6” Cardamom Spiced Olive Oil Cake

This recipe is for our Mini Almond Cake Kit but you can also use half of a regular Midtown Mix Almond Cake Base jar if you provide your own spice. Be sure to check out the other recipes that use this base as well!

This easy citrus, cardamom cake combines bright flavors with a moist texture, perfect for a quick baking project. Preparation takes about 5 minutes, but this simple recipe makes a cake with complex flavors, perfect for a “just because” treat or a special occasion dessert.

Cardamom adds a warm spice note that complements the fresh citrus zest, resulting in a fragrant and tender cake. If you prefer, you can omit the cardamom and/or lemon zest or adjust either to your taste

Tools and Ingredients:

Included:

• 6” round baking pan

• 6” parchment paper round

• Spice packet - if making without kit, use 1 teaspoon of cardamom or other complementary spice

• Midtown Mix Mini Almond Cake Mix (8oz) - alternatively, you can use half of a full size Almond Cake Mix

Supplies & Equipment:

• Medium mixing bowl and whisk

• Grater/zester

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 1/4 cup of olive oil, preferably a flavorful one like an EVOO, but it doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy to be delicious in this recipe

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

• 1/2 medium lemon made into:

  • 1/8 teaspoon of zest - about half a lemon’s worth. If you prefer a less intense lemon flavor, you can omit the zest, but keep the juice

  • 2 teaspoons of juice

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Add parchment paper to bottom of 6” cake pan and grease sides of pan with a bit of oil.

We recommend zesting and juicing the lemon ahead before starting other steps so they are ready to drop into the mix

Step 1:

Combine eggs, olive oil, zest, and lemon juice and whisk until thoroughly combined. Add spice packet and mix well.

Step 2:

Add full jar of Midtown Mix Mini Almond Cake Base or half of a full sized Midtown Mix Almond Cake Mix and mix until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Step 3:

Bake for 35 minutes until edges are coming away from the sides of the pan, top is golden brown and center is set. Cool in pan for at least 15 minutes before running a knife along edge of pan to release. Turn out onto wire rack to cool. Serve as is or add garnishes (see Tips and Ideas)

Cake is done baking when it has browned on top and is starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. If the cake has cracks you can use garnish or powdered sugar to cover them up (or ignore them, they don’t affect the taste!).

Tips and Ideas:

Cake will keep for up to a week in the fridge, but wrap or cover it to keep fresh

Garnishes ideas:

• Tart fruit like raspberries, lemon slices or dried cranberries

• Serve with a dollop of Greek Yogurt, clotted cream, mascarpone or very lightly sweetened whipped cream

• Drizzle a basic icing glaze of 1 cup of powdered sugar mixed with 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice