Olive Oil Bundt Cake with Orange & Dark Chocolate Drizzle…
So, here’s the thing. I had planned a completely different conversation for today’s post. I had imagined I’d be celebrating the victory of our first female President.
I had imagined a post filled with ticker-tape-type words declaring Hillary the winner with nothing but glee in our hearts and cake on our plates.
Except, it didn’t go that way. I imagine for those of you who were also rooting for Hillary, there was ‘the’ moment of realization that a sad and slippery slope was underfoot. And when that impending outcome became pretty obvious, I left the room. I couldn’t stay and watch it happen. I thought to myself, if I leave now, I can sleep with a tiny shred of hope that when I wake I could wake to a surprise ending. So upstairs I went and sat for a spell in the quiet. I reflected on the almost certain outcome and sent a text message to my family before putting away my phone and all media sources.
In short I said we must keep internal peace…we can’t let the negative aspects of others change who we are as individuals…that when others shed their darkness we need to reflect our light…
Then, I grabbed my bedside book, Mary Oliver’s, “Felicity”, which helped me drift off to sleep on fluffy words made of cotton balls and downy feathers rather than the sharp and searing words of CNN and ABC.
Of course the tiny flicker of hope that I fell to sleep with was extinguished upon waking. So you know what I did? I let grief bubble up. I felt the feelings that go along with losing something that meant so much. I imagine I’ll continue to have moments like this – but I’ve decided to let them fuel me. Fuel me to hold fast and true to my values.
And now a bit about cake…
I know there wasn’t much talk of cake today, so I’d like to say this… This olive oil cake perfumed with orange and dripping in dark chocolate is delightful. It’s not overly sweet. It’s a nice sort of dense cake. You feel like you’ve eaten something when you’re done. It’s perfect with a strong cup of coffee. And works well for breakfast and dessert.
I know cake can’t answer our questions or speak to our concerns, but it can help bring people together…
Cake gives us a reason to sit long enough to ponder questions like: How does a nation, or any unit of people, comprised of individuals who see things so differently, unite, when each of their truths are so vitally different, so vitally real, and so vitally important? How do we remember that despite our differences, we are all on the same team? How?
Buon Appetito
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Olive Oil Bundt Cake with Orange & Dark Chocolate Drizzle
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- Butter, for greasing
- 2 cups Pastry Flour, plus more for dusting
- 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- Finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- Bittersweet Chocolate, melted, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- Butter and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, orange zest and juice at medium-high speed until smooth.
- Gradually beat in the olive oil until creamy, about two minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk the pastry flour with baking powder and sea salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating at medium speed between additions.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven for about 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a rack. Let the cake cool completely.
- Drizzle melted dark chocolate over cake.
- Serve.
{Recipe adapted from Food & Wine}
CIAO!
Stumbled upon your recipe while looking for Christmas Eve desserts – thank you! I’m very hopeful and excited about our President-elect. (As an aside, I voted for our current President twice.) I read through your post because the pictures of your cake are beautiful. I wish you healing and a beautiful winter. I do believe that we can all come together. Perhaps a bit of cake will help. I will definitely be baking yours to give it a try! Take care.
Hi Kelley, So happy you stopped by the blog and stayed to leave a note. I appreciate your kind words. Like you, I am hopeful. Enjoy the cake, my friend!! Happy holidays!
Annie, we are still walking around in a daze. Appreciate your honesty. I have been obsessed with reading, digesting, and trying to find some balance and understanding of how to make sense of our results of this election. On a lighter note, I dig this cake. The splatter look is awesome!
We are indeed (still walking in that daze). If this is what the country needs, I just hope we get ‘there’ quickly. Peacefully. Thank you, my friend. Splatters are the best!
What a lovely and thoughtful post, Annie. I have often thought that food is one of the few things that can truly cross boundaries and bring us all around a table to talk. And if any dish could do that, it’s this gorgeous cake. I’m not much of a baker, but I’ll tell you what, when I need a moment… some time to myself or time to reflect, nothing beats baking.
I couldn’t agree more… Baking can be as ‘medicinal’ as gratitude. Thank you for stopping by with a kind word, my friend.
Spectacular Annie, I adore chocolate and orange and your photos are gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Marie! This is good stuff!
I love that you are focusing on the positive and bringing people together. I am very saddened by the outcome, but also by people’s reactions. Let’s focus on making things better. Making a cake always makes me feel better, but eating a slice is always pure heaven!
Yes! Let’s focus on making things better! Thanks, Kathy!! 🙂
That looks fabulous! Glaze dripping…yummy!
Thanks, Puja!! 🙂
Well it has been tough last couple of days but cake makes everything better 🙂 and thank god for that! Chocolate and orange is one of my fav combo!
It sure does! Thanks, my friend!!
I hear ya! But I’ll take a consolation slice nonetheless! GREG
You got it!! 🙂
I know how you feel Annie! That night was so sad. We were hooked up to our tv sets and I had faith in my heart that she would win but there was something else in store. Now hoping for the best.
This cake looks so good and that orange chocolate drizzle sounds amazing!
Absolutely! We must have faith! Thanks, Ami! 🙂
Let the healing begin Annie. And a slice of this gorgeous cake will certainly help. We’re enjoying a few days away and it’s been both good and bad to be out of our normal routine during the election fall out. It’s not the outcome I envisioned or hoped for, but I’m hopeful that with time and effort we can move in a positive direction. And we always have cake!
I saw that you’re away. What a beautiful time for your family before the activity of the holidays! You raise a good point regarding time and effort – we can’t expect that the changes we hope for will happen overnight but with continued effort we can get there. With cake and a positive attitude…anything can happen!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Annie and this beautiful, delicious cake. Indeed, it has the power to bring us together. I think so much of the shock comes from the fact that the ideology/morals/values of the two candidates are cavernously different, as are the voters ideals of the direction of our country. We are indeed a divided nation that needs to figure this out moving forward. My learning point thus far is that I need to be more involved in our democracy beyond signing petitions and showing up to vote. It starts with me.
Thank you for stopping by and for your thoughts, Traci… I agree – it starts with each one of us. My daughter and I were talking last night and saying that even if we did nothing else – that the act of kindness is never too small. The ripple effect of everyone’s genuine concern and kind behavior would make a difference…
Food brings us together! You know I love the dark chocolate and orange combo, and I’ve been thinking about this cake since I saw it this morning! I still have hope for our country’s future and believe we each have to model the behavior we want to see.
It certainly does! Thank goodness for food! And comfy chairs, a solid table, and willing participants for thoughtful conversation. I think this cake or any cake could get that party started! Thanks, my friend!
It was kind of a shock here in Canada too, but I’ve always believed to give people the benefit of the doubt. All the negative, sometimes way too harsh, criticism is not good and only bring division and hatred. We have to work for unity despite all differences. A cake like the one you made, is perfect to reconcile and bring a smile on everybody’s face. It is my kind of cake! Hugs, my friend!
That is true. Continued criticism will only help to create a greater divide. So until we are united, we’ll eat cake! Thanks, my friend!
Annie – I am with you! My husband and I woke up at 4:30 to hear the news and didn’t go back to sleep. We’ve been tired ever since (and depressed). It’s way easier and more fun to talk about bundt cake, especially one with orange and chocolate. Yum!
So let’s only talk about cake! I love that idea!! Thanks, dear! 🙂
I think the election was hard on a lot of people… but regardless of who won, I have to say I am most shocked (and disgusted) about how people have reacted. There has been SO much negativity on social media and name calling that I contemplated deleting all my accounts. I respect everyone’s constitutional right to vote for whomever they like, even if I don’t share the same values or agree with them on their vote. But the name calling and sweeping generalizations have left me… sad to say the least. I’m thinking you couldn’t have shared this beautiful cake at a better time, Annie!! I need, like, the ENTIRE thing! lol!! 🙂 Seriously, this is just gorgeous and the flavors sound AMAZING, my dear! Such a show stopper! Pinned! Cheers! XO
I am with you! I could barely get on social media yesterday for that very reason. Hoping that once the shock wears off people who feel the need to express will offer ideas for unity vs. well, you now! This cake really did come at the right time! Either way – it was a win/win! 😉 Thanks, my friend! XO
I did the exact same thing, Annie – went to sleep and hoped for the best. While the outcome was heartbreaking, I agree that we need to hold fast and be true to our values. We just need to push on and move forward. As for this cake -it’s just delicious – I love chocolate and orange together. Keep the faith, Annie!
Always keeping the faith! You too, my dear! It’s pretty incredible the difference a day makes… Just being able to express is so beneficial! So happy you like the cake! Thank you, Geraldine! xo
Bundt cakes are so special. This orange and dark chocolate one put a smile on my face this morning!! A slice if this with a piping hot cup of coffee and I’m ready to face the day! Take care ?.
Oh, you betcha! I had a big slice this morning and I’ve been happy all day! hahaha! Thanks, Stacey!! 🙂
What a gorgeous bundt cake! Love the orange flavor in here. And that chocolate drizzle is perfect!
Thank you, Gayle! Anything drizzled in chocolate is a winner in my book! 🙂
Oh wow! Chocolate and orange is such a great combo and I just love the whole wild drizzle thing you have going! So pretty!! Plus, it looks moist. Remember those Terry Chocolate oranges? I would love getting those at Christmas and this cake kinda reminds me of that with the combo….only WAAAAAAAAY better. I would definitely have no problem eating a slice of this for breakfast with my morning coffee. Cheer up, buttercup! Hope you have a lovely weekend. xoxo
It is a great combo! I’ve always loved that candy – but haven’t had it in the longest time!! Feeling better today…the shock of it has worn off. 😉 Thank you, my friend! Have a lovely weekend! xoxo
Oh Annie, it’s been a tough few days, hasn’t it?! So many ups and downs. But that’s life and we all need to come together and move on right? There’s no other choice really. I have been meaning to make a bundt cake for quite a while and this one looks and sounds delicious. I loved bundt because they’re always so easy and delicious. I’m a little challenged in the frosting cakes department, so I’m totally in with the drizzle of chocolate on bundt cakes! Can’t wait to try your recipe. Have a great weekend!
You betcha! Ups ‘n downs, ins ‘n outs…all of it! But you’re right – we have no choice but to come together… This is a nice cake, especially with coffee or tea. Not overly sweet but so flavorful! Thank you, my friend!