Preheat oven to 350°F with the oven rack centered.
Coat your cake pan with cooking spray.
Optional: Press a handful of the thinly sliced oranges against the sides of the oiled pan (see photos above).
Coat the pan with a light dusting of flour (to prevent the cake sticking). Note: The orange slices won't stick to a floured pan, so it's important to oil the pan, place the orange slices, and flour the pan, in that order.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together FLOUR, SUGAR, BAKING POWDER, BAKING SODA, and SALT. Set aside.
In another mixing bowl, beat the EGGS with a whisk.
To this, add ORANGE JUICE, ORANGE LIQUEUR, ORANGE ZEST, VANILLA EXTRACT, and OLIVE OIL. Whisk until well-blended.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir or whisk to combine until smooth. The batter will be somewhat runny.
Pour batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Transfer the cake in the pan to a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Invert the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
Chocolate ganache topping (optional)
Heat the MILK until steaming using a preferred method. Add CHOCOLATE CHIPS and rest for a few minutes. Whisk until it thickens into a pourable consistency.
Drizzle slightly warm ganache over the cooled cake and garnish with your favorite toppings.
Serving and storage
Serve at room temperature for optimal texture.
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a smooth batter.
Olive oil - I prefer extra-virgin olive oil for olive oil cake but feel free to substitute any neutral-flavored oil in equal amounts.
An electric mixer isn't required, but you are welcome to use one.
The cake pan size is important. Use my recommended sizes in the "Equipment section" located further up the recipe card.
Feel free to skip the ganache topping on this orange cake and opt for a dusting of powdered sugar for a more traditional finish.
I will always recommend the use of an oven thermometer to ensure a correct oven temperature for consistent results.