A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Dedicated to my Three Daughters
11 September 2024
A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Made recently during a therapeutic baking session in my home kitchen.
A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Dedicated to My Three Daughters
As I watch my daughters grow into strong, independent women, I often reflect on the journey we’ve shared. It’s a bittersweet feeling—part pride, part nostalgia. Those early years seem like a blur of laughter, scraped knees, visits to our local hospital casualty department and bedtimes that always came too soon. Our daughters are now essentially young adults, we all regularly like to sit together to watch old home videos. Poor Etts doesn’t feature as much as the iPhone had come along, and we took more videos then over there instead of on our old handheld video recorder.
Ettie is soon to finish year 12, Ava is living in Italy for a few months (for university), and Grace is working, studying, and saving for more travelling adventures. I love how much they want to see the world. I think it is really important and gives us a perspective that not much else can. They are spreading their wings, and now, we’re in a new chapter of life, each growing and evolving in our own ways.
Recently, I found myself feeling that familiar tug at my heart, and like I often do in these moments, I turned to the kitchen. When the house is quiet, and I am not rushing to get dinner on the table, this is a very cathartic place for me. I baked this Olive Oil Cake on this particular day, thinking of my three daughters. This olive oil cake has become my comforting companion during times of reflection. I’ve called it “A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Dedicated to my Three Daughters” because it represents everything I feel about this stage in life—love, growth, and the sweet, fleeting moments that connect us.
This cake is a reminder of life’s simple pleasures and the kind of dessert that feels both effortless and special. Nothing is overwhelming or ‘in your face’ about it. It has a crisp, golden crust and a tender, moist centre that melts in your mouth. The delicate flavour of olive oil shines through with each bite, and the hint of orange zest gives it just the right amount of zing and freshness. Whether served as a mid-afternoon treat or as the perfect ending to a family dinner, this cake holds a special place in my heart.
It is essential to use an excellent quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I have used Cobram Estate.
As I share this recipe with you, I hope it brings some sweetness to your home, lunch boxes, and days. This cake has now earned a special place in our family—A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Dedicated to my Three Daughters. I like to think that every slice is a tribute to our love and connection, no matter how much time passes or how grown up they become.
While this cake may not solve the complexities of life, it certainly makes the journey a little sweeter. It reminds me that even on the busiest of days, there’s always room for a pause, for reflection, and for a slice of something beautiful.
Love Nellie
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I’d love to inspire your dinner table every week! Our Relish Mama Cooking Club offers exclusive recipes, cookbooks, and classes that go beyond what I share here. If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, then you will absolutely love what’s waiting inside the club. Explore more here, or feel free to reach out with any questions.
P.S –
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A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake – Dedicated to my Three Daughters
A Very Beautiful Olive Oil Cake
Equipment
- 1 Oven
- 1 Electric mixer
- 2 Cooks bowls
- 1 Spatula
- 1 23 cm (9 inch) Cake Tin
- 1 Sieve
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 200 ml whole milk
- 120 ml Natural yoghurt full fat natural or Greek yoghurt
- 1 orange zested and juiced (the juice should be around 60 ml)
- 300 flour
- 300 g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 250 ml extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180oC.
- Line a 23 cm (9 inch) round cake tin with baking paper and spray with oil spray.
- Combine the eggs, milk, yoghurt and orange zest and mix, with an electric mixer, to combine.
- In another bowl, sift the flour & combine with the sugar, salt & baking powder.
- Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and also add the olive oil and orange juice. Mix well to combine.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin. Bake for 60 minutes and check with a cake skewer to check if cooked through. If not quite ready, cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 30 minutes before placing on a cake rack.
- Enjoy as is or with mascarpone or whipped cream.
Notes
Nutrition
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