This festive olive-oil cake can be made with orange juice or Meyer lemon juice. The cake tastes even better if made a day in advance, as the flavors get a chance to intensify.

Makes 10 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 35 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 35 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup mild-flavored extra-virgin olive oil
2 large eggs, at room temperature, separated (see Tip)
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange or Meyer lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh orange or Meyer lemon juice
5 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger, divided
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
Spiced Orange Compote (recipe follows)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil an 8-inch round cake pan (see Variation), line with parchment paper and oil the parchment.
2. Stir together honey, oil, egg yolks, zest, juice and 3 tablespoons crystallized ginger in a medium bowl. Sift whole-wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on high in another medium bowl until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Stir the honey mixture into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon. Gently fold in the egg whites with a rubber spatula until they are well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake and turn it out onto the rack. Let cool completely.
5. Just before serving, sift sugar evenly over the top of the cake and garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons ginger. Serve with Spiced Orange Compote on the side.

Variation: You can use a 9-inch cake pan for this recipe, but you will get a thinner cake. Reduce the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes. You can find 8-inch cake pans at well-stocked kitchenware stores or online at surlatable.com.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 280 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 5 g mono); 42 mg cholesterol; 51 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 175 mg sodium; 189 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (80% daily value).
2 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 3 other carbohydrates, 1 fat

TIP: Tip: To bring an egg to room temperature, either set it out on the counter for 15 minutes or submerge it (in the shell) in a bowl of lukewarm (not hot) water for 5 minutes.

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 4, tightly wrap in plastic wrap and hold at room temperature for up to 1 day. | Equipment: 8-inch cake pan (see Variation), parchment paper

RELATED RECIPES: Spiced Orange Compote