This Greek-style Olive Oil Apple Cake with Fresh Ginger is delicious on its own, but also pairs beautifully with a cup of Greek coffee or tea.
The almond topping adds a gentle crunch that contrasts nicely with the soft interior.
Like most olive oil cakes, this one improves after a few hours and is even better the next day.
It keeps well for two to three days at room temperature, covered, and can also be frozen.
Over the years, I have baked many versions, from simple everyday cakes to more elaborate festive ones, and several of them already live on the blog.
This olive oil apple cake with fresh ginger is a newer variation, inspired by the same love for apples but with a slightly different aromatic profile.
It is lighter than butter-based cakes, deeply fragrant, and ideal for those moments when a comforting homemade cake is all that is needed.
Olive oil gives this cake its characteristic moist crumb and allows the flavours of the apples and lemon zest to come through clearly.
The combination of Granny Smith and red Delicious apples works particularly well here.
The Granny Smith apples provide freshness and a gentle acidity, while the red Delicious apple adds natural sweetness and softness to the crumb.
Freshly grated ginger is used sparingly, just enough to give warmth and depth without dominating the apples. It is a subtle addition, but one that makes the cake feel a little more grown-up and refined.
This recipe also fits naturally alongside other apple cakes on the blog.
Readers who enjoy apple-based desserts may want to explore the Cinnamon-spiced Greek apple cake, the Almond apple cake milopita with Greek yoghurt, the Greek upside-down olive oil apple cake, or the classic Vanilla apple cake, each offering a different take on the same beloved fruit.
More options are given at the end of the post!
Tips and notes:
A mild olive oil is essential, as stronger, peppery oils can overpower the apples and ginger. If your olive oil has a strong flavour, you can add half olive oil and half vegetable oil.
Fresh ginger should always be finely grated so that it blends seamlessly into the batter.
If the cake browns too quickly on top, it can be loosely covered with baking paper during the last part of baking.
Greek-Style Olive Oil Apple Cake with Fresh Ginger
A moist Greek-style olive oil apple cake with fresh ginger, lemon zest, and a crunchy almond topping. A light, aromatic apple cake made without butter.
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- 1 red Delicious apple
- 180 grams crystal sugar
- 120 ml mild extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 240 grams all-purpose flour
- 12 grams baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 vanillins
- Pinch of salt
Topping:
- 50 grams chopped almonds
- 1 tbsp brown sugar for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C fan-forced or 180°C conventional.
Grease and flour a 22-cm round cake tin. - Peel, core, and dice the apples.
- In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, vanillins, grated ginger and salt.
- In a stand mixer, whisk the eggs with the sugar until pale and slightly thickened.
- Slowly add the olive oil.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two additions, mixing gently just until combined.
- Stop the mixer and fold in the apples.
- In a food processor add the almonds and brown sugar and pulse until coarsely ground.
- Pour the batter into the tin, smooth the surface, and sprinkle with the almonds and sugar.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, until golden and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Notes
Like most olive oil cakes, this one improves after a few hours and is even better the next day. It keeps well for two to three days at room temperature, covered, and can also be frozen.
Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 253Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 56mgSodium 253mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 3gSugar 24gProtein 6g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
Apple cakes, pies and more
Check out some more recipes with apples.
Easy Homemade Applesauce
There is nothing better than homemade applesauce which is delicious and easy to make which you can enjoy as a simple snack, in desserts or in savory dishes.
Easy Homemade Apple Turnovers
There's nothing like homemade apple turnovers with homemade apple sauce. They are delicious and yet so easy, that any one can make these homemade turnovers.
Milopita Bougatsa (Greek Apple Pie with Phyllo)
Milopita Bougatsa is a Greek Apple Pie, made with cooked apples and spices, which are then thickened with a semolina pudding and enclosed in phyllo.
Glyko Milo (Greek Apple Preserve)
Glyko Milo is a Greek fruit preserve made with a Greek variety of apples called Firiki (Pijrus Malus ή Malus Communis), which are very aromatic.Â
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
