Name: Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: cake
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar – divided; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 1/3 cups extra virgin olive oil; 1 1/4 cups whole milk (- at room temperature); 3 large eggs (- at room temperature); 2 medium – large lemons (- zested & juiced); 1/4 cup limoncello (- or 1/4 cup of additional fresh squeezed lemon juice); 1-2 tablespoon powdered sugar

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Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes by Baking The Goods.

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 cake and these Limoncello Olive Oil Cakes are a celebration in and of themselves.

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. While still coming together in the sweet spirit of cake.

Key ingredients and a few tricks make these little lemony cakes extra special.

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.

Limoncello Olive Oil Cake ingredients — These cakes are simple to make and only require a handful of ingredients you probably already have lying around. Like all purpose flour, whole milk, eggs, ground ginger, olive oil and lemons. If you don’t have limoncello, I highly suggest adding some to your liquor cabinet. If not, no worries, you can just use more lemon juice in its place!

Prepared cake pans — These cakes are simple to make and only require a handful of ingredients you probably already have lying around. Like all purpose flour, whole milk, eggs, ground ginger, olive oil and lemons. If you don’t have limoncello, I highly suggest adding some to your liquor cabinet. If not, no worries, you can just use more lemon juice in its place!

This cake recipe is a piece of cake with a few simple tricks mixed in.

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 tooughroully 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 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.

mixing olive oil cake batter — These two cakes come together easily by first mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl, then mixing the wet ingredients in a second bowl.

Limoncello Olive Oil Cake batter — These two cakes come together easily by first mixing the dry ingredients in one bowl, then mixing the wet ingredients in a second bowl.

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 and black coffee for breakfast feels completely acceptable.

Since this recipe makes 2 mini cakes, you can 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.

Limoncello Olive Oil Cake batter in pans — Divide the Limoncello Olive Oil cake batter evenly between 2 prepared 6″ cake pans or 1 prepared 9″ cake pan. Then sprinkle the top with granulated sugar to add add some crusty goodness as it bakes!

Cooled cakes — Divide the Limoncello Olive Oil cake batter evenly between 2 prepared 6″ cake pans or 1 prepared 9″ cake pan. Then sprinkle the top with granulated sugar to add add some crusty goodness as it bakes!

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?