Italian apple olive oil cake

By BobLongo

Ingredients

• 2 large Gala apples, peeled and chopped as finely as possible
• Orange juice to soak apples in
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup gold raisins, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes and then drained well
• Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Details

Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 65mins

Preparation

Step 1

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Yield: 1 cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the chopped apples in a bowl and add orange juice; just enough juice to toss and coat apples so as to prevent browning.
In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside for now
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, add sugar and extra virgin olive oil. Mix on low for 2 minutes until well-combined
While mixer is on, add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to mix another 2 minutes until mixture increases in volume (it should be thicker but still runny)
In the large bowl with the dry ingredients, make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Add the wet mixture (the sugar and olive oil mixture) into the well. Using a wooden spoon, stir until just blended; it will be a thick batter (do not add anything to loosen it).
Drain raisins (which have been soaking in water) completely; and rid apples of excess juice. Add both raisins and apples to the batter and mix with spoon until well-combined. Again, batter will be fairly thick.
Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Spoon thick batter into the pan, and level the top with the back of your wooden spoon.
Bake in 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until an inserted tooth pick or wooden skewer comes out clean.
Cool completely in pan. When ready, simply lift parchment up to transfer cake into a serving dish. Dust with confectioner’s sugar. Alternatively, heat some dark honey to serve on top (those with a sweeter tooth like this option.)
NOTES: Important Tip using excellent extra virgin olive oil makes the biggest difference in this cake. Inferior olive oils will produce less than desirable taste. We use our Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil, Or Early Harvest extra virgin olive oil for deeper flavor.
Storage This cake is best consumed within 2-3 days or so. Store it in an airtight class container for 2-3 days in a cool and dry place. You can refrigerate, but bring to room temperature before serving.