
Published April 2026
Blood Orange Olive Oil Cake
Blood Oranges are in season until April and few desserts showcase their vibrant colour and pattern quite like an upside-down cake.
Their deep red hue comes from anthocyanins, natural pigments that develop when the fruit ripens during cool nights followed by milder days.
The degree of anthocyanin production depends on growing conditions and is the reason for differences in patterns and pigmentation. Some orange, others ruby red, no two blood oranges are quite the same.
In this recipe, the oranges are sliced into thin rounds and arranged in a single layer at the base of the tin. In the oven, they caramelise and settle into the batter, doing the work of decorating all on their own.
Orange zest is folded into the batter to bring a fragrant citrus aroma which, combined with olive oil, creates a rich flavour and a tender, moist crumb.
Made with simple ingredients, this blood orange olive oil cake is a great way to celebrate the start of spring and the last of the blood oranges!
Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 2 blood oranges
- 375 g self-raising flour
- 300 g sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 240 g Greek yogurt
- 240 ml olive oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 160 °C
- Thinly slice one blood orange (including the peel). Line a 22–24 cm round cake tin with parchment paper and arrange the slices in a single layer across the base.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Add the Greek yogurt, olive oil, eggs, vanilla extract and the zest of the second blood orange. Whisk until just combined (avoid overmixing).
- Pour the batter over the orange slices and smooth the surface gently with a spatula.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, or until golden and baked through.
- Allow to cool in the tin for 10–15 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the tin for 10–15 minutes before carefully flipping it upside down. Remove the parchment and serve.
Written by Sofia Cadahia
Sofia is part of the Impact and Sustainability team at CrowdFarming, working at the intersection of nutrition, sustainability, and environmental justice. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a background in Digital Marketing, she uses storytelling to explore how food systems shape health, equity, and environmental outcomes, as well as the often unseen forces that determine who benefits, who bears the cost, and what ends up on our plates.


