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    Home » Italian Recipes » Desserts

    Italian Grape Cake

    February 15, 2022 by angelakallison 13 Comments

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    Italian Grape Cake is a classic Italian harvest cake made with fresh grapes, olive oil, and orange zest. This sweet and simple cake is a delicious way to bake with grapes.

    Italian grape cake on a white plate with a slice of the cake and a bunch of purple grapes.

    If you've never tried Italian Grape Cake, you are in for a real treat! This cake uses small purple grapes with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon to give a moist and delicious treat that's great for breakfast or dessert.

    For another delicious Italian fruit cake, be sure to try this Cranberry Ricotta Cake. And, for an Italian-inspired muffin recipe, you'll love these Blueberry Ricotta Muffins.

    Why this Italian Grape Cake works!

    While you may never have thought to bake with grapes, it's actually a really sweet and satisfying treat. When you bake the grapes, they soften and add a light and sweet flavor.

    This cake is a traditional Italian-harvest cake made with the leftover grapes. The flavors are intensified with the addition of orange (or lemon) zest and of course a good quality olive oil. And, while you may not be harvesting grapes, it's a great way to use up your leftover store-bought grapes.

    Whenever I bake this I like to deepen the flavors by adding a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. While this is not a traditional ingredient, I find that it really adds to the taste.

    Close up of a slice of the dessert on a white plate.

    Italian Grape Cake stays moist for days! I love to have it with a cup of coffee in the morning or a midday snack. It's delicious on it's own, or you can dollop with with whipped cream.

    Ingredients

    overhead photo of ingredients needed to make the recipe including flour, orange zest, olive oil, eggs, and milk.

    The ingredients for Italian Grape Cake include kitchen staples like flour, baking powder, milk, eggs, and butter. What makes this cake really special is the citrus zest, grapes, olive oil, and cinnamon.

    • Citrus Zest: including zest in this recipe is what makes it so flavorful. Some recipes call for both lemon and orange zest, however, I like to use just orange since it plays so well with the grape flavor. Feel free to add more or less zest depending on your tastes.
    • Grapes: the key to this recipe is using good quality purple/red grapes. In addition, you want to use the smallest grapes you can find. While larger grapes work, they don't sit as well in the batter. Also, don't cut the grapes as you will made the batter too moist.
    • Olive Oil: the olive oil in this recipe adds to the overall flavor and moistness of the cake. Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil if you can.
    • Cinnamon: while this is not a traditional Italian ingredient, it adds a subtle sweet flavor to the cake. Feel free to omit it altogether if you like.

    How to Make Italian Grape Cake

    This classic and simple cake recipe comes together fast and is perfect for any occasion. So, if you've never baked with grapes before, let this be the recipe that changes you!

    To start, you will need to grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. If you don't have a springform, a 9-inch cake pan that is greased and lined with parchment would work too.

    overhead process shots showing how to make recipe including beating the eggs and sugar and folding in the dry ingredients.

    Step 1: whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Set aside.

    Step 2: use a handheld mixer to whisk together eggs and sugar until they are fluffy and pale in color; about 3-4 minutes.

    Step 3: mix in the milk, butter, olive oil, vanilla, and orange zest.

    Step 4: stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. Add in the grapes.

    process shots 5 to 8 showing how to make recipe including baking and dusting with powdered sugar.

    Step 5: use a rubber spatula to fold the grapes into the batter. Scrape down the sides to make sure all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.

    Step 6: pour the batter into the prepared pan. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the top. Place in preheated oven.

    Step 7: bake the grape cake until it is golden brown in color; about 50-55 minutes. Use a toothpick to test for doneness. Place the cake on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then use a knife to loosen the collar on the pan and remove. Let cool completely.

    Step 8: Once the cake has cooled, dust the top of it with powdered sugar. Serve with whipped cream or by itself.

    Overhead photo of the cake topped with powdered sugar on a white serving plate.

    Recipe Tips and FAQs

    Read all of my expert tip and FAQs on how to make the most delicious grape cake everytime!

    • The eggs and sugar have to beaten together until light and frothy before adding other ingredients. This usually takes about three minutes with handheld mixer on the high setting.
    • As written, this recipe will have a small hint of orange flavor without being overpowering. If you happen to love citrus, you could add additional orange or lemon zest to the cake batter.
    • I like to bake the cake in a 9-inch springform pan. Make sure your springform is locked into place before adding into the pan. You could also make this in a greased and lined cake pan or 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
    • Use the smallest purple/red grapes you can find here. Champagne grapes would be good, or cotton candy grapes, if you can find them.
    Can you bake with grapes?

    While baking with grapes doesn't seem common, the small varieties can be used in baking like you would use blueberries. Because grapes have a higher water content, you want to use the smallest grapes possible when baking with them.

    What can I do with leftover grapes?

    If you have a bunch of leftover grapes, you can remove them from their stem and freeze them in an airtight container for a delicious snack. Leftover grapes are also good when cut in half and used in salads. You can also add them to a wild rice salad tossed nuts and vinaigrette. Small leftover grapes are great for baking.

    Italian grape cake on a white plate with a slice of the cake and grapes in the background.

    Related Recipes

    Check out these other simple Italian-inspired cake recipes:

    Italian Apple Cake

    Cannoli Pound Cake

    Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cake

    Pane di Pasqua | Italian Easter Bread

    Olive Oil Bundt Cake

    Lemon Polenta Cake

    Chocolate Ricotta Bundt Cake

    Italian grape cake on a white plate with a slice of cake on white plate and a bunch of grapes.

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    Italian Grape Cake
    Print Recipe
    5 from 14 votes

    Italian Grape Cake

    This simple Italian cake is full of sweet grapes with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon. It's a great way to use up leftover grapes too.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 10 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: grape cake, italian cake
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Angela Allison
    Cost: 7-9

    Equipment

    • 9 inch springform pan

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 cups small purple grapes
    • powdered sugar for dusting

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray or butter and flour; set aside.
    • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
    • In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer to beat together the eggs and sugar until the mixer is thick; about 3-4 minutes. Add in the milk, oil, butter, orange zest, and cinnamon, and mix until combined. Mix in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the purple grapes. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
    • Bake on the center rack of the oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge, the release and remove the sides of the pan. Let cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    • If you want more of a citrus taste to your cake, you can add additional orange and lemon zest to the cake batter. 
    • Traditionally this cake is made without cinnamon. Feel free to leave it out (or add more) depending on your tastes. 
    • Small grapes are key here. Try to find the smallest grapes you can. You can make this with bigger grapes if that's all you have. Don't cut the grapes to make them smaller; it will just make the batter too wet. 
    • Store this cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or you can freeze for up to a month. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
    Italian Grape Cake
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gina

      February 15, 2022 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      The flavors of this cake are wonderful!

      Reply
    2. Lubna

      February 15, 2022 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      Grapes and orange...wow....what a flavour packed cake. Looks moist and delicious....

      Reply
    3. Shashi

      February 15, 2022 at 9:37 pm

      Oh what a delightful cake! I think I have all the ingredients, so I cannot wait to try this recipe out!

      Reply
    4. Kristen

      February 16, 2022 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      This was such a unique and delicious recipe! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    5. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      February 16, 2022 at 1:43 am

      5 stars
      I've not used grapes in a cake before and this one looks so light and delicious I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    6. Janice

      July 06, 2022 at 1:00 pm

      Can you use green grapes instead of red?

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        July 11, 2022 at 8:48 pm

        yes!

        Reply
    7. Mignonne

      September 28, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy, used small green Grapes. Not too sweet, perfect with coffee.

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        October 03, 2022 at 2:14 pm

        So happy you loved it!

        Reply
    8. Joyce

      October 07, 2022 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      I ended up making this twice. This was perfect for using the excess grapes on our vines. It is not overly sweet with a hint of tart from the grapes. It is a bit like some coffee cakes that I have made.

      Reply
    9. Jill

      October 12, 2022 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe. My grapes have pips in so I chopped the grapes in half and removed, a bit tedious! I then halved the amount of milk so it mixture did not get too sloppy. Perfect result 👏

      Reply
    10. Suzanne

      November 20, 2022 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe, cake turned out so delicious and moist!! Even better after a night in the fridge, thanks!!

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        November 23, 2022 at 6:35 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it Suzanne! Thanks for the comment 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela, the recipe creator of This Italian Kitchen. Cooking alongside her Italian family, she grew up creating authentic meals and desserts.

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