if you want a beautiful but easy to make dessert, this upside down orange olive oil cake is the way to go! only 7 ingredients and it tastes so incredible.

the inspiration

Every year when I think about holiday and Christmas desserts of course the first things that pops into my mind are cookies, candies, and cakes. Mostly made with chocolate, seasonal spices, or vanilla. So, I really wanted to do something different.

I was thinking about how citrus is of course so seasonal but I never really use it. So, it was time. A few years ago I made a recipe for a Lemon Olive Oil Cake and it was truly so delicious. I used that as a base for a recipe making some adjustments and of course making it look a little more holiday-esque.

the ingredients

Navel Oranges: of course for an orange olive cake we need lots of oranges! I personally always buy navel oranges, to be honest I have never even really seen other types in my stores. Sometimes there are cara cara. But you can use any oranges you like. You can even use blood oranges for an extra beautiful color.
Light Olive Oil: next up we need olive oil. I personally prefer light olive oil. The taste is of course lighter. If you want to use an extra-virgin olive oil, EVOO, you can but I find it can at times be a bit overbearing. If you enjoy that taste and want it in there definitely use the EVOO. If you are more like me go for either a regular or light olive oil.
Organic Granulated Sugar: we need to add sweetness to the our cake of course so we just need some organic cane or granulated sugar. You can also swap for date sugar or beet sugar if you like.
Non-Dairy Milk: you can use any non-dairy milk you like, you can even use sweetened or vanilla flavored! I do like to use Ripple but in desserts any non-dairy milk should work fine. Just avoiding a chocolate milk of course.
All Purpose Flour: we need some all purpose flour to make our cake. If you are gluten-free you can swap in a gluten free all purpose flour.
Vanilla Extract: to add in nice vanilla flavor.
Baking Powder: to help give our cake rise.

What is upside down orange cake?

Upside down orange cake is basically the citrusy cousin of the classic pineapple version that became popular in the early 1900s. People started using oranges for a brighter, fresher vibe, and it just kind of stayed because it tastes amazing.

how to make the upside down orange olive oil cake

Use a small sharp knife to cut away the skin and the pith from 2 oranges. Do your best to keep as much of the flesh of the orange in tact.

Then, turn the orange on its side so the top of the orange is facing out to a side. Use the knife to make thin slices about 10-12 slices per orange.

In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, organic sugar, and baking powder.

Then, add in the wet ingredients: olive oil, non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and juice from orange.

Mix all together to form a cake batter.

Prepare a simple orange syrup with water, orange juice, and organic sugar in a small pot or saucepan.

Spray a 9 inch cake pan. Then, line with parchment paper. Layer the sliced oranges all the way around the bottom of the pan. Make sure there are no holes around the base of the pan. You can also do 2 layers of the orange slices to ensure everything is covered well. Pour the simple syrup over the orange slices.

Pour the batter over the oranges and ensure everything is evenly dispersed.

Bake in the oven at 350°F for 50 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Then, put a dish over the pan, and flip to reveal a beautiful upside down orange olive oil cake.

decorating the upside down orange olive oil cake

I truly think the best part about this cake is you don’t need to do much in terms of decorating. The cake itself is so stunning. So, I opted for a few simple garnishes that were seasonal and pretty.

First, I always love to top a cake with some organic powdered sugar. While, you don’t necessarily have to do this it makes the cake feel more finished. Be sure to let the cake cool and only do this right before serving.

Second, I did a sprig of rosemary and a few cranberries. You can decorate around the serving plate with a few more rosemary sprigs and it looks beautiful. I also like to put more powdered sugar over top so it is on the rosemary and cranberries too.

why you’ll love this recipe

When I look at holiday recipes and desserts they can sometimes feel overwhelming. Of course they are beautiful but I am someone who does like to keep things more simple if I can. I feel that this recipe is one anyone can make.

There is no wrong way to layer the oranges, there is no wrong way to garnish it, and it is really just baking a simple cake. You do not need an excessive amount of ingredients to make something beautiful and tasty.

It is also a fun one that kids can help you with making. Furthermore, I think it is a cake that has a bakery quality taste and look. Everyone will love it. You don’t need a mixer or even a whisk! Just grab a bowl and spoon for the batter.

more christmas/holiday recipes

upside down orange olive oil cake faq

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

It does not contain any nuts or soy. To make it gluten-free you can use a gluten-free all purpose flour.

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

It does not contain any nuts or soy. To make it gluten-free you can use a gluten-free all purpose flour.

How long does this cake last?

It will last for 1-2 days on the counter in a container or 3-5 in a container in the fridge. I do not recommend freezing it.

Can I make this cake oil free?

I do not recommend doing this as it is an olive oil cake.

My cake didn’t turn out right, what happened?

While it is always hard for me to say why cakes don’t turn out right if I am not right there, here a few things that can happen during baking. First off, baking is a science. I always recommend using a kitchen scale when baking for the most precise and accurate measurements. Use the metric measurements in the recipe card. Second, if you are someone who doesn’t bake a lot you may have expired baking powder. Third, everyone’s ovens run differently. It is very important to know how your oven runs.

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