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Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman

Sorrento Orange Olive Oil Cake

20 MINPrep Time
35 MINCook Time
8Servings
(9)
by Giada De Laurentiis
Beginner
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Newman
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This cake is light and airy with delicate notes of citrus and olive, just like a warm breeze on the cliffs in Sorrento. This cake couldn't be easier to whip up, but it's beautiful and elegant enough for any occasion.

Giada's Sorrento Orange Olive Oil Cake

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Sorrento Orange Olive Oil Cake

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Servings

1 Serving

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

35 minutes

Image of Sorrento Orange Olive Oil Cake

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8-inch-diameter cake pan that is at least 2” tall in height, and line the bottom with parchment paper. Lightly oil the paper and set aside.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt to blend. Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the sugar, eggs, and zest on high until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the milk and gradually beat in the oil. Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the almonds, reserving a few to scatter on top. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and sprinkle with the remaining almonds.

  3. Place the cake pan on a straight sided baking sheet to collect any possible spills. Bake until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool for 15 minutes. Remove cake from the pan and cool completely, top side up.

  4. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, mix the cream, sugar and vanilla on high until medium peaks form. Do not overwhip, as the mixture can curdle if overmixed.

  5. To serve, top the cake with a layer of the lightly whipped sweetened cream. Sprinkle the whipped cream with candied orange peels to garnish, and serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition

Nutrition Serving Size
1 Serving
per serving
Calories
442
Amount/Serving % Daily Value
Fat
26.3 grams
41%
Saturated Fat
3.9 grams
19%
Trans Fat
0 grams
Cholesterol
70.5 milligrams
24%
Sodium
239.5 milligrams
10%
Carbs
46.6 grams
16%
Fiber
1.6 grams
6%
Sugar
27 grams
Protein
6.6 grams
13%

34 comments

  • Author's avatar image
    Kimberly - Nov 26

    Can I substitute almond milk instead of regular milk? I asked on the Live show today, but Giada didn’t think Milk was included. Thanks

    The Giadzy Kitchen - Nov 26

    Ciao! While Giada might not have remembered during the live show, almond milk works perfectly as a substitution in this recipe. 😊 Apologies if you didn’t catch the answer during the live!

  • Author's avatar image
    Kristen - Nov 03
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★
    Image provided in comment by Kristen

    I followed the directions perfectly and like many others, the center fell. I baked for 35 minutes. I feel like if I would’ve baked longer it would have been too dry. My guests loved the way it tasted but I was disappointed. I wish there would’ve been enough ingredients to make 2 cakes! I’d love to try it again.

  • Author's avatar image
    Earlane - Oct 25
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    I love this recipe. I was a little hesitant at first because I thought all that olive oil would make it greasy. It was light and fluffy with that wonderful orange accent. Can’t wait to have it with the whipped cream topping. It was good enough with just the powdered sugar. Thank you!

  • Author's avatar image
    SciFiGirl007 - Aug 26
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★
    Image provided in comment by SciFiGirl007

    Baked per directions.

  • Author's avatar image
    Mary - Apr 17
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    Made this delicious cake for Easter Sunday, and it was wonderful. I received so many compliments!

  • Author's avatar image
    Rosa Marie - Apr 01

    Baked this DELICIOUS cake for Palm Sunday! I used an 8” round spring form pan! It did not sink in the middle! I overbaked it! Flavor spectacular! Dry ! My fault! Buona Pasquale!

  • Author's avatar image
    Daisy Lopez - Jan 31
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    P.S. After posting my previous comment, I realized that I had combined some of the sorrento olive oil to mix with organic rosemary to dip with fresh bread. Delicious!

  • Author's avatar image
    Daisy Lopez - Jan 31
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    I followed Maria’s recommendation and used a bundt pan. I buttered the pan and did not use parchment paper. I used a 1/2 cup of almond flour and 1 cup of regular flour and it came out great! It was so moist and delicious! I didn’t have any almonds, so I didn’t use them. I also didn’t think it needed the topping.. it is something I will make again. Mine sank a little in the middle as others mentioned, but it was cooked all the way through after 35 minutes in the bundt pan. Interesting side note: I used up the last of the Sorrento Olive Oil that came with the Pasta of the Month box (Jan. 2024) which was the Fregola and Citrus Salad. Between the citrus salad recipe and this cake, the one bottle was the perfect amount for both recipes! I would have given this 5 stars but it only allowed me to give it 4 stars for some reason. Thank you Giada!

  • Author's avatar image
    Tricia - Dec 04
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    this cake was light and not too sweet- you need to follow directions closely like SLOWLY adding in the olive oil..I used a square 8 inch pan -it was perfect and delicious

  • Author's avatar image
    Jovi Anne - Nov 28
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★

    I followed the recipe exactly as written and it came out fine, flavor was great but texture too dry. Eyeballing the amount of batter, I used a 9-inch springform pan lined with parchment paper. It had a good rise, and I did not have the problem of overflow or of a sinking middle like others have written. I did expect the cake to be moist though, but I found myself putting extra whipped cream on it because of how dry it was. Could that be because it was spread out too thin in the 9-inch pan? I don’t want to have to buy a deeper 8-inch pan just to make this cake though.

    Giadzy - Nov 30

    We are so sorry this recipe didn’t turn out right for you! As you mentioned, I think it had something to do with the larger pan. When we use larger pans, we always recommend to start checking the cake earlier than the recipe states, as it will bake a lot quicker when the batter is spread out more. If you make the cake again using a 9 inch pan, we suggest you start checking it as early as 25 to 30 minutes into the baking time! Hope this helps :)

  • Author's avatar image
    Karen - Nov 22

    Can this cake be made a day ahead, or is it better the day of? I am thinking of making for Thanksgiving.

    The Giadzy Kitchen - Nov 22

    You can definitely make it a day ahead or day of—either would be delicious!

  • Author's avatar image
    Maria - Sep 25
    ★★★★★
    ★★★★★
    Image provided in comment by Maria

    Prior to making this cake I read most of the comments and what struck me was the fact that many were experiencing the center flopping or not fully baked. Giving it some thought I decided to use a Bundt Cake Pan thinking that the heat from the tube would bake it well. I also added an extra 1/4 cup of flour. Baked it for 35 minutes and it came out devine.

  • Author's avatar image
    The Giadzy Kitchen - Aug 18

    @Maria that would be delicious!

  • Author's avatar image
    Maria - Aug 18

    I was wondering if you can use an olive oil infused with blood oranges or does that change the taste a lot? Thank you!

  • Author's avatar image
    Jenny - Aug 08

    I finally had a chance to make this. And unfortunately I didn’t realize until I had already done it that I was supposed to add the flour mixture in later. All in all turned out ok. The cake was very high and seemed a little dry. So I look forward to trying it again.

  • Author's avatar image
    Lois - Aug 07

    I just made this and the tooth pick came out clean so I took it out of the oven. As it cooled mine sank in the middle also. When I cut 8th the cake the middle was still raw. The taste is delicious but so disappointed.

  • Author's avatar image
    Shelly - Jul 24

    I made this yesterday, using a blood orange olive oil that I found at my local olive oil store (since I didn’t have the brand that Giada recommends). 34 minutes was the perfect amount of baking time in my oven, and the cake turned out golden and almost perfect… Just a slight sinking in the center, but still cooked through. The texture inside was light & fluffy, with a perfect crumb, and the flavor was delicious! I served it with whipped cream and mixed berries. I will definitely make this again!

    I don’t usually have whole milk on hand, and substituted 1/4 cup nonfat milk, -2 teaspoons, and added 2 teaspoons of melted butter to it
  • Author's avatar image
    Liz - Jun 19

    Followed the directions and it’s PERFECT. This one is one of those cakes you’ll find yourself making over and over again. Not a fan of orange blossom water so if you’re making the glaze, go for it. I did not. Cake is perfect as is

  • Author's avatar image
    The Giadzy Kitchen - Apr 12

    @Susanna thanks for the feedback! Our best guess is that is could have something to do with the emulsifying of the oil. Be sure to add the oil very slowly while mixing so that it fully emulsifies with the rest of the batter. If the next time you bake it, the middle still seems not fully cooked when you insert a toothpick, you can always put it back in the oven for another 5-10 more minutes!

  • Author's avatar image
    Susanna - Apr 12

    I am the third person in my family to make this cake following the recipe exactly and all three of us have had the cake sink in the middle. I used a wet cake strip around the outer rim of the 8 inch pan to keep the outside from cooking too soon before the inside, and the cake still sank.. there must be something wrong with the amount of leavening used in this cake. It’s a delicious cake and worth tinkering with the recipe to see if I can get the cake to bake properly. My dad has been baking for probably 40 years and he was unable to get the cake to bake evenly.

  • Author's avatar image
    Claire - Mar 01

    Recipe calls for an 8in pan placed on a pan with sides in case of overflow. Now I know why – I used my mothers original 8 in cake pan – it filled the pan to the top with some left over. I took out some batter. It DID overflow the edges making it almost impossible to get out. I’m a baker – this has never happened before. I reviewed earlier videos of her making the cake – you never see it coming out of the pan. Other olive oil cake recipes call for a 9 in spring foam pan. If I make it again I definitely will do that. It will be a thinner, but pretty slice.

  • Author's avatar image
    The Giadzy Kitchen - Feb 27

    @Janice Miller—Either pan should work as long as it an 8-inch cake pan! Hope this helps!

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