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Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

It doesn't get much more California than this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Artichoke and olive oil give this cake its earthy richness and decadent, custardy texture. Light and airy lemony cream cheese frosting crowns the cake in a stunning blooming artichoke design.

Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting by Baking The Goods
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting by Baking The Goods.
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Yes, I know. Artichoke does not come to mind when you think of cake. It likely sounds weird and unappealing at first. But hear me out on this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.

I’ll start by jogging Zucchini Bread or Carrot Cake in your food memory bank. Think of how moist and tender the crumb of those cakes can be. Then I’ll gently remind you how delightful olive oil cake is. Finally, I'll nudge you over the edge of skepticism with a creamy, dreamy, bright, zesty, light and airy layer of lemony cream cheese frosting.

This Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is all those things. It's indulgent yet not too sweet. It's an earthy, slightly spiced, lemony cake with an almost custardy texture. Sounds delightful, right?

This very California cake was inspired by a recent Agritour in Monterey, CA with California Grown

In early May of 2022, I traveled down to California's stunning Monterey coastline with a group of food industry friends from all over the country. In just a day and a half, our California Grown-led tour took us to a mushroom farm, the largest organic farm in the US, and a coastal artichoke farm. That 36 hours was an educational bounty of agricultural information. I left feeling 10 times smarter and 10 times hungrier. 

Ocean Mist Farms artichoke field. Photo by James Collier
Ocean Mist Farms artichoke field. Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.

The artichoke is California's official state vegetable

Fresh picked purple artichoke
A great big beautiful artichoke freshly harvested from the fields.
boxing up artichokes
Off they go! Ocean Mist has a 4 hour cut to cool policy.

The tour took us to Ocean Mist Farms, the largest grower of fresh artichokes in North America. Aside from a few hobbyist gardeners with a plant or two, I'd never seen artichokes growing up close. It is a sight to be seen. The lush green rows seemed to go on forever with big, beautiful artichoke buds popping up in a green and purple haze.

Artichokes peaking up at Ocean Mist Farms.
Artichokes peeking up at Ocean Mist Farms.
Becky & Kyle in artichoke field
Kyle and I out in the field in search of the prettiest artichokes.
Becky photographing artichoke
The artichoke plants are so hypnotizing. Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.
Meg & Becky at Ocean Mist Farms
Meg and I were clearly enthralled by all of the artichoke knowledge being dropped on us!
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.

California produces 100% of the commercial U.S. artichoke crop

  • The artichoke is actually the bud of a plant from the thistle family.
  • Artichoke plants grow to a width of about six feet and an average height of three to four feet. But we saw some plants that grew up over 6 feet tall!
  • Ocean Mist harvesters are highly skilled at their craft, with a keen eye for harvesting the chokes at optimal picking time.
  • Every artichoke plant is hand-harvested up to 30 times per season.
  • The 4 hour cut to cool policy ensures that the artichokes are as fresh as possible.

We had the honor of watching the Harvesters deftly navigate the rough rows and quickly spy the best artichokes for picking. The process was beyond impressive. In one quick swoop, they slice off the golden globes and toss them over their shoulder into a backpack called a canasta. They fill the canastas, empty them at the boxing truck, then hit the rows again.

When full of artichokes, canastas can weigh up to 100 lbs

Ocean Mist Farms artichoke field. Photo by James Collier
Harvesters skillfully select and harvest the freshest and finest artichokes.
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.
Filled artichoke canasta
A canasta backpack brimming with freshly harvested artichokes.
CA Grown Agritour 2022 at Ocean Mist Farms
The whole crew hanging in the artichoke fields during our CA Grown Agritour at Ocean Mist Farms. So fun to see old friends and make new buds on this tour!
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.

We also visited Far West Fungi. I could go on and on about how cool it was to see the entire mushroom growing process. We saw the substrate (sawdust) base and the inoculation, incubation, and final bloom! Check out Far West Fungi to learn more about the cool, dark, and fascinating world of mushroom cultivation.

Lions Mane Mushroom at Far West Fungi
An incredible Lion's Mane mushroom at Far West Fungi.
Mushrooms growing
Mushrooms blooming at Far West Fungi.
Rebecca & Becky touring Far West Fungi
Becky and I had too much fun on the Far West Fungi tour. Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.

The tour also stopped at Lakeside Organic Gardens, the largest family-owned and operated solely organic vegetable grower/shipper in the USA. They produce over 45 different commodities year-round, all proudly 100% organically grown. Lakeside uses everything from ladybugs to sweet alyssum and even a giant bug vacuum tractor to ward off pests and keep their produce pesticide-free.

Rows of lettuce at Lakeside Organic Farms
Rows of lettuce lined with sweet alyssum to ward off pests at Lakeside Organic Farms.
The bug vacuum in action at Lakeside Organic Farms
The bug vacuum in action at Lakeside Organic Farms.
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown.

Each of the farms we visited is committed to sustainably growing and distributing their crops. I was beyond impressed by all 3 farms. But, walking the artichoke fields was particularly awe-inspiring and educational.

The anatomy of an Artichoke

  • The bud contains the heart, the buttery and meaty core of the artichoke.
  • The heart is topped by a fuzzy center known as the choke. The choke is indeed a choking hazard and must be removed before enjoying.
  • Rows of soft inner petals and tougher outer leaves (bracts) surround and protect the artichoke heart.
  • The outer bracts have tiny thorns that protect the inner heart. The thorns can be snipped off before preparing.

For this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake, I used fresh Ocean Mist Farms Artichokes found here at my local market in Oregon. Once I steamed up the artichokes, I was able to break them down and snack on the leaves with a little melted garlic butter and lemon. So good!

How to steam artichokes

I found this helpful video on how to steam artichokes on the Ocean Mist website. Meg from This Mess Is Ours has written a super helpful post where she breaks down how to break down a choke.

preparing artichokes
The artichokes need to be trimmed before steaming.
steaming artichokes
Steaming the artichokes is my preferred method for preparing them for this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.
steamed artichokes cooling
Once steamed, allow the artichokes to cool with the stem side up to remove excess moisture.
removing choke from artichoke
The fuzzy choke is inedible. It should be fully removed before removing the hearts.

Artichoke hearts are the heart of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake

Artichoke hearts give the cake an earthy, buttery depth. The hearts are roughly chopped, then pureed in a blender with olive oil and lemon juice, imbuing the cake with its decadent moist crumb.

Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
The artichoke hearts are the heart of this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake.
artichoke hearts, olive oil and lemon juice
The hearts are blended together with the olive oil and lemon juice until smooth.
lended artichoke hearts, olive oil and lemon juice
The blended artichoke hearts, olive oil and lemon juice give the Artichoke Olive Oil Cake its signature flavor and texture.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake batter
The artichoke puree is stirred in with the dry ingredients until just blended.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake batter in pan
The Artichoke Olive Oil Cake batter gets baked in a prepared 9" cake pan.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake cooling
Once baked, allow the Artichoke Olive Oil Cake to cool while you prepare the frosting.

This Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting was inspired by farms & friends

On the Agritour, my sweet friend Meg from This Mess Is Ours brought me an artichoke cupcake from Pezzini Farms. I ceremoniously devoured that cupcake during a blissful moment alone along a beautiful stretch of beach in Carmel.

It tasted like a spiced zucchini cake and was so much better than I imagined. At that moment, I knew I needed to make my own version of an artichoke cake.

I was also inspired by a new friend I met on tour, Kyle of Urban Farmstead. He shared a striking image of his artichoke flowers blooming in his garden. It was so stunning, it stuck with me. I just had to recreate that image in cake form. The seed for this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe was planted!

Becky enjoying an Artichoke Cupcake in Carmel
Kyle's artichoke plant
Kyle has some beautiful images of his blooming artichoke plants and this one was the inspiration for my cake design! Photo credit Kyle Hagerty of Urban Farmstead.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
My Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Do you see the resemblense to Kyle's plant?

Artichokes, olive oil and lemon; does it get any more California than that?

This trifecta of California grown flavors work so well together. The cake has a hint of warm ginger, a bit of sweetness, and the creamiest, dreamiest lemon cream cheese frosting adorning the top in a beautiful blooming artichoke design.

California grown artichokes, lemons and olive oil
The superstars of this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting – California grown artichokes, lemons and olive oil.

Ways to make baking with artichokes easier

  • Instead of steaming and breaking down fresh artichokes, use canned artichoke hearts. Just be sure to use the hearts in a basic brine, not the flavorful marinated version.
  • If you're short on time, skip the design! No need to pipe on the fancy artsy design, just use an offset spatula to swoop and swirl that frosting on top!

One of the best things about olive oil cakes is their simplicity. And if you use those two time-saving moves, this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is a breeze. So go ahead, give this artichoke cake a go! The recipe is uniquely California and pure gold.

To find even more recipes inspired by and created in California, check out my friend Aida's website, Salt & Wind Travel, where she shares 27 Famous Dishes: What Is Iconic California Food (2024).

Thank you, California growers

This Agritour was an educational smorgasbord and the inspiration I needed to boost my creative kitchen juices again. I never would have thought to use artichoke in a cake had I not been given this opportunity. It's possible we are all a little better for this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe existing. Without a doubt, we are absolutely better for knowing where our food comes from, how it grows, and the process to get it from the farms to our tables.

A huge thank you to California Grown for the insightful tour. Thanks to all of the friendly and informative folks at Ocean Mist Farms, Far West Fungi, and Lakeside Organic Gardens. Much love to all of the hardworking farmers, growers, and harvesters throughout California who work tirelessly to provide nourishment and sustenance.

This post was proudly made in partnership with California Grown. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting me and the brands that I love. Follow @cagrownofficial on Instagram to learn more about the foods grown in California, farm practices, and discover new recipes!

Frosting cake with an artichoke flower design

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients
The lemon cream cheese is a simple mix of cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and lemon.
frosting decorating tips
To make the blooming artichoke flower design, you need: #3 Round Tip #125 Leaf Tip #127 Leaf Tip.
Frosting the Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Begin by spreading on an even layer of about half of the frosting.
Decorating the Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Tip: use cups and bowls to mark concentric guide rings to keep the leaf decorations centered.
Decorating Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Following the guide rings, begin by piping the outer leaves using the large petal tip.
Decorating Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Use the smaller #125 tip to add an inner ring of smaller leaves.
Use a #2 or #3 round tip to pipe on the inner choke floret threads.
Close up of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Then finish by adding another ring or two of floret threads and about an inch of dots in the center.
Swoopy swirls of Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting on Artichoke Olive Oil Cake.
Or skip all of that and just spread that frosting into swoopy swirls of airy delight!
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
This Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting radiates with California warmth.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting on counter
A simple cake with luxurious flavor depth. Now that's my kind of cake.
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting from Baking The Goods
I just can't get over how gorgeous this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is!
Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting sliced
It's still stunning even when sliced!
Slice of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
The tender moist crumb is a delight with an almost custardy texrure.

If you are looking for a gluten free Olive Oil Cake recipe, my friend Alison of A Girl Defloured has a delightful recipe for The Best Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake Recipe on the Internet. Her site is one of my top go-to's for gluten free baking recipes!

Slice of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Who's ready for a slice of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting?
Slices of Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
This Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is great for dessert but also tastes pretty dang delish with coffee for breakfast.

Recipe

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Recipe

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Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

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Description

It doesn't get much more California than this Artichoke Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. Artichoke and olive oil give this cake its earthy richness and decadent, custardy texture. Light and airy lemony cream cheese frosting crowns the cake in a stunning blooming artichoke design.

Ingredients

Units

Artichoke Olive Oil Cake

  • 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped (3-4 fresh artichokes or 1 can artichoke hearts)
  • 1 ¼ cups whole milk
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 medium lemons, zested & juiced
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

Artichoke Olive Oil Cake

  1. If using fresh artichokes, first prepare artichokes for steaming. Snap off the tough outer leaves. Using a serrated knife, cut off about 1” from the top of the artichoke. Snip off the remaining sharp, spiky tips with kitchen shears. Slice off about ¼” of the end of the stem.
    Place a steaming basket in a large pot filled with water until it reaches just under the basket. Add the trimmed artichokes to the steaming basket in a single layer, with the stems facing up. Cover with a tight fitting lid.
    Bring to a boil on high heat. Steam until tender, about 30 minutes for medium sized artichokes and 45-60 minutes for large or jumbo sized.
  2. Once steamed, place the artichokes stem up on a cutting board to cool.
    When cool enough to handle, carefully pull open the petals at the top of the artichoke and remove the small, inner inedible leaves and the hairy "choke" by scraping the fuzz away with a spoon. Carefully pull the tender edible leaves away from the heart and set aside to snack on with melted garlic butter and lemon! Once you are down to just the hearts, chop into about ½” hunks. You will need about 1 cup of chopped hearts.
  3. If using canned artichoke hearts, remove from the can juices and chop into ½” hunks. You will need about 1 cup of chopped hearts.
  4. Combine the chopped hearts with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and olive oil in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
  5. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan or spring form pan that is at least 2 inches deep (it will spill over if it is smaller) with olive oil. Line the bottom parchment paper, grease and dust lightly with flour.
  6. In a bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and ginger. Whisk in lemon zest.
  7. In another bowl, whisk the milk, eggs and blended artichoke mix until smooth.
  8. Stir into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  9. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is golden and a cake tester comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
    Run a knife around the edge of the pan, invert the cake onto the rack and allow to cool completely.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Combine cream cheese, butter and lemon zest together in the bowl of a stand mixer. With the whisk attachment, mix on high speed until smooth and airy. Add the lemon juice and blend until smooth.
    Stop and add the sifted powdered sugar. Mix together on a low speed until the powdered sugar is absorbed. Then turn up to medium high speed and mix until smooth and airy.
  2. For Basic Frosting, use an offset spatula to simply spread the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting over the top of the cooled cake, adding swoops and swirls.
  3. For Blooming Artichoke Flower Design, you will need 2 frosting bags, a #2 or #3 Round Tip, a #125 Leaf Tip #127 Leaf Tip.
  4. First spread about half of the frosting in an even layer over the surface of the cake. Use 3 diffrent sized cups or bowls to mark 3 concentric guide rings radiating from the center of the cake. This will help keep the design perfectly centered.
  5. Following the guide rings, begin by piping the outer leaves using the #127 Leaf Tip. Align the tip sideways along the outer guide ring, then gently pipe on the frosting as you pull away towards the edge, rotating a quarter turn and creating a pointed tip. Repeat all the way around the outer guide ring. Then repeat the process using the smaller #125 Leaf Tip along the next concentric guide ring.
  6. Using a #2 or #3 Round Tip, pipe straight threads radianting out from the inner guide ring all the way around. Layer in another one or two additional rings with shorter threads from the center. To finish, pipe dots in the center 1"-2" of the cake. And voila, you have a beautiful, radiant blooming artichoke flower cake!

Notes

Store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Watch how to steam artichokes on the Ocean Mist website.

Meg from This Mess Is Ours has written a super helpful post where she breaks down how to break down an  artichoke.

  • Prep Time: 2 hours
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: cake

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  1. Steve says

    Oh my goodness! Could you substitute almond flower and monkfruit for a more keto friend version? His is a wonderful article and beautiful photographs!

    Reply

    • beckysue says

      Hi Steven. I haven't tried but I feel like this cake is robust enough that it would work with almond flour. Let me know how it goes if you try it!

      Reply