Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake by Baking The Goods

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake recipe video by Baking the Goods

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Inspired by a San Luis Obispo county agritour
Over 60 varietals of wine are grown in the Paso Robles region
City Farm SLO boasts 19 acres of farmland in the center of San Luis Obispo
Making Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake
California sourced ingredients
Assembling this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake is easy
Recipe
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This Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake is an easy single layer cake boasting sophisticated California inspired flavors, yet simple preparation. Ground pistachios are mixed into the rich and plush olive oil and lemon scented cake. Topped with a whipped cream cloud and fresh, champagne vinegar macerated strawberries, this effortless Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake is laid back, California chic.

Inspired by a San Luis Obispo county agritour

In April, I had the opportunity to attend my 7th agricultural tour with my partners California Grown. We have been all over the golden state from the garlic fields in Gilroy to an otherworldly protea flower farm in the majestic hills of northern San Diego county. But this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake was inspired by a tour in my own backyard, San Luis Obispo county!

The California Grown cast in San Luis Obispo at City Farm SLO.
Photo credit *James Collier for California Grown*

Sharing my county with some of my favorite friends in food was extra special for me. I feel incredibly lucky and proud to call SLO County home. Spring, in my opinion, is the peak time to visit the region. The rolling emerald hills are sprinkled in vibrant golden mustard flowers, orange poppies and swaths of purple lupine. Sharing this season with the CA Grown crew was a technicolor dream come true.

More California inspired recipes

The temperate Coastal California weather and fertile soil are ideal conditions for olive oil

Nestled into 140 acres in the rolling hills of Paso Robles, you'll find the award winning olive oil orchards and olive oil tasting room of Pasolivo. During the first stop of our tour, we took in the breathtaking landscape, home to over 7,000 olive trees & 12 different varietals. Then Marisa, a level 2 Olive Oil Sommelier, led us on an olive oil tasting. In that moment I may have discovered a new career goal! And planted a new recipe idea, Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake.

Becky Sue & Jaine at Pasolivo — Jaíne and I taking a moment at Pasolivo. No we didn't plan our outfits but we sure look good together!
Photo credit *James Collierfor CA Grown*

Pasolivo olive trees — Jaíne and I taking a moment at Pasolivo. No we didn't plan our outfits but we sure look good together!
Photo credit *James Collierfor CA Grown*

Over 60 varietals of wine are grown in the Paso Robles region

Paso Robles offers a cornucopia of rich, diverse soils and microclimates that make the area a unique and vast wine growing region. Hope Family Wines is standout Central Coast winery, deeply rooted in the community and committed to honoring the distinct terrior of the region.

I taught an Edible Centerpiece workshop during the tour

In 2024 Hope Family Wines opened Hope on Park, a new creative lab for unique wine tasting experiences in downtown Paso Robles. Here we took part in an educational rosé tasting, paired with a fresh and fabulous vegetarian meal from Alba Provisions. Afterward, I had the honor of leading our CA Grown crew in an Edible Centerpiece workshop, teaching the group how to build stunning centerpieces with fresh produce from our bountiful state!

Learn to make your own Edible Centerpieces with my step-by-step guide

tables for Edible Centerpiece class — Rebecca of Rebecca Johnson Design elegantly set up the tables for our for Edible Centerpiece class. I couldn't have pulled this off without her!
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown

Leading Edible Centerpiece class — Rebecca of Rebecca Johnson Design elegantly set up the tables for our for Edible Centerpiece class. I couldn't have pulled this off without her!
Photo credit James Collier for California Grown

My quick demo, with a little assistance from the wine tasting, opened the artistic floodgates and the CA Grown group absolutely understood the assignment. I'm always inspired by my peers on these tours but engaging in this hands-on craft project together shined a prismatic light on the ingenuity and individual creative spirit each of these talented humans holds. I knew I was surrounded by a brilliant bunch, but this group is next level. Our time at Hope on Park was as unique as the arrangements built in the creative space!

Becky Sue with Edible Centerpiece — That's me with with my demo Edible Centerpiece.
Photo credit *James Collier for California Grown*

Hope On Park wine tasting — That's me with with my demo Edible Centerpiece.
Photo credit *James Collier for California Grown*

This Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake deserves a pedestal

Irvin of Eat The Love is not only a talented baking blogger but he is also a skilled ceramicist. He handmade made custom, individual cake stands for all of us to use as the base for our edible centerpieces. While watching the crews imaginations and centerpiece skills run wild, I was already imagining how sweet a Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake would look on my new Irvin original cake stand.

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake on Irvin Lin original original cake stand — This cake was meant to be displayed on this Irvin Lin of Eat The Love original cake stand. Swoon!

90% of US grown strawberries originate from California

Throughout the Central Coast, the land is fertile and strawberries are abundant. Lucky us! The unique climate of the Central Coast nourishes the growth of sweet and flavorful strawberries. That proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides cool misty mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. Which are ideal conditions for the plump and perfect strawberries that nestle neatly atop this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake.

City Farm SLO boasts 19 acres of farmland in the center of San Luis Obispo

We also visited City Farm Slo, an urban farming collective packed into 19 acres. Tucked in the center of the San Luis Obispo between car dealerships and shopping centers. Here they are modeling innovative, regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices while supporting community by subleasing 13 acres to small, independent farmers.

City Farm SLO pollinators — Pollinators are peppered in among the crops at City Farm SLO.
Photo credit *James Collier for California Grown*

City Farm SLO garden — Pollinators are peppered in among the crops at City Farm SLO.
Photo credit *James Collier for California Grown*

With the remaining acreage, they offer educational programs that provide hands-on experiences, connecting local youth to food while educating through regenerative farming practices. Often partnering with Farmstead Ed to connect farmers with locals through education & events!

Making Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake

After that tour of SLO county, you can start to see how this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake came alive. Echoing the fresh ingredients and laid back lifestyle of the Central Coast, this simple olive oil cake is big on flavor but easy on effort. California sourced ingredients are central in this cake recipe.

Fresh picked, California grown strawberries. Is there anything sweeter?

Ingredients for Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake — Fresh picked, California grown strawberries. Is there anything sweeter?

slicing strawberries for olive oil cake — Sweet little strawberries get hulled and sliced in half before macerating with sugar and champagne vinegar.

California sourced ingredients

Pistachios are coarsely ground and blended into the cake batter, imparting a soft nutty flavor and delicate cornmeal-like texture. With a tinge of a soft green tint. Additionally, chopped pistachios add a festive sprinkle to the cake just before serving.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil from California is the key ingredient in this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake. The smooth and buttery flavor and bouncy, plush texture is all thanks to high quality, California extra virgin olive oil.
Real California Milk add richness, providing a moist and tender crumb.
Lemons are another California grown gem. In fact, over 90% of the lemons grown in the U.S. come from the golden state. So naturally, this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake includes some sunny CA lemons!
California grown strawberries are the finishing touch atop this gorgeous Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake. Peak California strawberry season begins in early spring and runs all the way through fall. So you can enjoy fresh, seasonal strawberries for months on end!
Vinegar is another CA crop that adds a zingy kiss to the fresh strawberries on this cake. I prefer a champagne or citrus vinegar because it adds a zesty brightness to the strawberries. But a balsamic or even a red wine vinegar would be a lovely layer. The vinegar adds a unique twist that makes the strawberries have an almost carbonic, effervescent quality.

California EVOO & vinegar add unexpected elegance to this Cake

Olive oil cakes are one of the simplest cakes to make. But, the flavor profile classifies them as fancy cakes! You don't even need a mixer to make this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, it blends together by hand. However, you may want to use a food processor to coarsely chop the pistachios. Worry not if you don't have one, you can absolutely use a sharp knife to whittle those pistachios down to a meal.

ground pistachios — Grinding the pistachios into a mealy texture gives the cake body and a distinctly nutty flavor with a hint of gorgeous green.

dry ingredients for olive oil cake — Grinding the pistachios into a mealy texture gives the cake body and a distinctly nutty flavor with a hint of gorgeous green.

Because California Olive Oil is subjected to a rigorous testing and labeling process, you know you are getting a superior product when you see the COOC seal on a bottle of California Olive Oil.

That combination of rich and silky olive oil and finely ground pistachio creates a plush crumb with a soft cornmeal-like texture. The grassy, freshness of the EVOO and nutty softness is an extraordinary combination of elevated flavors. Add in a zip of lemon, some mellow sweetness and a wink of vanilla and the base layer of this Pistachio Olive Oil Cake just begs to be topped with stylish simplicity.

California grown olive oil for cake — California olive oil gives this cake its plush crumb and sophisticated flavor.

Mixing pistachio olive oil cake batter — California olive oil gives this cake its plush crumb and sophisticated flavor.

Olive Oil cakes feel luxurious and refined and this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake is no exception. With a handful of additional ingredients, a simple olive oil cake takes on a distinctly California persona. I highly recommend using a good quality, neutral and fresh tasting California olive oil for this cake for a superior texture and flavor.

The easy mix of fresh, California strawberries, a light sprinkle of sugar and a gentle glug of citrus or champagne vinegar is simply tossed together and set aside to macerate. After about half an hour, the sweet and fresh strawberries transform into a more complex and interesting version of themselves. The punch of vinegar turns up the volume on the natural tartness of the strawberries and stabilizes the sweetness levels into an effortless and elegant cake topping.

champagne vinegar adds zing to strawberries — Champagne vinegar adds an effervescent zing to strawberries while a kiss of sugar rounds it all off nicely.

whipping cream for cake topping — Champagne vinegar adds an effervescent zing to strawberries while a kiss of sugar rounds it all off nicely.

Nothing hits quite like strawberries and whipped cream. Instead of making a thick frosting for this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, this cake delicately topped with fresh whipped cream. The billowy topping is an airy contrast to the velvety cush of the olive oil cake. A soft finishing touch that nestles in atop the cake and gently supports the vibrant sliced strawberries that rest on top.

Assembling this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake is easy

There are two different routes to take when assembling the Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake. It all depends on how you plan to serve and enjoy the cake. I offer 2 different options because I want you to experience this elegant cake at its utmost moment.

Party style. If you are planning to present the cake for a party or event and want to share a showstopping, then a fully assembled cake is the way to go. Top the entire cake with a billowy blanket of fresh whipped cream. Then, pile the citrus vinegar scented strawberries right on top and sprinkle with coarsely chopped pistachios. For the prettiest and freshest presentation, assemble the layers just before serving. However, the cake will remain well preserved when fully assembled in the fridge for a number of hours.
Single serving style. If, instead, you plan to take this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake down over the course of a couple of days, I advise dressing it as you go. Prepare all of the elements ahead of time and store the whipped cream and macerated berries in a sealed container. Then slice of wedges and top fresh with whipped cream, strawberries and a handful of chopped pistachios. Assembling as you go will keep the cake at optimal freshness levels.

components for assembling Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake — The 3 components for the cake , the Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, whipped cream and the strawberries and pistachios for topping.

adding whipped cream topping to olive oil cake — The 3 components for the cake , the Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, whipped cream and the strawberries and pistachios for topping.

However you choose to enjoy this Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, I hope you are able to slow down and savor the fresh California flavors baked into each bite. Because we are all about that slow living here in SLO county.

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake with rosé wine — This Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake pairs beautifully with a bottle of California rosé wine.

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake close up — This Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake pairs beautifully with a bottle of California rosé wine.

I am still floating on a cloud after this inspirational & educational tour of SLO county. Thank you to California Grown for this incredible experience. Come visit me anytime & I will take you on a mini tour & share the best that SLO county has to offer!

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake with a shirt to match! — You know that I paired the Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake with a strawberry shirt to match!

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake on a pedestal — You know that I paired the Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake with a strawberry shirt to match!

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 incredible produce grown in California, farm practices, and discover new recipes!

Strawberry Pistachio Olive Oil Cake