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Can Use Olive Oil Brownies: Here Is All You Need To Know

Can Use Olive Oil Brownies
Can Use Olive Oil Brownies

Olive oil is one of the healthiest ingredients we have around these days. If you’re like me, you want to include it in all of your recipes.

Olive oil is easy to include in salad dressings – it tastes great in vinaigrette recipes. You can also make olive-oil spreads and dips for bread.

Well, I’ve got news for you. You can also use olive oil in making baked goodies. Yes, even brownies, which normally call for vegetable oil and butter.

In this post, I will show you how to properly use olive oil in brownie recipes. You see, there are different types of olive oil – and the final result of your baked good will depend on the type of oil that you use.

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Quick Navigation
What You Should Know About Olive Oil
Using Olive Oil in Packaged Brownies
Using Olive Oil in Homemade Brownies
Olive oil vs Butter in Brownies
Health Benefits of Olive Oil Vs. Vegetable Oil and Butter
Vegetable Oil Substitutes in Brownies
Non-Oil Substitutes for Vegetable Oil and Butter
Healthy Brownies
Tips
FAQs
Using Olive Oil in Brownies and Other Baked Recipes

What You Should Know About Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a type of oil that has a distinct taste. It’s precisely for this reason why olive oil is frequently used in salad dressings. If you’re going to use olive oil in brownies, you should know these things:

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    The distinct taste of olive oil is only strong when the brownie batter is still raw. Once cooked, the taste will diminish and will be barely noticeable.​
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    Light olive oil carries the mildest taste and scent of all types of olive oil. Because of this, you will barely notice that you used olive oil in your brownies instead of the usual vegetable oil (a type of unflavored oil).
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    Pure olive oil is another type of olive oil that has minimal flavor. It is also mildly scented. If you want to use a light-flavored olive oil in your brownies, this type of oil would make for a good choice.
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    Refined olive oil is also mildly scented and mildly flavored. Like the light and pure olive oil varieties, using this type of oil in your brownies will be hardly noticeable.
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    Extra Virgin olive oil has a strong aroma and taste. Compared to the previously mentioned types of olive oil, its taste and aroma are noticeable. Using extra virgin olive oil in a brownie recipe can result in a somewhat off-tasting brownie.

Using Olive Oil in Packaged Brownies

Brownie mixes can come in boxes and they’re very easy to make. In fact, even non-bakers can easily make brownies at home with these ready-made products. If you plan on using olive oil for brownie mixes, consider the following:

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    If the instruction calls for vegetable oil, you can use a light or mild type of olive oil as a substitute. Also, in doing so, use the same amount of olive oil as required if you were to use vegetable oil.
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    Don’t use extra virgin olive oil as it has a very strong taste (and aroma). Remember, brownie mixes only carry mild chocolate flavor (compared to homemade) – so, the distinct taste of extra virgin olive oil will really stand out in the final product.

Using Olive Oil in Homemade Brownies

Olive Oil

Olive Oil

When making brownies from scratch, you can use any type of olive oil – yes, even extra virgin olive oil. If you have to use a strong flavored olive oil in your homemade brownie recipe, simply increase the amount of chocolate ingredients to mask its distinctive taste.

Here are some things to remember when using olive oil in homemade brownies:

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    You can use olive oil instead of vegetable oil.
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    You can use olive oil instead of butter.
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    When you sense the taste of olive oil in the batter, add more chocolate to the mixture until you find the right taste (or balance).
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    While you can substitute olive oil for butter, remember that olive oil carries a different flavor from butter.

Olive oil vs Butter in Brownies

Brownies

Brownies

When using olive oil as replacement for butter in a brownie recipe, keep in mind that you need to use less olive oil than if you were to use butter. Refer to this butter vs olive oil conversion:

  • Use ¾ teaspoon olive oil to substitute for 1 teaspoon of butter.
  • Use 2 ¼ teaspoon olive oil to substitute for 1 tablespoon of butter.
  • Use 3 tablespoons of olive oil to substitute for ¼ cup of butter.
  • Use ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil to substitute for ½ cup butter.
  • Use ½ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil to substitute for ¾ cup butter.
  • Use ¾ cup olive oil to substitute for 1 cup butter.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil Vs. Vegetable Oil and Butter

Vegetable Oils

Vegetable Oils

Since vegetable oil and butter are usually called for in brownie recipes, substituting these ingredients with olive oil is really a good idea. Olive oil is undoubtedly a healthy type of oil (and a healthy ingredient). Just consider these things:

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    Olive oil has healthy fat content – It helps in combating killer diseases like cancer and diabetes. Healthy fat is also good for the heart.
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    Olive oil carries antioxidant properties – Antioxidants help protect the body from different types of diseases. Eating food rich in antioxidants also slows down the aging process.
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    Olive oil comes with anti-inflammatory properties – Inflammation and swelling are prevented (inside and outside the body).

Vegetable Oil Substitutes in Brownies

While olive oil can indeed substitute for vegetable oil in making brownies, you can also use other types of oil. So, if you don’t have olive oil around and want to replace vegetable oil (a not-so-healthy ingredient) with another type of oil, you can use the following:

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    Canola oil – Just make sure that it’s non-GMO.
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    Corn oil – It’s good for heart health as it can lower bad cholesterol.
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    Coconut oil – You will benefit from its flavor and nutritional content.
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    Peanut oil – It’s low in fat and cholesterol content.

Non-Oil Substitutes for Vegetable Oil and Butter

Believe it or not, you can also substitute vegetable oil and butter with non-oil products. Just keep in mind that using such replacements will somehow affect the taste and texture of brownies (noticeable difference). Also, using non-oily products will result in quick-cooking baked goods (because they’ll dry out sooner). Still, you might want to consider these:

  • Applesauce
  • Yogurt
  • Fruit purees (e.g. banana)

Healthy Brownies

Brownies

Brownies

We all know that the ingredients to making brownies are not really that healthy. Substituting olive oil can indeed make it healthier since it’s a healthy type of fat. However, you can still make this baked good even healthier by considering the following (according to your needs):

  • Use only egg whites (or a few yolks) to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your food.
  • Use vegan ingredients.
  • Use gluten-free ingredients.
  • Use dairy-free ingredients.

Tips

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    Using olive oil instead of vegetable oil in brownie recipes won’t affect the texture of the final product.
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    If you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in your brownies, expect it to have a mild fruity taste. This actually complements the chocolaty taste in brownies.
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    The reason why vegetable oil is typically used in brownie recipes (and other baked goods, for that matter) is that it’s unflavored. However, know that it’s high in fat and can be bad for your health (especially if you have heart issues).
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    Butter is another typical brownie ingredient. Its effect in baked goods is that it makes the texture rich and a bit chewy. Needless to say, it also adds flavor to the food and makes it tastier. One of the reasons why you’d want to replace butter with olive oil is that butter is high in fat.

FAQs

Q: Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in a cake mix?

A: Yes, you can replace vegetable oil in a cake mix, just as you would in a brownie mix. However, if you don’t want to alter the taste of your cake, make sure that you use mild-tasting olive oil (not the extra virgin, which is strong in flavor).

Q: Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in pancakes?

A: Yes, you can use olive oil in making pancakes. Your pancakes will then have a fruity taste.

Q: Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in a cake?

A: Yes, you can substitute vegetable oil with olive oil when making cakes. Olive oil is actually frequently used in homemade carrot cakes, chocolate cakes, pound cakes, etc.

Q: Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in cookies?

A: Yes, you can use olive oil in cookies. If you don’t want a strong olive oil taste, however, use a mild type of oil (not extra virgin).

Vegetable Oil

Vegetable Oil

Using Olive Oil in Brownies and Other Baked Recipes

I’m sure you’re all excited now to make brownies using olive oil. I encourage you to do so because olive oil is really beneficial to the body.

As you already know by now, you can use olive oil not just for making brownies, but other types of baked goods as well. And again, if you’re like me (and like the taste of extra virgin olive oil), you can use it in your recipes. Keep in mind that extra virgin olive oil is the best type of olive oil because it’s the most nutritious.

I also recommend using olive oil in making your other baked goods. It really tastes good in cakes and pastries – so, just go ahead and use it. If you incorporate it into these supposed-to-be-sinful foods, you’ll feel less guilty about it.

If you found this article useful, do share it with others. I would also appreciate any feedback from you.

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About Lita Watson

Lita Watson is a home mom blogger who loves dogs and flowers. I have one daughter and one son, both of whom she adores. I started my blog Quick Easy Cook to share recipes that are quick and easy for moms like herself.

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