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Chocolate Olive Oil Cake – Sweet Easy Recipes You’ll Love

Let’s talk cake—specifically, the kind that makes you close your eyes with the first bite. This chocolate olive oil cake is rich, deeply chocolatey, and has just the right touch of rustic charm. No need for fancy mixers or complicated steps, either. We’re keeping it real and ridiculously delicious. Now, if you’ve never baked with olive oil before, this might sound like a culinary dare. But here’s the thing—it works. And not in a 'just passable' kind of way. I mean it genuinely enhances the flavor, keeps the crumb tender, and makes you feel slightly like a baking genius. Plus, it's dairy-free. So there’s that. Whether you're on the hunt for sweet easy recipes or something that sneaks into the category of air fryer desserts (you rebel), this cake ticks the box. It's quick and easy, doesn’t ask for much, and delivers everything. I’ve made it for date nights, birthday parties, and quiet Sundays with coffee. It just works—no frosting, no fuss, just honest, satisfying cake.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer desserts easy recipes, bread easy recipes, easy recipes for dinner, how to make pancakes easy recipes, quick and easy recipes, sweet easy recipes, vegan easy recipes
Servings: 8 slices
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110g) light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (120ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup (240ml) water, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. Add granulated and brown sugars. Mix until everything looks like it belongs together.
  4. Pour in the olive oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until you’ve got a smooth, glossy batter.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap it gently on the counter to settle any bubbles.
  6. Bake for 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean-ish with a few crumbs (no wet batter!).
  7. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Dust with powdered sugar if you like, or just dive in.