Description
A bright and moist cake featuring the vibrant flavor of blood oranges combined with the subtle crunch of cornmeal and the richness of olive oil. This dessert is perfect for any occasion, offering a lovely balance of citrusy sweetness and a tender crumb.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup fresh blood orange juice (about 3–4 blood oranges)
- Zest of 2 blood oranges
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat eggs and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Olive Oil and Blood Orange: Slowly whisk in olive oil, then add fresh blood orange juice and zest. Mix well.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet, stirring gently until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Pour Batter: Transfer batter to the prepared cake pan and smooth the top evenly.
- Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust and Serve: Optionally dust with powdered sugar before slicing. Serve slices plain or with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgence.
Notes
- Substitute blood oranges with regular navel oranges or mandarins if unavailable.
- Add a teaspoon of ground cardamom or cinnamon for a warm spice note.
- Mix in ½ cup toasted almonds or pistachios for added crunch.
- Top with a citrus glaze made from powdered sugar and blood orange juice for extra sweetness.
- Make mini cakes or muffins for individual servings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Modern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
