Now, I know this combination sounds strange but don’t freak out, this cake is rich, moist, and perfectly complex in taste but simple as a boxed cake mix because that’s basically what it is- dressed up cake mix. Delicious-dressed up cake mix.

I made up this recipe in a pinch for a dinner party a while back. When Farhan and I first got married we had people over all the time, which was amazing and gave me lots of opportunities to try funky recipes on our guests (shout out to all who participated). The base for this cake is Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cake Mix, and the inspiration came from a lemon olive oil cake I tried in Italy and a bunch of peaches that needed to be used.

I hope you like the recipe and give it a try, I can guarantee that your guests will be baffled and impressed.

Ingredients

Cake

1/2 Box Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cake Mix
1 large egg
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup cold milk
1/3 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping

1 peach thinly sliced
1/2 stick of butter
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 handful of blueberries (optional)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the cake mix, eggs, olive oil, lemon zest, milk, salt and vanilla extract and set aside.

In a 9-inch cast iron skillet, melt the butter over low heat and add brown sugar to it. As the butter and brown sugar begin to mix but not yet bubble, add a layer of the peach slices. Remove from heat.

Use butter cooking spray to coat the sides of the pan and then pour batter over the peaches.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top it golden and a toothpick poked into the center of the layer comes out clean. Let cool in pan.

Run a knife around the sides of the cake to loosen it from the pan, then place a plate over the pan and carefully flip. Top with blueberries or additional lemon zest.