A delicious blood orange olive oil loaf that’s moist, sweet, tart, flavorful, and has a slight olive color because it’s made with olive oil. No mixer is needed, just mix and bake. Top with a pretty pink icing from the blood orange juice and you have a delicious dessert or snack cake.
It’s citrus season and what better time than to share with you a unique and delicious loaf made with blood oranges, olive oil, Greek yogurt, and a touch of orange liqueur to make it exquisite. Not only is this loaf delicious, it also makes a great presentation with its pretty pink frosting.
Blood oranges have beautiful crimson flesh and are slightly sweet with a little tang. I find them similar to a sweet grapefruit. I think they're beautiful and interesting.
I always have to explain the same thing over and over when I state I use liqueur when baking. The same questions get asked:
Can my kids eat it?
Will I get buzzed if I eat it?
What if I don’t drink alcohol?
Is it safe to eat during the day?
Etc. etc.
Well my friends, it’s really no different than using vanilla extract. Vanilla extract is made with vodka and I never get these questions when I use vanilla. Why pick on all the other liquors? What did they do to you?
I use bourbon when baking, Frangelico, rum, Pisco (my favorite), and they all contribute a delicious unique flavor to whatever it is I’m baking. Vanilla got a little too expensive so I improvised and what came out of it were amazing recipes. You’re welcome.
Use a good olive oil when making this blood orange loaf. I use extra virgin and it doesn’t have to be expensive; just taste it. If it tastes good, then your blood orange olive oil loaf will taste good.
The first time I made this beautiful loaf, it was gone within an hour. It was just frosted and my son asked if he could have some and I told him to “have as much as you want”. He ate the entire cake. Now he can eat, but he won’t eat anything that’s not good. I learned two things that day. First, don’t say “have as much as you want” anymore and second, this was freaking good.
Love cakes? Then try:
Banana bundt cake with cream cheese frosting
Melt in your mouth single layer blueberry cake
A simple no fuss cinnamon coffee cake
Life is too short for mediocre food.
Have you seen these?
Blood Orange Olive Oil Loaf
PRINT PINIngredients
Cake:
- 1 tablespoon blood orange zest
- 1 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon for pan
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt full fat, 2%, or nonfat
- ¼ cup blood orange juice freshly squeezed is best
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil See Note 1
- 1 tablespoon Triple Sec Grand Marnier, or rum
Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons blood orange juice
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Spray or grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Sprinkle the inside of the pan with a tablespoon of sugar and coat.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, orange zest, juice and liqueur.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, mixing until fully combined.
- Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and bake for 50 - 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it onto a cooling rack set in a baking sheet. See Notes 2.
Blood Orange Icing:
- Combine the icing ingredients together in a bowl and pour the icing over top of the loaf. Thin the icing by adding additional blood orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches drizzling consistency.
- Let the icing set before slicing. (if you can)
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