This Orange Olive Oil Semolina Cake is moist, fragrant, and even better the next day. Made with fresh orange juice, zest, and extra-virgin olive oil for a beautifully tender loaf perfect for breakfast or snack.
Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C) for a conventional oven. For a convection oven, decrease the temperature by 20 F (15 C). Brush a 9 x 5 loaf pan with oil and line with a parchment paper on the long side, overhanging on both sides
Prepare the cake batter:
Combine all-purpose flour, semolina flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
In another mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar vigorously for a good one minute. Add extra-virgin olive oil and whisk again until the mixture emulsifies. Add the sour cream, fresh orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract and whisk again until all is well-combined
Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and whisk until they are well-combined with no pockets of dry ingredients
Scrape the batter into the pan. Smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Tap the pan on the counter a few times
Bake :
Place the pan in the middle rack and bake for 55-70 minutes. Why such a range of time? My 9 x 5 inch loaf pan from Fat Daddio is wider than the usual 9 x 5 inch loaf pan which is narrow at the bottom but wider towards the top and deeper. For my pan, I need 60 minutes. If your pan is deeper, you may need up to 70 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean with just a bit of moist crumbs is fine
Place the pan on a cooling rack. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes and then loosen the edges with an offset spatula and grab the parchment paper and lift it out of the pan and let it cool on a cooling rack completely
Serving:
The cake is at its best the next day and after. You will find the texture is dry on the same day you bake it, but it is so moist and flavorful the next day. It's definitely worth the wait!
The cake can be served as is. I feel like it doesn't need anything else. But you can serve with whipped cream, or some yogurt with fresh orange slices if you feel like it
How to store:
The cake can be stored in an air-tight container for 3-4 days. They stay moist for that long
They can also be kept frozen and thaw at room temperature before serving