reminder!), so it all adds up to: I love this post!!

betty geek said... [Reply to comment]

I love this! Olive oil cake?

That sounds awesome and your pictures convinced me, too!

What happened to our summer?! I am trying to take advantage of the last few weeks myself with ice creams and light cupcakes!

Jen H said... [Reply to comment]

This looks delicious! I love olive oil cake.

Jacque said... [Reply to comment]

I'll bet the folks at the blood drive love seeing you! This looks simple, yet delish.

So nice.

JR said... [Reply to comment]

This was a good post because it prompted me to go to the Red Cross site. I wasn't eligible to donate for several years (too long living in the UK during the Mad Cow disease high point). Sadly, I'm still ineligible because I've lived too recently in a malarial country. Three years of non-eligibility for that one! Still, at least you prompted me to check it out.

Jo said... [Reply to comment]

Hmm I've never tried making a cake with olive oil. But by the looks of your photo, it may not be that bad after all cause it sure does look moist.

Bec said... [Reply to comment]

Mary,

I like the mango & lime ideas. It's for little kids so I think they won't love shredded coconut either. You can buy the dry Dole mix that they use at Disneyland online and make it at home in an ice cream maker - it's amazing! http://uec-hawaii.com/dolewhip.html

Thanks for the ideas!

BAKE-EN said... [Reply to comment]

Your cake looks lovely. Can't wait to try this recipe.

Jennifer said... [Reply to comment]

Now THAT looks delicious!!!!!!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

I've been wanting to try this recipe since I saw it in his books. YUM.

Hungry Dog said... [Reply to comment]

Sounds (and looks!) like a perfect summer cake! I'm definitely going to make this.

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

UCLA's blood & platelet center came to my office bldg last week so I donated & got a very nice beach towel AND movie pass!

Dina said... [Reply to comment]

the cake looks great. i want to try olive oil cake!

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

Mmm this cake looks yummy & soft! I haven't checked out any of Mark Bittman's cookbooks yet - I should.

Katie said... [Reply to comment]

Ohh I've never tried an olive oil cake before, sounds yummy

Sam@BingeNYC said... [Reply to comment]

Yum! I LOVE olive oil in baked goods. Enjoy those cookbooks, they are pretty awesome!

Cindy said... [Reply to comment]

I've been meaning to make an olive-oil cake for the longest time and yuor post inspired me to do it tomorrow.

Thanks.

m said... [Reply to comment]

Tried this today, delish! By the time I got to the glaze though, I realized I had used up all my oranges, so I used lime instead... not a fan of the ultra sweet, but my girlfriend loved it and had 3 slices smothered in glaze c: the actual cake on the other hand, I ADORED, super duper moist and fluffy, definitely having some coffee with this business! Thanks so much C:

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