Can you use olive oil in brownies?

There’s no point in denying it - we all love a gooey hot fudge brownie! But it’s happened to all of us: We start making our favorite recipe and discover that we are missing a vital ingredient.

A common ingredient in most brownie recipes is vegetable oil, but what if you’ve run out or want to use something different, like olive oil?

So can you use olive oil in brownies? Olive oil can be a great substitute for vegetable oil in brownies, as it adds a slightly bitter, fruity flavor. Some olive oils work better in brownies than others, and extra virgin olive oil is not suitable for making brownies.

If you want to stop using vegetable oil, read on for everything you need to know about using olive oil in brownie recipes.

Can you make brownies with olive oil?

If you’re looking for a healthier option, or you’ve just run out of vegetable oil, you’ll be happy to know that your favorite brownie recipe can be made with olive oil.

Olive oil has the same density and viscosity as vegetable oil. This means that you can substitute vegetable oil , using the same amount as the recipe calls for.

If your recipe calls for butter or another type of oil or fat, you can use olive oil as a substitute.

However, you should be aware of the potential problems with using olive oil to make brownies.

First of all, olive oil has a stronger flavor than vegetable oil or butter. It can taste slightly bitter when baked, although it sometimes works very well with rich chocolate flavors.

Different types of olive oil have different flavors, so it’s important to know which types work best for baking.

Olive oil also starts to burn at lower temperatures than other types of oils and fats, so extra care needs to be taken during the cooking process. An oven that is too hot can lead to brownies that are blackened and crunchy.

Why do brownies need oil?

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just trying out a few recipe ideas, brownies are a popular choice for many home bakers.

You’ve probably noticed that most brownie recipes contain similar ingredients, with only slight variations. A standard brownie recipe typically includes a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, chocolate, and vegetable oil.

But why do brownies need oil? Oil is the key ingredient to make brownies soft and sticky, and to prevent lumps from forming in the batter.

Vegetable oil is typically chosen because it is very neutral in flavor, so it won’t mask the rich chocolate flavor. Since oil is a liquid, it will keep the dough smooth and bubble-free, unlike solid fats like butter.

What is the difference between vegetable oil and olive oil?

They may look very similar, but vegetable oil and olive oil are actually completely different.

Olive oil is made from (yes, you guessed it!) olives, the fruits of an olive tree. The oil is produced by washing, crushing and then pressing the olives to release the oil.

Olive oils are considered healthier than other types of fats and oils, including vegetable oil . With higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids than vegetable oil, many people looking for a healthier option turn to olive oil.

Vegetable oil is usually a blend of different oils, rather than just one type of oil. This includes any oil that has been extracted from fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts.

Your bottle of vegetable oil will normally be made up of a mixture of oils extracted from rapeseed, corn, soybean, sunflower, palm trees and peanuts.

Vegetable oil is typically highly processed and contains lower levels of micronutrients and other healthy compounds than olive oil.

Why use olive oil to make brownies?

There are several reasons why you might consider using olive oil to make brownies. First off, you may have run out of vegetable oil or butter, and are looking for a substitute without running to the store.

Or you may be looking for a different flavor or texture in your brownies: olive oil brings an interesting fruity and slightly bitter flavor to brownies, which can perfectly complement the sweet taste of chocolate.

Another reason to use olive oil to make brownies is that it’s a healthier option than most types of oil.

Compared to vegetable oils and butter, olive oil has higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and lower levels of saturated and trans fats.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help lower cholesterol levels.

Benefits of using olive oil to make brownies

• Mild flavor, with slightly bitter and fruity flavors
• Good texture, comparable to vegetable oil
• Healthier option than butter or vegetable oil

Disadvantages of using olive oil to make brownies:

• Different flavor than vegetable oil or butter, which can affect the flavor of the brownies
• Usually more expensive than vegetable oil or butter
• Olive oil has a lower smoke point and will burn easily if the oven temperature is too high.

Using olive oil in brownies instead of vegetable oil

So you’ve decided to use olive oil to make your brownies, but how exactly do you use it?

The good news is that if your recipe calls for vegetable oil, just substitute the same amount of olive oil!

If you substitute olive oil for the butter, then it’s a bit more complicated.  You have to add 7/8 cup of oil for every cup of butter called for.

The other important point to remember is that olive oil burns at lower temperatures than other types of oil.

The correct oven temperature is vital to making the perfect brownie , so it can be difficult to find the right balance when using olive oil.

Here are some tips to prevent your brownies from burning if you use olive oil:

• Make sure your brownie pan is deep enough – thinner, flatter brownies can easily burn.
• Line the brownie pan with parchment paper, leaving the edges high.
• Turn the mold halfway through cooking.
• Try the double boiler cooking method for gooey brownies with no crispy edges.

What is the best type of olive oil to make brownies?

Many people shy away from using olive oil in baking, as its slightly bitter taste turns them off. Although bitterness can work well with chocolate, we don’t want it to be over the top!

The secret to using olive oil in making brownies is selecting the right type of olive oil.

There are three basic grades of olive oil:

• Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality and least acidic form of olive oil. It has a strong fruity flavor and is best suited for dishes that do not require cooking.
• Virgin olive oil is a high-quality form of olive oil that is slightly more acidic than the extra virgin option. Virgin olive oil has a slightly less pungent flavor and is suitable for both raw and cooked dishes.
• Refined or light olive oil has been heavily processed, resulting in a light-tasting oil suitable for cooking. Unfortunately, this also means that it is the least nutritious form of olive oil.

The choice of olive oil to make brownies depends on personal taste, and also on the recipe you are following.

If you think you might like the taste of olive oil when combined with chocolate, then virgin olive oil would be the best option. Using virgin olive oil means you get all the nutritional benefits of olive oil, plus the flavor.

If you are looking for a direct change to vegetable oil, then light or refined olive oil is the one for you.

This choice will make your recipe come out exactly the same as using vegetable oil, but you won’t get any of the nutritional benefits that a less refined form of olive oil would.

The only olive oil we wouldn’t recommend using is extra virgin olive oil – the strong flavor profile of this oil would overpower the other flavors in your brownie recipe.

The result would likely be a bitter, fruity flavor that wouldn’t contrast well with the sweet chocolate brownie.

Can olive oil be mixed with other oils to make brownies?

There’s no reason you can’t mix different oils and fats together to make brownies.

What if you only have a little butter or vegetable oil left? If it’s not the full amount your recipe calls for, weigh what you have and combine it with enough olive oil to make up the difference.

This means you can finish the last part of that bottle of vegetable oil, and just top it up with olive oil to get the full amount.

It can be difficult to mix the butter and oil to get the correct amounts called for in your recipe, since the required proportions are not always the same. Melting the butter before mixing it with the oil can help you measure the amounts accurately.

Remember that extra virgin olive oil is not suitable for baking. Use light or refined olive oil if you want the same flavor as vegetable oil, or virgin olive oil if you don’t mind your brownies tasting slightly fruity and bitter.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to use olive oil to bake brownies, let’s look at some related questions!

What can replace vegetable oil in brownies?

Vegetable oil is the most common type of fat in brownie recipes. This is because it binds the ingredients together without making them fluffy, creating the sticky texture we all know and love.

But if you’ve run out of vegetable oil or are looking for a healthier option, what other options do you have?

• Coconut Oil – Will give your brownies a light coconut flavor, which can work really well with chocolate!
• Butter - For a richer, “doughier” texture to your brownies, butter can be a great substitute.
• Olive Oil – This is a healthier option if you are looking for an oil substitute. Stick to virgin, light, or refined olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil is not suitable for baking.
• Canola Oil - It is the healthiest cooking oil, with a high content of unsaturated fats.
• Apple Sauce – A low-fat alternative that adds moisture and sweetness to your brownie recipe. Cut the amount of sugar in your recipe by a third if you use sweetened applesauce.
• Yogurt - An excellent source of protein and calcium, yogurt is a great alternative to oil when baking brownies. Be sure to use plain yogurt, though, as flavored versions can make your brownies taste weird.

Does olive oil make brownies taste bad?

Whether olive oil makes brownies taste bad depends on two things: the type of olive oil used and what your definition of bad taste is.

Different types of olive oil have different levels of flavor. The strongest flavor is that of extra virgin olive oil, which has a fruity, spicy flavor that overpowers the other flavors in brownies, and can also be bitter.

So yes, using extra virgin olive oil on brownies will make them taste bad.

However, other types of olive oil can taste good in brownies. Virgin olive oil doesn’t have as strong a flavor, and only has a slight hint of bitterness, so it can work well with recipes rich in chocolate.

Light or refined olive oil has very little flavor and will not affect the flavor of your brownies.

What happens if you make brownies without oil?

Brownies can be made without oil, but some substitutions can alter the final consistency and texture of your brownies.

The fat or oil in your brownie recipe is what creates the wonderful gooey consistency of brownies. If you completely remove the oil from the recipe, your brownies will likely be more cake-like and less dense.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but be prepared for your brownies to come out slightly different than normal if you don’t oil them.

The two best oil substitutes for making brownies are yogurt and applesauce. Both will add a lot of moisture to the brownie batter, helping to keep them thick and sticky.

Are brownies with oil or butter better?

Many people spend years perfecting the ultimate brownie recipe, and swear by using butter or oil. But which is better and why?

The answer depends on a few factors, many of which boil down to personal preferences and needs:

• Texture – Butter will give a more “doughy” texture to the brownie, and oil will be more “sticky.” Butter has a much higher water content than vegetable oil, which makes the brownie rise and have an open structure.
• Flavor - Butter is richer, nuttier and slightly sweeter than oil. Butter has been used traditionally in baking for centuries, simply because of its fantastic taste. However, most oils have a neutral flavor that won’t overshadow the other flavors in your brownies.
• Dairy - If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, use vegetable oil instead of butter.
• Nutrition - There are different (and very complicated!) nutritional advantages and disadvantages when comparing oil to butter. If you want to reduce the number of calories, butter is the right choice. However, oils tend to have less saturated fat than butter.