Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes

These super moist & undeniably delightful Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes are simple to make but full of sunny, citrusy flavor. The tender crumb is layered with rich olive oil and a zesty burst of lemon and Limoncello. Sunshine and smiles for miles.

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• Birthdays should include Limoncello Olive Oil Cake
• Key ingredients for these little lemony cakes
• A piece of cake with a few simple tricks
• This recipe makes 2 mini cakes
• Recipe
• Recipe
• Comments

Things feel weird and emotions are at an all time extreme. Hello Covid-19, not so nice to meet ya. This pandemic situation seems to multiply all of the feelings by 5. Life feels 5 times harder, 5 times more exhausting, 5 times more emotional. But, could the silver lining in this multiplier be that the goodness is also 5 times sweeter? It's possible that these Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes taste better due to the Corona crisis. However, I have pre-corona memories of making little lemony cakes and being pretty head over heels then too. 

Birthdays in pandemic times are also a complicated mix of emotions. And, as we get older, birthdays feel less celebratory over time. Which it just silliness, to be honest. Surviving another year should always be a celebration. Especially when everything around us seems so fragile.  

Birthdays should include Limoncello Olive Oil Cake

My sweet sister had a birthday this month. Like so many, she didn't get the celebration she deserves. In an attempt to bring a slice of normalcy to these strange times, I baked up these Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes in her honor. Normally, I bake up an olive oil cake in a single 9" cake pan, like my Orange Aperitivo Olive Oil Cake.

Instead, I split the batter between two 6" cake pans, baking up two little olive oil cakes this time. One for the birthday girl and one for me! That way we could both simultaneously celebrate her birthday at a safe distance. Still coming together in the sweet spirit of cake.

Key ingredients for these little lemony cakes

• Limoncello, a hefty hit of lemon zest and lemon juice combine to bring 3 layers of bright, citrusy flavor to the cakes.
• Rich olive oil cuts through the tartness of the lemon, balancing the flavors in delightful unison. The olive oil infuses the crumb of the cakes with an unparalleled level of moistness, sorry for using that word.
• Granulated sugar is sprinkled over the olive oil cakes just before baking to give the top a slightly crunchy, sweet crust. 
• Ground ginger lends gently spiced warmth to the bright and citrusy lemon olive oil cakes. Just a teaspoon grounds the brightness in earthy spice.

A piece of cake with a few simple tricks

• Prepare your cake pans by buttering and flouring them, then lining the bottom with parchment paper. This will keep them from sticking to the pan. And it'll save you from frustration.
• Sift the dry ingredients together. This helps the ingredients mix thoroughly and gives the Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes a lighter crumb when they bake.
• Whisk the lemon zest in with the dry ingredients to keep the zest from clumping up and evenly distribute the zest throughout the cake batter.

These Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes are rich and softly sweet without being overly-indulgent

They are moist without being heavy and dessert-y without being too sweet. That spells cake perfection in my book. And these little cakes could not be easier to make, seriously. No mixer is needed for this recipe. Basically, they only take a handful of ingredients. If you don't have limoncello, it's just as good with straight up lemon. Oooh, a splash of gin could be really nice too.

The Limoncello cakes can be made as a single 9" cake pan as well but there is something extra sweet about the smaller 6" cake pan size. A mini slice feels less formal, so cake these mini lemon olive oil cakes are the perfect snacking cakes!

This recipe makes 2 mini cakes

Bake one for a friend and keep one for yourself

Baking one for you and one for a friend feels like the neighborly thing to do in this socially distanced time. Otherwise, you can wrap one up tightly and store it in the freezer for later. You'll thank yourself later.

With the bake one for a friend and keep one for yourself policy, you're sure to brighten your bud's day and lift your own spirits. These Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes are the two-fer we all deserve right now. Don't you think?

If you are in search of a gluten free olive oil cake, my friend Alison of A Girl Defloured has a beautiful recipe for The Best Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake Recipe on the Internet.

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