Orange, Raisin and Walnut Spice Cake

This orange, raisin and walnut spice cake is a traditional Greek cake made with olive oil, orange juice and warm spices.  Growing up in Greece, my mom would always make it for us to have as an afternoon snack with a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and for the adults to have with their coffee.  Every family made their own version of this simple cake, perhaps because of how quick and convenient it is to bake and because everyone would eat it!

Baking with olive oil is very common in the Mediterranean countries.  Fruit cakes, biscotti and savory breads are all traditionally made with a mild olive oil.  Swapping olive oil for butter is not always possible, especially when a recipe calls for “creaming” the butter.  Replacing butter for olive oil makes a cake lighter and healthier and keeps it soft and moist. The fruity taste of a good quality extra virgin olive oil adds a distinct depth of flavor to baked goods, enhances the flavor of spices, and goes well with fruits and nuts.

I am pretty certain that everyone has the ingredients for this orange and walnut spice cake handy, so why not make this healthy cake your weekend’s project?

Orange, Raisin and Walnut Spice Cake

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

50 mins

 

A healthy and flavorful cake to enjoy with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Author: Marilena Leavitt

Recipe type: Breakfast Cake

Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

• 4 cups All Purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp. cardamom
• zest of one orange
• 1 ½ cups fresh orange juice
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 TBSP. flour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Oil and flour a 10x14 glass dish.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the flour with the baking powder and the spices. Set aside.
3. In a 2-cup measuring cup, dissolve the baking soda into the orange juice. Add the zest of an orange and set aside. (The mixture will bubble and increase in volume).
4. In a stand mixer equipped with a paddle, blend together the orange juice mixture, the olive oil, and the sugar. Gradually add the flour and spice mixture, one cup at a time.
5. Chop the walnuts and mix them with the raisins and one tablespoon of flour. Fold them gently into the cake.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center of the cake is set. Place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool. Serve straight from the pan, cutting the cake into little square pieces.

Notes

This cake is usually made in a large glass or ceramic dish and then cut in small pieces. However, two regular loaf pans or several mini-loaf pans can also be used instead.
Once baked, the cake can be stored in the pan, covered and at room temperature for 4-5 days.

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Ingredients for orange & walnut spice cake

Orange & walnut spice cake.