Bel Lavoro Olive Orchard Celebrates National Olive Day With Recipes Showcasing The Healthy Fruit

Finished mastering banana bread while cooking at home? Why not demonstrate your culinary prowess by baking an olive oil cake in honor of National Olive Day on June 1? 

Aimed to not only celebrate the olive itself, but also the many ways that the olive enriches our lives via food, oil and tea (yes tea), National Olive Day is the perfect excuse to try making something new.

This year, Bel Lavoro Olive Orchards (family owned/operated), home to Cut1886 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Steep Echo Tea, is marking National Olive Day by sharing some of their favorite recipes that showcase one of the world’s oldest (and healthy) fruits.

Created by Kim Branum, owner of Bel Lavoro, the recipes were developed using Cut1886 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and highlight a beautiful flavor profile. Medium bodied with a mix of herb and nut flavors and a touch of spice, the oil is perfectly balanced, crafted from a small batch and in limited quantities. 

Cooking with olive oil provides many of the same health benefits that eating olives do, including the introduction of healthy fats. From olive oil cake to lemon bars and even ice cream, enjoy these olive-centric recipes and Happy National Olive Day. 

Olive Oil Cake — Bel Lavoro style

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; plus, more for pan
• 1 cup sugar; plus, more
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1/3 cup almond flour or hazelnut flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 3 tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice (if using regular lemon increase sugar to 1 cup).
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• Special Equipment needed – A 9″-diameter springform pan

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Drizzle bottom and sides of pan with oil and use your fingers to coat. Line bottom with a round of parchment paper and smooth to eliminate air bubbles, coat parchment with more oil. Generously sprinkle pan with sugar and tilt to coat in an even layer. Whisk cake flour, almond/hazelnut flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to combine and eliminate any lumps. Stir together Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and vanilla in a small bowl.
2. Using an electric mixer on high speed (use whisk attachment if working with a stand mixer), beat eggs, lemon zest, and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl until mixture is very light, thick, pale, and falls off the whisk or beaters in a slowly dissolving ribbon, about 3 minutes if using a stand mixer and about 5 minutes if using a hand mixer. With mixer still on high speed, gradually stream in 1¼ cups oil and beat until incorporated and mixture is even thicker. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with Grand Marnier mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Fold batter several times with a large rubber spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of bowl. Scrape batter into prepared pan, smooth top, and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
3. Place cake in oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake until top is golden brown, center is firm to the touch, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40–50 minutes. Let cake cool in pan 15 minutes.
4. Poke holes all over top of cake with a toothpick or skewer and drizzle with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil; let it absorb.  Let cool completely. For the best flavor and texture, wrap cake in plastic and let sit at room temperature at least a day before serving. Bake Ahead — this cake gets better. Cake can be baked 4 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.