What cake could be better for summer than this zesty olive oil lemon drizzle cake? Inspired by the Mediterranean, this soft moist lemon cake recipe is perfect for afternoon tea too!
I came back from my holidays in Spain with a lemon that had fallen off a tree where we were staying. I asked my children what we should make with it and the unanimous answer was a lemon cake. Little Miss Spice loves it when I turn up with homemade cake for her after school snack and so lemon cake it was.
Ingredients for olive oil lemon drizzle cake
To make this cake you'll need:
- Caster sugar - for the cake and for the drizzle
- Eggs - I normally use large eggs. However, I have made it with medium ones too.
- Lemons - choose unwaxed ones so you can grate the zest too.
- Olive oil - I like the Mediterranean flavour of extra virgin olive oil but light olive oil also works.
- Milk - I use semi-skimmed as that's what we have at home. Whole milk or skimmed milk would also work. You can also replace the cow's milk with a plant-based milk.
- Self-raising flour
- Baking powder - I like to add a little extra even though it's in the flour already. It just helps the cake to rise more.
Can you taste the olive oil in this lemon drizzle cake?
I decided to use extra virgin olive oil in the cake too to give it even more of a Mediterranean flavour. Lemon and orange cakes are popular in Spain and olive oil is often used instead of butter.
I use oil in the chocolate banana muffins I make but I hadn't used olive oil before. I think you can just pick up a hint of it if you know it's there but if you didn't know you probably wouldn't notice it.
A moist lemon cake with a slightly crunchy topping
It's a simple looking cake but it is really zesty and full of flavour as well as light and moist. The lemon drizzle syrup sinks into the cake and makes it extra moist and lemony too. There's also a slight crunch on top of the cake after the syrup has set.
How to make this lemon drizzle cake a bit more special
If you don't like having to spend ages decorating a cake then a lemon drizzle cake is a good choice as the syrup is so quick and easy to make. Even so, you could dress the cake up a bit more for a special occasion.
How about slicing it horizontally and spreading with lemon curd? I'd also love to try it made with other citrus fruits such as limes, oranges or even grapefruit.
A great family friendly cake!
My children love this cake and it's a recipe that I make again and again. I also plan to try some more Spanish cake recipes soon.
Do let me know if you try this one and I'd also love to know about any other Spanish cakes recipes you've made. Let me know in the comments.
How long does this cake keep fresh for?
This cake stays fresh for about 3 days. If you want to make it advance then it freezes well too. Wrap it up in an airtight freezer bag and it will freeze for about 2 months.
Can you adapt this lemon drizzle cake?
You can adapt this cake and make it with another citrus fruit instead. It works well with limes, oranges and grapefruit.
What substitutions can I use?
If you want to make this lemon cake but don't have self-raising flour then replace it with plain flour but add and extra 3.5 teaspoon of baking powder. That would be 4 teaspoon of baking powder altogether.
You can also replace the milk with a plant-based milk such as soy, oat or coconut milk.
Are you looking for more fruity cakes?
How about one of these zesty recipes?
Why not also check out my Cook Once Eat Twice recipe collection for more recipe ideas that are great for more than one meal?
Recipe
Olive Oil Lemon Drizzle Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 250 g caster sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 lemons unwaxed
- 120 ml olive oil
- 100 ml milk
- 275 g self-raising flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
For the drizzle
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 50 g caster sugar
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160C. Grease and line a 20cm cake tin
- Whisk together the sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
- Fold in the juice and zest of the two lemons along with the olive oil and milk.
- Then fold in the flour and baking powder.
- Put the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for about 50 minutes until a skewer come out of the cake clean.
- Take the cake out of the tin and cool on a wire rack.
- Prepare the drizzle by heating the lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan.
- Prick the top of the all over and pour the drizzle over the top.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later
Bev
I made this with sunflower oil, delish thank you for the recipe
Corina Blum
Thanks for letting me know! I'm so pleased you like it.
Tracy Moses
I live in Italy now and I've made this cake several times for friends and neighbors (some Italian) and it's a huge hit. This is absolutely my favorite cake recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Corina Blum
Thank you so much for letting me know Tracy. I'm so happy to hear that your friends and neighbours all like it too.
Judi McCafferty
I made mine with rapeseed oil.It's the best lemon drizzle I've made.
Corina Blum
Thank you so much for letting me know Judi! I'm so happy you liked it and it's great to hear that it also works so well with rapeseed oil.
Ann
And the Spanish version is even simpler!
Corina Blum
Is it? I'll have to look it up as I love Spanish flavours and I'd definitely like to try it. I'm assuming it uses olive oil like this cake does.
Ann
Why not try a Tarta de Santiago, but without almond essence (we don’t have almond essence in Spain).
Enjoy
Corina Blum
Really! I'm surprised you can't get almond essence as I know almonds are popular in Spain.
Marisa F. Stewart
If it's one thing this kitchen NEVER runs out of is olive oil. I'd lose my Italian birth certificate! Excommunicate me! And lemon and orange cakes are my favorites. I don't like anything too sweet and not having a frosting on top is alright by me. In fact, I prefer it. I can't wait to try that lemon drizzle.
Corina Blum
I never let myself run out of olive oil either! This cake is also great made with oranges and an orange drizzle.
Tammy
I LOVE olive oil cakes. It's such a beautiful treat especially for spring parties! The lemon drizzle is the perfect finishing touch to this recipe.
Corina Blum
Thanks! We all love the drizzle in our house.
Donna
I love how simple this is, and the flavors are just perfect. Nothing better than a slice of lemon cake to brighten up your day!
Corina Blum
Exactly! Now that spring feels like it's coming I feel like eating more more lemon flavoured things too.
Natalie
I was just thinking of making something lemony next weekend for family dinner. This might be the thing I was looking for. The cake looks perfect, moist and flavorful. I can't wait to give it a try.
Corina Blum
Thanks Natalie! Lemony desserts are so good and yes, it is a really moist cake if you do decide to make it.
Jenni LeBaron
This olive oil cake looks absolutely scrumptious. My favorite part is the lemon drizzle because I think a little citrus always elevates the flavor of pretty much everything.
Corina Blum
Me too! I love citrus cakes and the drizzle on top make it super tasty.
Anne Lawton
I love plain and simple desserts like this! I've never made an olive oil cake before, I must give it a try real soon!
Corina Blum
Oh you must! It's really delicious and perfect at any time of day too!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Oh my goodness!! I made a cake almost identical to this except I put icing on it! I have never tried an olive oil cake before then, but it was so good I put it on my regular cake rotation. Would love to try it with the drizzle!!
Corina Blum
It's lovely with the drizzle and you can make the drizzle a bit thicker if you want it to be more like icing!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I love baking with olive oil! It creates such a lovely texture in cakes and muffins! And I love that you kept this cake simple, and topped it with just a lemon drizzle. It's quicker than frosting and I bet it infuses the cake with an awesome flavour!
Corina Blum
Oh it does, it's a lovely cake. I also love the fact that my children like it too!
Aleta
Lemon cake is one of my favourite desserts of all time, I can’t get enough of the stuff! I love your idea with olive oil, this is a recipe I’m excited to make!
Corina Blum
Lemon cake is one of my favourites too. I love the fact that it tastes great but doesn't need lots of thick icing!
Danielle Wolter
i'm all about anything lemon right now so this is just perfect! I've never made an olive oil cake before, but this recipe looks incredible. and easy to make.
Corina Blum
Oh it is so easy and the olive oil is not very strong in it. I think you can only taste it if you think about it a you are eating it!
Pam Greer
I read a book where the characters were eating a citrus olive oil cake and I've been obsessed with finding one that sounded good. Yours sounds perfect, I love how simple it is!
Corina Blum
Thanks Pam! I think this recipe could easily be adapted to make with other citrus fruits too - I plan to make it with oranges one day.
Sharon
What a wonderfully easy yet delicious cake. This would be great to have at Easter dinner or to celebrate Spring.
Corina Blum
Exactly! I'm so pleased you like it Sharon as it's one of our favourite cakes. I don't like lots of icing so I love drizzle cakes.
Gabby | The Tolerant Table
I love lemon cake! And I also love to use olive oil in cakes, it gives them such a wonderful flavour. Lucky kiddies getting this as a treat after school!
Corina
Thanks! The children are a little bit spoilt though and if I haven't made anything for a week they start to complain!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I've been wanting to try out making an olive oil cake for quite some time now. Yours looks fantastic!
Corina
Thank you Ashley! I think the olive oil goes so well with lemon and was great in this cake. I plan to try more citrus cakes using it now.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
This sounds totally and utterly delicious and right up my street - I absolutely adore lemon cake and made with olive oil is even better - easier to make AND healthier to boot - perfect! 😀 Eb x
Corina
So pleased you like it Eb! x
Shashi at Savory Spin
I love how your children think! A lemon cake is perfect to stretch out that delicious and zesty lemon flavor! Loving the texture of this - wishing I had a slice right now!
Corina
My children love making cakes with me so I think it was natural to want to make a cake. I have to admit that only one of the lemons in the cake was from Spain though. The rest were from the supermarket!
Brandi
This cake looks great! I haven't seen this flavors, but love them! I need to try this.
Corina
I'm sure you'd love it! Let me know if you try the flavours.
Monica | Nourish & Fete
This looks like it has the perfect texture and crumb. I'd love it with a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top, and maybe some fresh raspberries!
Corina
It would be lovely with some fresh raspberries. They go so well with lemon, don't they?
Christina Shoemaker
I love lemon everything and lemon baked good are my favorite! This looks perfect. Just the right amount of sweetness and perfect to pair with a cup of coffee!
Corina
Oh I'm a coffee drinker too and yes, I can confirm that it's great with coffee!
Jagruti
Right now I am craving for this cake, fresh and delicious flavours! I love a cake made with olive oil.
Corina
It is lovely in a cake - I'll definitely be making more cakes with olive oil in now!
Jo @ Jo's Kitchen Larder
Oh Lemon Drizzle! 🙂 It's really interesting to hear that even though you've used extra virgin olive oil, it's distinct flavour hasn't overpowered the lemon! I bake with oil a lot but never tried extra virgin olive oil for the fear of overpowering other flavours. I'll definitely use it now 🙂 x
Corina
It's definitely worth trying. You could tell it had olive oil in if your thought about it as you were eating but the flavour certainly didn't overpower! Have fun trying it in something! x
Jacqui bellefontaine
we can all drool over lavishly decorated gooey cakes but actually a simple cake like this is really hard to beat. I just want to eat a slice right now! Olive oil is good but i also like using cold pressed rapeseed oil (less food miles) and with a lovely rich yellow colour . Thanks you for sharing on #CookBlogShare
Corina
I'll have to try some cold pressed rapeseed oil - It would be lovely in a cake like this!
jenny walters
This looks to die for!I have never cooked an olive oil cake but this is inspiring.I bet the lemon makes for a delicious combo with the olive oil.Fabulous x
Corina
Oh it goes so well Jenny! You should try it. x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
PS, thankyou for mentioning my lemon olive oil cake too Corina 🙂
Angela x
Corina
You're welcome Angela x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
I'm totally sold on cakes made with olive oil Corina, and using it for a lemon drizzle is just perfect. Would love a slice of it with a pot of tea right now 🙂
Angela x
Corina
I'm also wishing there was some left Angela! That's the problem with cakes though, they just never last long enough when there are 4 people in the house to eat them up x
jenny paulin
ooooh your sponge looks so moist and delicious! I would happily try a slice x
Corina
Thanks Jenny! I'd give you a slice if I could x
Kate
This looks lovely. My sister is a big fan of lemon drizzle cake so maybe I should try this next time she comes round. Thanks. #CookBlogShare
Corina
I hope she enjoys it. It's a lovely cake and really easy to make.
Mandy
This sounds like a delicious cake. My kids love it when I turn up with homemade cake after school as well, although I don't do it very often!
Corina
I don't do it as often as my daughter would like! So pleased you like it.
TurksWhoEat
Oooh I love that you used olive oil in this! Lemon cakes are perfect this time of year 🙂
Corina
Thank you! The olive oil is definitely good for a summer lemon cake.
Rebecca
Corrr! I love Lemon Drizzle, would never have thought to make with olive oil though! will have to give this a go...for purely scientific purposes you understand 😉
Corina
Nothing wrong with experimenting for scientific purposes! I need to do more of that!
Monika Dabrowski
I love using oil in baking and your cake looks super light and fluffy. Stumbled! #CookBlogShare
Corina
Thanks Monika! I often use oil but I hadn't used olive oil before. I loved how this cake turned out though so I definitely will again now.