Other Oils for Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Olive Oil Cake (from Nigellissima and on the Nigella website) is made with ground almonds (almond meal) and regular (not extra virgin) olive oil. The olive oil adds a slightly fruity note the the cake mixture but it is not as assertive as a peppery extra virgin oil.

There is not particular technical reason why a milder or flavourless oil, such as sunflower oil or peanut/groundnut oil, could not be used in the cake. The flavour of the cocoa will tend to be the main flavour in the cake. If using a flavourless oil the cake may lack a certain extra depth of flavour, but very likely it will still be delicious.