Can olive oil be used in cake mix?

We know what you’re thinking: olive oil and cake mix together? For real? It definitely sounds very weird! But you will be surprised to know that pastry chefs have been using olive oil in their cakes for a long time.

So can olive oil be used in cake mix?

Yes, you can use olive oil in the cake mix. It makes your cake soft, moist and fluffy, just the way a cake should be. When you incorporate olive oil in place of vegetable oil or butter, be sure to account for any flavor changes that might affect that cake. 

Now, let’s get started with the article to know more about how to use olive oil in cake mix.

Is it possible to use olive oil in the cake mix?

Olive oil has the highest amount of monounsaturated fats among all oils. This means that it is the healthiest for our body compared to canola oil or vegetable oil.

Vegetable oil is most commonly used in cake mixes, so you can easily swap vegetable oil for olive oil.  Not only does it make your cake a little healthier, but it preserves the soft, moist quality of the cake. 

It is also a good substitute for butter. Butter is high in fat and calories, and expensive! You can use olive oil instead of butter to make your cake healthier and cheaper.

But make sure you use the right brand of olive oil. A good brand of olive oil can give your cake a subtle, neutral flavor.

How to use olive oil in cakes

Olive oil cakes can be a bit tricky. They’re soft and moist, but they don’t provide the aeration that butter and sugar create.

You have to understand the flavor profile of the cakes you are baking. If you’re making a confetti or vanilla cake, try opting for butter. A vanilla cake has no other flavor than that of butter and vanilla.

In the final result, the flavor of the oil is noted. Therefore, if you are not comfortable with the taste, I advise you to switch to butter. 

However, some recipes call for vegetable oil or olive oil. They are specially designed for baking a cake in which the flavor is more nuanced. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when baking an olive oil cake:

alter the recipe

If the recipe calls for butter, use 75% oil. For example, if the recipe calls for you to use 1 cup of butter in a cake, use 150 ml or 5 ounces of olive oil.

If the recipe calls for the use of vegetable oil, then you can substitute using an equal amount of olive oil. The taste will be different, as extra virgin olive oil may have a bit of a fruity taste, but it is very mild.

If you don’t want a fruity taste in your cake, reduce the amount of oil by 10-20%. 

Cooking time

The cooking time is not altered while baking and remains the same regardless of the oil used. However, you want the cake to have a perfectly smooth and moist texture.

Therefore, after a certain time, check by inserting the cake tester, and if it comes out clean, your cake is cooked.

read the instructions

If you are using a cake mix, it is essential that you read the instructions on the box. Typically, cake mix boxes often ask pastry chefs to use oil. There are very few mixes available on the market that use butter.

Cake mix is cheap, so the idea of making a cake with cake mix calls for using affordable products.

Taste

The taste of an olive oil cake is different from that of a cake that uses vegetable oil or butter.

Good olive oil tastes fruity, but vegetable oil tastes very mild. The ingredients for a cake that uses butter are usually right around the rich creaminess of butter.

In an olive oil tart, the flavor is very marked, and you can taste the olive oil in the tart. However, if you use the oil sparingly and accompany it with a good flavoring, no one will be able to distinguish the flavor.

It will be good to use whipped cream or butter cream to decorate the cake. It will help soften the flavor of the oil in the cake.

different cakes

You cannot use olive oil in all cakes. Its flavor will be best combined with cakes that have additional ingredients.

For example, don’t put olive oil on vanilla cakes or confetti because they don’t have any other flavor to add. Instead, they are only vanilla flavored, so the flavor of the oil will be more noticeable.

Use olive oil in chocolate or carrot cakes . The flavor of chocolate and carrots will overpower the flavor of the oil. Almond cake and chocolate orange cake taste better with olive oil. 

What does olive oil cake taste like?

The taste of olive oil cakes depends on the quality you use.

If you use normal olive oil, its flavor will be subtle and smooth. But with extra virgin olive oil, the taste ranges from fruity to slightly bitter. The bitter taste of the oil is due to the method of processing the olives.

With the cold pressing method, the oil from the olive is squeezed out, and it preserves the bitter taste of the olives. That is why we recommend that you use extra light olive oil so that the flavor of the cake is soft and not bitter.

In general, the flavor of olive oil cakes is smooth and fruity. However, the cakes are pleasantly savory and provide a different flavor profile than regular cakes.

Its texture is also very soft and moist. So you won’t miss the aeration created by the butter and sugar.

How to make the perfect olive oil cake

To make the perfect olive oil cake, you will need to follow the process below:

Ingredients:

1. Flour - 2 cups
2. Almond flour - ¼ cup
3. Sugar - 2 cups
4. Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
5. Egg - 1
6. Olive oil - 170 ml or 5.7 oz
7. Milk - 120 ml or 4 oz
8. Zest of 1 lemon
9. Salt - ½ teaspoon
10. Almond extract - ½ teaspoon 

Instructions:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
   2. Mix the egg, olive oil, milk and almond extract in a large bowl. 
   3. In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, such as flour, almond flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt. 
   4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture slowly until smooth. 
   5. Pour the batter into a tart pan.
   6. Bake the cake for 35 minutes or until it is golden in color. Have a cake tester handy to check if the cake is done or not. 
   7. Insert the cake measurer into the cake, and if it comes out dry, the cake is done. If it comes out wet, put the cake back in the oven for a couple more minutes.

Tips for Making the Best Olive Oil Cake

Here are some tips you can follow when making your next olive oil cake:

Relationship

If it is a shortbread cake, use only 75% oil in the cake. However, if the recipe calls for vegetable oil, use an equal measure of olive oil.

follow the recipe

Follow the recipe exactly as listed on the cake mix box. The recipe is meant to be followed exactly, so don’t stray too far from it.

used oil

Use extra light olive oil, as it will provide a mild flavor to the cake, unlike extra virgin olive oil, which provides a fruity and bitter taste.

additional flavors

Use additional flavors in the cake, such as lemon, orange, carrots, or almonds, to give the cake a different flavor. Citrus fruits work wonders with olive oil, which is why they are highly recommended.

Cooking time

The cooking time of the olive oil cake does not change. Have your cake tester ready and, after the time has elapsed, check if it is cooked. It will take the same time as a typical cake.

Garrison

Olive oil cakes taste good even without a garnish. However, you can enhance its flavor by adding powdered sugar. It will add a slightly sweet flavor to the cake and elevate its flavor.

Storage

It is important to store the cake properly. Be sure to place it in an airtight container for up to 2 days on the counter. You can also store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Final thoughts

Olive oil brings a different flavor dimension to the cake. It seems like a strange flavor combination with the cake, but it works well. It can be a substitute for butter, as well as vegetable oil, because the texture remains soft and moist.

In general, we recommend that you use good quality olive oil in your cakes to give them a different flavor and make them a bit healthier.