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Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with Olive Oil Cake? 7 BEST Side Dishes.

For Olive Oil Cake, go with Fruit Salad, Slow Roasted Strawberries, Cafe De Olla (Mexican Spiced Coffee), Flavored Iced Coffee, and Fresh Fruit Platter.

Fruit Salad

Cake and fruit is never a bad combination.

For a lighter option, try Fresh Fruit Platter. Fresh Fruit Platter

You can never go wrong with fresh fruits alongside your cake.

Who doesn't love cakes? Even someone on a strict diet or watching their weight tends to get tempted by cake now and then.

Olive oil cakes are cakes made with olive oil instead of butter and are pleasant in every sense of the word.

They are low in carbs and calories, and olive oil cakes are considered to be spongier and softer.

Also, olive oil cakes aren't extremely sweet, so if you were thinking of a dessert that isn't exceedingly sweet on your palate, go for olive oil cake.

Added flavors like cinnamon or lemon make this olive oil cake a lovely dessert without making it overwhelming.

Table of Contents

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  • 7 Best Side Dishes for Olive Oil Cake
    • 1 - Fruit Salad
    • 2 - Slow Roasted Strawberries
    • 3 - Cafe De Olla (Mexican Spiced Coffee)
    • 4 - Flavored Iced Coffee
    • 5 - Fresh Fruit Platter
    • 6 - Ice Cream
    • 7 - Peaches N' Cream
  • Frequently Asked Questions

7 Best Side Dishes for Olive Oil Cake

Here's a list of 7 sides you can serve with olive oil cake - many also work well with olive bread side dishes for pairing.

Give them a try in your next baking adventure.

1 - Fruit Salad

fruit salad Save for Later!

Cake and fruit is never a bad combination.

Never mind if it's brunch or an evening snack, you can always count on a fruit salad to bring a smile to your face.

Fruit salad is also one of the easiest salads to make.

Just pick out the most colorful fruits in your fridge and chop them into bite-sized pieces.

You can either serve them in syrup or use condensed milk in the fruit salad.

You can also make a Waldorf-style fruit salad by using mayonnaise.

It's best to use different types of fruits for variation; however, you can also make a salad using one or two kinds of fruit.

For a heartier accompaniment, consider orzo salad side ideas for balanced meals alongside fruit-based plates.

2 - Slow Roasted Strawberries

slow roasted strawberries Save for Later!

Strawberries are like a prized possession of the fruit world, and they are loved and used in many different kinds of foods.

From cake toppings to fruit salads to shakes, strawberries are ruling people's hearts.

Slow-roasted strawberries are a different kind of delicacy altogether.

These strawberries are tossed with sugar and roasted in a single layer in the oven for up to 5-6 hours.

The excess water is then lost, and the syrup becomes concentrated.

These slow-roasted strawberries can be used in different kinds of desserts and sweets.

You can also serve this with your olive oil cake and revel in the sweet and delicious combination.

For a warm, savory contrast to slow-roasted strawberries, try roasted carrots side pairings for desserts.

3 - Cafe De Olla (Mexican Spiced Coffee)

cafe de olla mexican spiced coffee Save for Later!

Most of us cannot do without coffee, and we need at least one dose of coffee to get through our day-to-day life.

Still, cakes generally taste better with a hot beverage.

In the UK, cakes have a general appearance during teatime.

This Mexican spiced coffee is a fantastic play on our regular coffee and is sure to make your tastebuds want for more.

The spice here is actually just from the cinnamon, and the coffee is actually sweet.

Cafe de Olla translates to 'coffee from a clay pot', as it is traditionally made in a clay pot.

This flavorful coffee will surely be a great combination with your olive oil cake.

If exploring spiced flavors, compare notes with a spiced rum taste guide for spice profiles to see which warming notes match the coffee.

4 - Flavored Iced Coffee

flavored iced coffee Save for Later!

Coffee is a hit, whether warm or chilled.

Summer times can call for more iced coffees rather than warm ones, and flavored coffees are a different kind of delight.

Coffee and cake can never go wrong together.

It is almost like making your regular coffee, but you get to have it with olive oil cake this time.

Many flavors taste great in coffee; however, a few, like chocolate mint, caramel mocha, and banana cream, take the cake.

Pun not intended.

Whip up some flavored iced coffee and enjoy your evening with a slice of cake on the side.

Chilled flavored drinks also work well; iced tea side suggestions for warm days offer lighter pairings for cake.

5 - Fresh Fruit Platter

fresh fruit platter Save for Later!

You can never go wrong with fresh fruits alongside your cake.

Olive oil cakes have a lighter flavor, and fresh fruits can make them even more refreshing.

It is important not to add tangy or bitter fruits since you won't be covering them with other flavors or dressing.

You can also add cheese and crackers to your platter, making it more versatile.

For a single-fruit focus, a strawberry-centered board shines - see fresh strawberries side ideas for platters for inspiration.

6 - Ice Cream

ice cream Save for Later!

Who can say no to ice cream? Not me.

A lot of people love having ice cream with cake - explore ice cream side ideas for desserts that elevate the pairing.

And to be fair, the combination is unmatched.

Choose any flavor of ice cream or go for vanilla- your cake adventures will get really interesting.

Some flavors work best with particular flavors of cakes, like butter pecan for carrot cakes and mint or vanilla ice cream with chocolate cake.

It's all about balance.

7 - Peaches N' Cream

peaches n cream Save for Later!

Peaches and cream are lovely during summers.

It is also one of the easiest things you can whip up.

Add some vanilla extract into your cream for some added flavor.

Top it off with blueberries to get the perfect peaches n' cream recipe.

For savory spreads, olive tapenade side pairings complements many Mediterranean boards. For cake-focused menus, coffee cake side suggestions highlight classic beverage matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for Olive Oil Cake?

Fruit Salad Cake and fruit is never a bad combination. From cake toppings to fruit salads to shakes, strawberries are ruling people's hearts.

Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.

What side adds the most nutritional balance?

A leafy green or fiber-rich vegetable balances the meal best. Fruit Salad Cake and fruit is a good pick for adding color and nutrients.

Pairing a protein-heavy main with a lighter vegetable side keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.

What is the lightest option to round out the plate?

A simple green salad or steamed vegetable is the easiest low-effort option. It adds color and nutrients without heavy prep or additional richness.

How do you serve sides for a large group?

Sheet-pan sides and big-batch grains scale easily.

Roast everything on one or two trays and serve from the pan.

Avoid delicate sides that wilt or lose texture when held warm.

Explore more: This post is part of our Side Dish Pairing Guide.
Andrew Gray

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Andrew Gray - GustoMeadow founder

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Restaurant industry veteran sharing real recipes, honest substitutes, and tips that actually work in a home kitchen.

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