Citrus Fruit-Olive Oil Cake Bars with Honey Goat Cheese Frosting

The holiday baking issue

Heavily inspired by Sweet Laurel Bakery’s Clementine Olive Oil Cake, here is my take on a delectable holiday dessert. This is an easy one bowl cake that is moist from the olive oil and has just the right amount of tang from the citrus fruit and the frosting to leave guests (kids too!) begging for seconds. You can choose to have these flavored with orange zest or lemon zest or a mix.

Goat cheese for frosting? Oh yeah. I am obsessed with The Cheese Guy’s Honey Goat Cheese which is just the right amount of sweet for me and have been planning this since the day I first tried it. Frosting with protein, yeah, just a another day at We Ate Well :)

I also used Enzo Clementine Crush Olive oil that does a wonderful job of distributing the citrus flavor delicately throughout the cake without being overpowering.

Alternatives for both of these products are suggested in the cooking notes.

Citrus Fruit - Olive Oil Cake Bars with Honey Goat Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• ½ cup maple syrup

• ½ cup Enzo Clementine Crush olive oil

• 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

• 2 egg(s)

• 1 ½ cups blanched almond flour[168g]

• 1 ½ tsp. baking powder

• ½ cup milk of choice (I used plain nutmilk)[120ml]

• 4 oz The Cheese Guy Honey Goat Cheese[112g] , softened to room temp.

• 4 tsp. orange zest (or a mix of orange and lemon)

Directions

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C. Grease or line an 8inX8in/20cmX20cm cake pan with parchment paper.

Step 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Add the eggs and whisk until smooth, do not over-mix. Fold in the almond flour gradually and add the baking powder, whisking until smooth. Add milk and stir until incorporated.

Step 3. Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back to the touch and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 4. Allow cake to cool on a wire rack and then spread honey goat cheese evenly on top using a flat spatula. Sprinkle orange and/or lemon zest on top. Slice into 16 squares (2in/5cm each) and serve.

Cooking Notes

If using plain olive oil, add in 2 Tbsp. orange or lemon zest in Step 2.

If using plain goat cheese, add 1-2 Tbsp. raw honey and mix in a small blender prior to frosting.