Mandarin Orange Olive Oil Cake with Maple

There were several failed test recipes before I finally found a delicious winner with this Mandarin Orange Olive Oil Cake with Maple. I love cake. I mean who doesn’t love cake – right? Since being on the Mediterranean Diet, cake does not always love me. The only desserts that love me back are built on principles of the Mediterranean Diet. What that means is a cake made with wholesome ingredients, like whole grains, made with natural sugars, like applesauce and maple syrup, and of course olive oil. The Mandarin Orange Olive Oil Cake with Maple Syrup is the perfect cake on the Mediterranean Diet!

Orange Olive Oil Cake Ingredients

• All purpose flour
• Whole wheat flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Egg
• Applesauce (no sugar added)
• Orange zest
• Sugar
• Pure maple syrup
• Orange Infused olive oil*
• Mandarin Oranges

Orange Infused Olive Oil

The secret to this cake is using a delicious olive oil. I am fortunate to have a specialty olive oil store close by and the Blood Orange Olive Oil is one of my absolute favorites. It is perfect for this cake, infusing it with just the right hint of citrus. If you do not have access to infused olive oil, do not despair. You can add two tablespoons of freshly squeezed oranges and reduce the maple syrup by the same amount. Another option is to add a teaspoon of orange extract to the olive oil.

Eating Cake is La Dolce Vita

Yes, eating cake is the sweet life. Being on the Mediterranean Diet, I find a little sweetness is more than enough for me. Infusing desserts with fruit and natural sugar allows you to enjoy the sweetness while still nourishing your body. This cake is not overly sweet, but (in my opinion) perfectly sweet. My favorite part, there is only 1/4 cup of white refined sugar! This Mediterranean Diet Orange Cake is a win in my book!

Making Mediterranean Diet Orange Cake

This cake comes together simply and works for a variety of situations. The recipe below is ideal for six (6) regular cupcakes or one nine (9) inch cake round. Doubling the recipe yields a quarter sheet cake. Tripling the recipe yields two glorious nine (9) inch rounds perfect for stacking. Yes, I may only know that because of all of the test recipes. I do want to give a shout out to my family who kept trying the various tests. Edna was enthusiastically supportive of every test (and the final recipe only exsists because of her support). A thank you to my sweet grand girl, Syeirra, who kept her apron on helping me with each attempt.

Because desserts are a once-in-awhile treat on the top of the Mediterranean Diet pyramid, the single recipe for cupcakes works best for my Sweetheart and I. Six cupcakes are just perfect to ensure we do not overeat and that making cake is worth the fuss. We enjoy one for our special event with all of the not-so-good for you toppings. The next morning, we enjoy with morning coffee. I think the morning-after is the perfect time to have another cupcake. The Mandarin Orange Olive Oil Cake with Maple Syrup is delightful plain. It has just a hint of sweetness. Think of it as a pancake, only with the syrup on the inside. It is lovely with a side of the mandarin oranges.

Make-Ahead Prep Cake

The other two cup cakes I can pop into the freezer. They unthaw in two hours on the counter and make a wonderful weekend breakfast treat, or to serve for tea with your mom. To ensure freshness, use within 4-6 weeks in the freezer. Wrap after completely cool in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer friendly baggie. Due to the moisture of the Orange Olive Oil Cake with Maple Syrup, it is an ideal make-ahead cake for an event.

Topping the Cake with Mandarin Oranges

This cake is sweet enough simply with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and a few mandarin oranges. If you are enjoying it for an event, especially if you are making a layer-cake, you will want a topping.

Topping it with whipping cream and sweet mandarin oranges is best for this cake. A buttercream, or heavy frosting is just too much for this cake. If you will be frosting the cake, making homemade whipping cream is the absolute best (Ina Garten is a go-to). Prior to my late-in-life dairy allergy, making whipping cream was the norm for me. For work parties, I like to bring a big container of home-made whipping cream and a fruit platter. So simple and it is way better for you than most of the sweet choices. Interestingly, this sweet treat is also a favorite of my work colleagues. If you do not share my dairy restrictions, making homemade whipping cream is the way to go.

I am still working on the perfect recipe for a cow-milk-free homemade topping that holds up and is yummy. Since I have not mastered the perfect whipped recipe, I will admit that I used store-bought for this cake. My Sweetheart is responsible for finding a delicious store-bought whipping cream that works for me. A vegan frozen product, Truwhip is delicious. While it is not as ideal as homemade healthwise, there are fewer bad-for-you ingredients, and more wholesome ones than other brands. More importantly, did I mention it is DELICIOUS. Even the grands were enthusiastic saying it was better than Cool Whip. When I was a kid, nothing was better than Cool Whip.

I love this Mediterranean Diet friendly cake with a dollop of whipping cream and loaded with Mandarin oranges.

La Dolce Vita!

Intested in other Mediterranean Diet recipes and tips Olive Sunshine has you covered!