This wonderfully simple gluten-free cake is incredibly moist and tender thanks to the olive oil, has a bright lemon flavor thanks to lots of fresh lemon juice and zest, and is not overly sweet, making it an exquisite dessert to wrap up any meal, or enjoy with alongside tea or coffee any time.
Gluten-Free Lemon Olive Oil Cake
Incredibly easy recipe for a moist and flavorful Gluten-free Lemon Olive Oil Cake.
At the request of so many of you, we made a Gluten-Free Lemon Olive Oil Cake I think you are going to love!
This wonderfully simple cake is incredibly moist and tender thanks to the olive oil, has a bright lemon flavor thanks to lots of fresh lemon juice and zest and is not overly sweet, making it an exquisite gluten-free dessert to wrap up any meal, or enjoy with alongside tea or coffee any time.
This lemon olive oil cake is moister and more tender than any gluten-free cake we’ve ever made!
It holds together beautifully and is not crumbly at all – in that it won’t fall apart but does still have just the right amount of cake “crumb”, making it so perfect!
And between the subtle hint of olive oil and bright lemon flavor, it’s a wonderfully simple and elegant cake.
It is perfect served with a dusting of powdered sugar or alongside fresh berries, especially in the summer months when they are so juicy!
What is an Olive Oil Cake?
An olive oil cake uses olive oil, instead of butter or another oil, as its main fat.
Olive oil cakes have Mediterranean roots as they were originally created as part of a celebration of the the olive harvest.
And olive oil cakes tend to be super moist, and stay moist and tender for days. We found that our olive oil cake even tastes better on day 2 than day 1 as the cake becomes more tender.
Will you taste the olive oil in the cake?
That depends.
If you use an extra virgin olive oil (our preference) which is cold pressed, unrefined and has a bolder flavor, then yes, the cake will have a hint of olive oil and you will be able to smell it more as well, but it will not be overpowering. Our family loves to bake this cake with extra virgin olive oil precisely because of the subtle fruity flavor it imparts.
If you use regular olive oil is heated to extract the oil, the flavor is milder and more neutral, and hence barely noticeable in the cake.
BUT … either way, an olive oil cake takes on the flavor of any other flavorings you use in the cake.
In our gluten-free recipe, we are use lots of lemon juice and lemon zest, so the cake has a citrus-y lemon flavor that pairs perfectly with the subtle fruity flavor of the olive oil.. the result is exquisite!
Not being an olive oil expert, I’m linking to an article from Kitchn which gives much more detailed information about different types of olive oil if you’re interested in reading more.
How to Make our Gluten-Free Lemon Olive Oil Cake
You’ll need 10 ingredients, mostly pantry staples:
gluten-free all purpose flour (with xanthan gum) (we used GFJules, affiliate link)
granulated sugar
baking soda
baking powder
salt
olive oil
Greek yogurt
eggs
lemon juice and
lemon zest
As an aside, you may have noticed that we are affiliate for GFJules. To learn more about why we love GFJules flour and why we have used it for 10 years, click here.
Bonus: at the bottom of that post is a one-time use affiliate Discount Code.
And importantly, purchasing through an affiliate link does not change your cost at all. It generates a small percentage of the sale for me, and purchasing through an affiliate link helps me fund this website and all the recipes I share, so thank you!
Back to the Gluten-Free Lemon Olive Oil Cake
This recipe is one of the easiest gluten-free cake recipes ever!
It comes together in 3 simple steps:
Mix together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add the olive oil, Greek yogurt and eggs and mix to combine.
Add lemon juice and lemon zest and mix until batter is smooth.
That’s it, the batter is ready in less than 10 minutes!
All that’s left to do if pour the batter into a lightly oiled pan (oil with olive oil and I like to also cut out a piece of parchment paper and place it in the bottom of the pan to help ensure the cake doesn’t stick to the pan), spread evenly and bake!
Let the cake cool, then sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar and enjoy!
This is a perfect gluten-free dessert anytime!
Because it is elegantly simple and flavorful without being overly sweet, it is the perfect gluten-free cake to finish any meal, or a delicious snack or treat anytime!
And it is scrumptious served as it with just a dusting of powdered sugar or alongside fresh berries, especially in the summer months when they are so juicy!
Each slice is unbelievably moist, soft and has the best lemon flavor!
And just look at the amazing soft and tender texture!
This wonderfully simple gluten-free cake is incredibly moist and tender thanks to the olive oil, has a bright lemon flavor thanks to lots of fresh lemon juice and zest, and is not overly sweet, making it an exquisite dessert to wrap up any meal, or enjoy with alongside tea or coffee any time.
2cupsgluten-free all purpose flour with xanthan gumwe used GFJules, affiliate link
1cupgranulated sugar
¾teaspoonbaking soda
scant ½teaspoonbaking powder by scant, I mean just below the fill line. To be more exact use 1/4 teaspoon + 1/8 teaspoon
½teaspoonsalt
1cupolive oil, plus more for the panwe like extra virgin olive oil which gives a subtle hint of olive oil flavor to the cake; for a less noticeable flavor, use a regular olive oil which has a milder, more neutral flavor.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly oil a 9 inch round cake pan with olive oil. I also like to place a cut out round parchment paper on the bottom of the pan and oil that so make sure it comes out easily. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
Make a well in the center of the flour mix and add olive oil, Greek yogurt and eggs. Mix to combine.
Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix to combine and batter is smooth.
Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake for 35-38 minutes, checking at 30 minutes and loosely covering with foil, then baking an additional 7-8 minutes until a toothpick come out of the center clean.
Cool in the pan for 30 -45 minutes, then turn over to remove from pan, peel off parchment paper and using a second baking rack flip back over. Let cool about 30 minutes or longer. Sprinkle with powdered sugar,and enjoy as is or serve with berries.
My son and I LOVED making this cake! It’s so easy and it comes together quickly!!
Delicious and moist! It’ll become part of our regular rotation! I swear it tasted even better the next day!
Sorry you had that experience… it’s hard to say without actually being there as it could be a variety of things. The easiest solve for the future would be to bake it longer… gluten-free cakes/ breads/ muffins sometimes (and often unpredictably) require extra baking time, which is why I always recommend covering loosely with foil and continuing to bake until the center comes out clean. Also, do you mind sharing what flour you used? With gluten-free flours, there is a wide variety of blends and that could make a difference. Hope that helps.
Our household is not gluten free, but I made this cake for gluten-free house guests. It turned out exactly as pictured! We served it with whipped cream and mixed berries. Everyone loved it, and I loved that it was super-easy. I used Bob’s Red Mill GF flour and a lemon infused extra virgin olive oil from Olivelle. I’ll be making this one again!
Hi! My name is Karen, and I’m the mom in our Healthy Gluten-Free Family. My posts and pictures here and on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter are labors of love that allow me to share a very personal journey with you, one our family has taken together — learning, experimenting and sharing how to raise a healthy happy gluten-free family. Read more ...
My son and I LOVED making this cake! It’s so easy and it comes together quickly!!
Delicious and moist! It’ll become part of our regular rotation! I swear it tasted even better the next day!
So happy you both loved it! Thank you!
I made this cake exactly as written and it came out gummy. What did I do wrong?
Sorry you had that experience… it’s hard to say without actually being there as it could be a variety of things. The easiest solve for the future would be to bake it longer… gluten-free cakes/ breads/ muffins sometimes (and often unpredictably) require extra baking time, which is why I always recommend covering loosely with foil and continuing to bake until the center comes out clean. Also, do you mind sharing what flour you used? With gluten-free flours, there is a wide variety of blends and that could make a difference. Hope that helps.
This cake is so easy to make and delicious! It’s our new favorite recipe. We’ve made it for two get-togethers and everyone loved it!
Happy you love it as much as we do! Thanks you!
Our household is not gluten free, but I made this cake for gluten-free house guests. It turned out exactly as pictured! We served it with whipped cream and mixed berries. Everyone loved it, and I loved that it was super-easy. I used Bob’s Red Mill GF flour and a lemon infused extra virgin olive oil from Olivelle. I’ll be making this one again!