Bake Jennifer Garner’s Easy and Luscious Lemon Olive Oil Cake Recipe
We all love celebrity cooking shows, but my favorite? Jennifer Garner's informal series “Pretend Cooking Show” on her Instagram, where she shares some pretty mouthwatering recipes. But when the actress whipped up a luscious lemon olive oil cake, I knew I had to try it. While it may be a project for a rainy day, this cake is incredibly moist and bursting with bright, lemony flavor. I’m sharing Garner’s easy-to-follow recipe along with some handy tips (including zesting) to ensure your cake turns out perfect. Here’s how to make Jennifer Garner’s lemon olive oil cake.
What is lemon olive oil cake?
Lemon olive oil cake features a traditional olive oil cake combined with the zesty brightness of lemons. Originating from Mediterranean regions where olive oil is a staple, olive oil cakes are known for their moist, tender crumb and subtle complexity.
Olive oil, with its healthy fats and unique taste, plays a crucial role in the texture of the cake. It keeps the cake moist for days, enhances its tender crumb and adds a depth of flavor that butter can't quite match.
Garner teamed up with James Beard Award winning Los Angeles chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, who created the recipe. Watch the #PretendCookingShow episode below on Instagram:
Tips for the best lemon olive oil cake
While it may seem like a cake best made by a pro chef, Garner's video makes the baking process easy for home cooks. Here are some some helpful tips:
1. Use high-quality olive oil
The flavor of your cake will significantly depend on the quality of the olive oil you use. Opt for a good extra virgin olive oil with a fruity, robust flavor. Remember, the oil you choose will also impact the flavor, so it may be worth it to splurge a bit.
2. Zest properly
Use a microplane or fine grater to zest the lemons, ensuring you only get the bright yellow part and not the bitter white pith underneath. Zest directly over the mixing bowl to capture all the essential oils that are released during the process.
3. Don’t overmix the batter
To achieve a tender crumb, mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense, tough cake. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, gently fold them together until you no longer see streaks of flour.
4. Bake at the right temperature
Olive oil cakes benefit from a gentle bake. Use the middle rack for even heat distribution. Check the cake with a toothpick or cake tester a few minutes before the suggested baking time. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, your cake is ready.
Jennifer Garner’s lemon olive oil cake recipe
As Chef Dotolo says in the video, olive oil cake is an "anytime cake," meaning you can eat it for any meal of the day (I'm not judging). This cake will stay fresh for about three to four days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Ingredients:
1? cups good olive oil, plus more for the pan
3 large eggs
1? cups sugar, granulated
1? cups whole milk
? cup lemon juice
Zest of 2 large lemons
2 cups all-purpose flour
? tsp. baking soda
? tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. amaro del capo liquor
1 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. kosher salt
? cup Sugar in the Raw (cane sugar packets), for topping
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Directions:
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Yield: 8-10 servings
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9” springform pan, oil the pan and line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, olive oil and granulated sugar until smooth. Then whisk in milk, amaro, orange zest, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla.
In a separate large bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and slowly incorporate the wet ingredients. Whisk until smooth, a few lumps is okay!
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the Sugar in the Raw over the top and bake for about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Remove the cake from the oven and cool. When cooled, dust with powdered sugar and a scrape of lemon zest.
More lemon-infused desserts you'll love:
Extra-Moist Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake Recipe Will Be the Star of Your Next Celebration!
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes Will Be Your New Favorite Summer Treat — Easy Shortcut Recipe
Light and Airy Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes Recipe Is the Perfect Summer Breakfast
