Blueberry Olive Oil Cake, a moist, tender cake flavored with lemon zest and fresh blueberries for a summer dessert that’s perfect with your coffee or tea and even better for breakfast the next day! 
Have you tried baking with olive oil?
I’ve been experimenting with baking with olive oil instead of butter or vegetable oil and I must say I love the results!
I prepared a basic olive oil cake (inspired by a reader-thank you!) and turned it into an easy, light and summery dessert! And since blueberry season is upon us I decided that, along with freshly grated lemon zest, they would be the perfect addition to this cake.
Can you taste the olive oil in this cake?
Many of you may be wondering, can you really taste the olive oil in this cake? Not only did I use olive oil but in fact I used extra virgin olive oil, the type that is deep grassy green colored!
It truly does not overpower this cake. In fact the flavor is quite subtle and pairs perfectly with freshly grated lemon zest.
The result is a cake that is not overly sweet and has a wonderful moist and tender texture. Everything you want in a cake.
Let me show you how easy it is to make!
Step by Step Instructions
Here are step by step instructions with images and you’ll find the complete printable recipe at the bottom of this post!
In a medium sized bowl sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until frothy and pale, about 2-3 minutes. (1). Whisk in olive oil, freshly grated lemon zest and vanilla extract (2). Stir in half of the flour (3).
Stir in milk (4) and the remaining flour and mix until smooth. Toss blueberries with some flour, in order to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake, and gently stir them into the batter (5). Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 9-inch spring form pan (6).
Bake in a 350 degree F preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer onto a wire rack and after about 10 minutes gently remove the side of the pan. Let cool completely.
Dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving. 
Tips and suggestions:
- For best results do not over mix the batter or it may result in a dense and gooey center.
- The cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze this cake, well sealed in plastic wrap, for up to 3 months.
- If you don’t have a spring form pan, use a 9 inch round cake pan instead. Be sure to butter and flour it!
I enjoy serving this cake as is with a light dusting of powdered sugar. However you can definitely dress it up if you prefer in the following ways:
- Serve each slice topped with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh blueberries.
- Once cooled, drizzle with a simple lemon glaze: whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice.
If you enjoy easy to make sponge cakes, here are more suggestions:
- Nonna’s Sponge Cake
- Orange Ciambella
- Lemon-Vanilla Snack Cake
- Pineapple Layer Cake with Pastry Cream
Did you try this recipe? If you did let me know how much you enjoyed it by rating it in the recipe card below. Feel free to Pin the recipe for later. Buon appetito!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring form pan, shake out the excess flour.
- In a medium sized bowl sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until frothy and pale, about 2-3 minutes.
- Whisk in olive oil. Stir in freshly grated lemon zest and vanilla extract.
- Stir in half of the flour mixture and milk. Stir in the remaining flour mixture and mix until smooth.
- Toss blueberries with some flour, in order to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake, and gently stir into the batter. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Transfer onto a wire rack and after about 10 minutes gently remove the side of the pan. Let cool completely.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- For best results do not over mix the batter or it may result in a dense and gooey center.
- The cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze this cake, well sealed in plastic wrap, for up to 3 months.
- If you don't have a spring form pan, use a 9 inch round cake pan instead. Be sure to butter and flour it!
- Serve each slice topped with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh blueberries.
- Once cooled, drizzle with a simple lemon glaze: whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Turned out very moist and delicious. I guess the only bummer is all my fresh blueberries sunk to the bottom during baking, even though I tossed them in flour. Maybe I’ll keep them wet before dusting with flour next time. Still turned out absolutely yummy none the less!
Hi Emily, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this cake! Strange how they sunk to the bottom, usually the flour coating prevents this from happening. But as you mentioned, it does not affect the outcome of the cake. Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing this delightfully easy, mouthwateringly delicious recipe. Have baked this cake several times since I first tried it a few weeks back and it’s been a huge success each time!
Hello Vaishali, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it. It’s a favorite around here as well!
So delicious and easy! Moist and fluffy and not too sweet. Will definitely make it again. The hardest part is waiting for the cake to cool before digging in! Thank you for this recipe. Exactly what I was looking for.
Hello Romina, I’m thrilled to her you enjoyed this cake! I also enjoy it because it is not too sweet. Thanks for your comment!
You are doing a great job of sharing cake recipes. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I make this on my birthday.
Thank you very much for your kind words Manvi and I’m glad you enjoyed it for your birthday!
I’ve made this cake so many times and it remains one of my family’s favourites! The only thing I do different is reduce sugar to 2/3 cup.
I have also tried different variations and add-ins whilst keeping base recipe the same, such as frozen chopped cherries, poppyseed with almond extract (instead of vanilla), and orange zest instead of lemon. All taste amazing!
Hello Stella, I’m sure it’s sweet enough with 2/3 cup of sugar as well. And I love your variations, particularly with poppy seeds and almond extract. On my to do list!
very nice and unique recipe. Thanks for sharing this yummy cake recipe.
Thank you Rohit I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s definitely a favorite around here and so easy to make!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe dear , i definitely prepare this at home.
Hello Akshay, so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you!
This is a lovely cake recipe although I’m not sure how using olive oil instead of butter is significant from a dairy free consideration when milk is added?
Well of course you’re right, that phrase slipped by me in my proof reading!
Hi Nadia, can we use frozen blueberries? If so I would assume we add to batter frozen? Thx!
Hi Anna you definitely can. The only thing with frozen berries is that they may release more juice and ‘bleed’ therefore making your batter turn purple. However it definitely won’t affect the flavor of your cake!
I tried out cake with the above recipe. The cake was very soft and tasty. Thank you.
Hello Ronak, thanks for taking the time to share this with me and glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Such a good recipe! At first I was worried that is gonna taste like olive oil. But after it cooled down completely no olive oil taste was here. It’s so fluffy and delicious. It fits perfect in the morning with a cup of coffee. I will try it with another fruits too. Thank you!
Hi Robertina, indeed it does not really taste like olive oil but it certainly makes the cakes moist and fluffy. So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Can you use a different baking pan other than a springform pan?
Hello Janet, although I have yet to try it myself I’m quite sure it will work well in a similar sized round cake pan. Be sure to butter and flour the pan well in order to prevent sticking. Hope you give it a try and do let me know how it turns out!
Hi Nadia,
I did try it — I baked the cake in a 9″ ceramic casserole pan. I had to increase the baking time to 45 minutes, but it turned out great. My guests loved it. Thanks!
Hi Janet, thanks so much for sharing this with me! I knew it would work well. Good to know the baking time is a bit longer in this pan. I will share this with my readers. Glad you enjoyed it!
I used a round cake pan and used pr home to paper (cut to fit the bottom of the pan and then a couple strips along the sides) to make it easier to turn.
Hi Heather, sounds like a great alternative. Easy to remove from the pan that way I agree. Glad to hear it worked out!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Luanna, it is really an easy and tasty cake. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for your comment!
Love this – looks delightful and easy and I have blueberries in abundance on a bush right out in my back yard. Often I get to them before the birds – they are not yet ripe so fingers and toes crossed I will be lucky this year. If not, guess I’ll just buy me a bunch.
Thanks Nadia – hope you and all of those you love are safe and keeping well. These are tough times, seems we will be in this pandemic for a long while to come and nothing is easy. Except cooking and gaining weight:>).
Hello Amma, yes indeed it is an easy recipe. You’re so lucky to be able to pick fresh blueberries from your own backyard, your cake will taste even better. Hope those birds don’t get to them first! All is well with me, thanks, and all the best to you and your family during this time!
you always inspire and excite me with food and all your new recipes!! Just love you!
Hello Josie, thank you so very much for your kind feedback. I appreciate all the love!
This cake was absolutely AMAZING!! Moist and full of flavor! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!! This will definitely be one of my go to cake recipes.
Hi Nadia, so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this with me!