Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Crystallized Ginger

Last Updated on April 5, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

This cake is a stunner! I’ve made a few olive oil cakes here on the blog that I’ve loved — this orange rosemary olive oil cake is so bright and balanced, and this vegan lemon-pistachio olive oil cake is a delicious, nutty treat! But this chocolate olive oil cake is in a class unto itself. It’s got a rich chocolate flavor with a crumb that is super moist and dense, yet soft and tender. And my favorite part: the bursts of flavor from the crystallized ginger dotted throughout the cake! The flavors of the ginger and chocolate work so well together, and the slight chewy crunch of each gingery piece is like a party in your mouth!

What does olive oil do to a cake?

Olive oil makes cakes so delicious! It’s definitely a different flavor than butter, but so good. Depending on the richness of the flavor of the olive oil that you use, it can add a bright, fruity, slightly savory flavor to your cake that works really well with citrus flavors, herbs, or with the rich chocolate flavor in this chocolate olive oil cake! Olive oil also contributes to a moister, lighter texture! Because olive oil is a liquid at room temperature and contains no water, this chocolate olive oil cake has a rich, velvety texture won’t dry out as quickly as a cake made with butter.

Olive oil also provides a great source of polyphenols, an antioxidant that has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer. Baking with olive oil is also great for limiting saturated fat and and getting in healthy monounsaturated fats. So this chocolate olive oil cake is a treat you can feel a little bit better about!

Ingredients

• granulated sugar – you won’t need too much sugar for this recipe — this chocolate olive oil cake isn’t too sweet, and the brightness of the olive oil, gingers, and lemon zest balance it perfectly.
• lemon zest – the lemon zest helps to bring out the brightness of the ginger in this velvety cake — it might seem odd to include lemon zest in a chocolate cake, but I love the flavor contrast!
• all-purpose flour – make sure that your flour is measured by weight with a kitchen scale (you’ll need 128 grams of flour) or using the spoon-and-level method.
• baking powder – gives this chocolate olive oil cake a nice lift!
• unsweetened cocoa powder – measure cocoa powder the same way you measure your flour to make sure it’s accurate.
• ground ginger – This is optional, but to bump up the ginger flavor in the cake, I added a bit of ground ginger. I love the extra spice it adds to the chocolate flavor!
• salt – we’ll definitely need a bit of salt to bring out the gingery and chocolate flavors in this olive oil cake!
• crystallized ginger – my favorite part! Using crystallized (or candied) ginger in this chocolate olive oil cake gives each bite a bright burst of ginger flavor. You’ll just chop them and toss them in with your dry ingredients.
• eggs – make sure your eggs are room temperature before adding them to the recipe, to make sure your cake has the best texture and most even bake.
• vanilla extract – your best bet for this chocolate olive oil cake is a good-quality pure vanilla extract. Or better yet, check out my post on how to make vanilla extract at home with just 2 ingredients!
• extra-virgin olive oil – this is the star of this recipe! Use a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil with a bold, fruity flavor. I would recommend opting for a cold-pressed variety, and organic if possible. The olive oil I used for this chocolate olive oil cake is La Tourangelle Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil.
• whole milk – you can definitely swap in a nondairy milk or another variety of dairy milk that you like. Adjust it to your preference!
• boiling water – this helps to “bloom” the cocoa powder and bring out the chocolate flavor so much!
• powdered sugar – totally optional, but you can dust some powdered sugar on top of your cooled cake. You can also top your cake with more chopped crystallized ginger, shaved chocolate, cocoa powder, or brush it with more olive oil!

Tips and F.A.Q.

Related Recipes

If you love this chocolate olive oil cake, you should definitely try my orange rosemary olive oil cake too! It’s got the same moist and velvety texture, and the herby, citrusy flavors work so perfectly with the fruity flavors of the olive oil.

Or if you’re a chocolate lover, I definitely recommend my chocolate sour cream pound cake! It’s SO chocolatey and rich, with the perfect pound cake texture. And it’s all topped with a glossy dark chocolate glaze that is just perfect!

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with Crystallized Ginger

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An easy recipe for an olive oil chocolate cake with ginger and lemon zest that is so rich and moist! The best chocolate cake with olive oil!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine :American, Italian, Mediterranean

Servings: 12 slices

Calories: 246kcal

Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

Equipment you may need

8-inch round cake pans

9-inch springform pan

9-inch round cake pan

mixing bowls

whisk

parchment paper

rubber spatula

measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp crystallized ginger - finely chopped
• ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup whole milk - feel free to substitute another type of dairy milk or plant-based milk
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup boiling water
• powdered sugar - (optional) for dusting

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8- or 9-inch cake pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Combine sugar and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a rubber spatula, pressing to bring out the lemon oils.
• Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, ginger, and salt, whisking after each addition.
• Stir in chopped ginger to coat with dry ingredients.
• Add olive oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract, whisking gently between each addition.
• Pour in boiling water and fold to combine completely. Batter will be very liquidy.
• Pour batter into your prepared cake pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (see note)
• Let cake cool 20 minutes in pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust cooled cake with powdered sugar, if desired.

Video

Notes

Baking time for different size pan: You can make this chocolate olive oil cake in either an 8- or 9-inch cake pan, but if you use a 9-inch pan it will cook a bit faster. I found 35 minutes to be perfect for an 8-inch pan, but if you’re using a 9-inch pan, I would check the cake after 27 or 28 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 246 kcal | Carbohydrates: 28 g | Protein: 4 g | Fat: 15 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 48 mg | Sodium: 122 mg | Potassium: 172 mg | Fiber: 1.5 g | Sugar: 18 g | Calcium: 56 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Tags: chocolate cake olive oil, chocolate cake recipe oil, chocolate cake recipe with oil, chocolate cake with olive oil, chocolate ginger cake, chocolate olive oil cake, oil chocolate cake, olive oil chocolate cake

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