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Italian cake

Italian Grape Cake Recipe

September 6, 2020 by Marisa 6 Comments

Italian Grape Cake Recipe

An incredibly moist Italian Grape Cake Recipe made with olive oil and scented with orange zest, almond and a hint of thyme. It’s an Italian-style harvest cake and a simple yet perfect way of baking with grapes.

Serving a slice of grape cake.

Fall is fast approaching and with it comes a whole new season of culinary delights.

In Italy, grapes are harvested between the end of August to mid October. During this period it’s quite customary to present a dish or sweet treat with the newly harvested foods.

Alas, since I’m nowhere near Italy at the moment, I look no further than my favourite farmer’s market for the best grapes I could find.

Which now begs the question, have you spotted these Thomcord grapes yet?

Thomcord grapes are a hybrid of the seedless Thompson grapes. They’re very thin skinned and with the sweetest aromatic taste ever.

If not for the fact that they are packaged and sold in clusters while still intact on their vine, one would seriously think these tiny grapes are blueberries.

And much like blueberries the thin skin clings to the grape when bitten into.

Blue Thomcord table grapes in a white bowl

And now begs another question! Have you ever baked with grapes before?

If not then all I can say is…oh my goodness…you’re missing out my friend!

When baked these fresh grapes turn a deep purple hue in color with pools of soft jammy goodness.

With this olive oil grape cake, each bite has a burst of sweetness and is complimented with the citrus, almond scent and hint of thyme.

It stays incredibly moist for days and has a lovely contrast in texture with some crunchy sliced almonds scattered over the grape cake.

Lets bake this Italian-style cake shall we!

How to Make an Italian Grape Cake

Sifting flours together in a silver bowl with a small white plate filled with grapes in the background.
Beaten egg and sugar mixture in a mixing bowl.

  • Start by sifting together the all purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl. And set the flour mixture aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or hand held mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the eggs with the granulated sugar until thick and pale yellow in color. About 3 minutes.
Stirring zest and thyme with the egg and sugar mix in a silver bowl.
Stirring flour in with the egg and sugar mix in a silver bowl.

  • Add the olive oil, milk, vanilla and almond extracts, zest and thyme to the egg mixture. Mix until well incorporated.
  • Switch to the paddle attachment and mix in the flour mixture until well combined.

Stirring small blue grapes into the cake batter in a silver mixing bowl.

  • Fold in 1 cup of grapes with a rubber spatula.

Grape cake batter in a 9 inch springform cake pan.

  • Transfer the cake batter into a greased and floured 9 inch springform pan. Or grease with your favourite baking product.
  • Scatter the remaining cup of grapes evenly over the top of the cake.
  • Sprinkle the top of the cake with sliced almonds

Freshly baked grape cake in a springform pan.

  • Bake the grape cake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes.
  • When ready the cake will be deep golden brown in color and should spring back when touched with your fingertip.
  • Alternately, you can check for doneness with a small wooden skewer. If a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean then it’s ready.

Italian Grape Cake Recipe

  • Remove from the oven and place the cake on a cooling rack. Run a knife along the sides of the pan and allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes before releasing the cake from the springform pan.
  • Dust the cake with powdered sugar just before serving.
  • Garnish with sugared grapes if desired. (check instructions below on how to make sugared grapes)

Grape cake topped with sugared grapes.

How to Make Sugared Grapes for Garnishing

Making sugared grapes is really quite easy but does require a little patience. Most of the time involved is inactive time.

To make the sugared grapes for garnishing, you’ll need:

  • 3 small clusters of grapes on the vine or approximately 2/3 cups of plucked grapes.
  • 1/3 granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup
  • 1/3 water cup

First, we’ll make a simple syrup. Place 1/3 cup of sugar and equal part water in a small stock pot. Heat on medium low and stir together till the sugar has completely dissolved.

Remove from heat.

With a slotted spoon, dip the grapes in the simple sugar mixture while turning to coat all over.

Transfer to a wire rack and let the grapes dry for 1 hour.

Then, roll the grapes in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar while taking care to cover the entire surface of the grapes.

Return to the wire rack and let dry for another hour so that the sugar adheres to the grapes.

These sugared grapes add a pretty touch and also compliments this grape studded cake. But really, you can use them to garnish any sweet treat. They would also be perfect to serve with cocktails. 

A slice of grape cake on a white plate with a blue napkin.

If planning ahead you’ll be happy to know that this Italian Grape Cake Recipe will stay fresh for quite a few days. And, it actually tastes better the following day! 

It’s moist. Flavourful. And not too sweet. Making it a perfect breakfast cake or a special treat for brunch!

Happy Baking!

 

Serving a slice of grape cake.
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Italian Grape Cake Recipe

An incredibly moist Italian Grape Cake Recipe made with olive oil and scented with orange zest, almond and a hint of thyme. It's an Italian-style harvest cake and a simple yet perfect way of baking with grapes.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time40 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Harvest Cake, Italian Grape Cake Recipe
Servings: 10
Calories: 343kcal

Equipment

  • 9 inch spring form pan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup almond milk or regular milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • orange zest from 1 medium orange
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves optional
  • 2 cups small seedless grapes such as Thomcord, Thompson or Concord divided (1 cup in cake batter and 1 cup to scatter over top)
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • powdered sugar for dusting over the cake

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan.
  • In a medium sized bowl, sift together the all purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or hand held mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the eggs and granulated sugar until thick and pale yellow in colour. About 3 minutes.
  • Mix in the olive oil, milk, vanilla and almond extracts, zest and thyme until well incorporated.
  • Switch to the paddle attachment and mix in the flour mixture until well combined.
  • Fold in 1 cup of the grapes with a rubber spatula.
  • Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pan and level off with the back of a spoon.
  • Scatter the remaining 1 cup of grapes evenly over the top of the cake.
  • Sprinkle the top of the cake with sliced almonds.
  • Bake the cake in a preheated oven for about 40 minutes.
  • When ready the cake will have a deep golden brown colour and springs back to the touch. Or, if a toothpick inserted inside comes out clean then it's ready.
  • Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
  • Run a knife alongside the edges of the pan and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
  • Release the cake from the springform pan and cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.
  • Garnish with sugared grapes or fresh thyme leaves if desired. (see notes below on how to make sugared grapes)

Notes

Ingredients for sugared grapes:
  • 3 small clusters of grapes on the vine or approximately 2/3 cups of plucked grapes.
  • 1/3 granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup
  • 1/3 water cup
Simple Syrup:
Place 1/3 cup of sugar and equal part water in a small stock pot.
Heat on medium low and stir together till the sugar has completely dissolved.
Remove from heat.
With a slotted spoon, dip the grapes in the simple sugar mixture, turning to coat all over.
Transfer to a wire rack and let the grapes dry for 1 hour.
Roll the grapes in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar while taking care to cover the grapes all over with the sugar.
Return to the wire rack and let dry for another hour so that the sugar adheres to the grapes.
Enjoy as a garnish for decorating sweet treats.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg

 

 

Filed Under: Cakes, Dessert Tagged With: dessert, grape cake, grapes, harvest cake, Italian cake

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