Can I Use Olive Oil in Brownies? …And Why You Should Try It

It’s always a good time to bake brownies. Whether it is the holidays, or a dinner party, brownies are perfect for dessert and for a yummy snack. But these days we’re all trying to be healthier, and brownies certainly don’t seem to go with this idea…

What if you could cook with other ingredients that lower the fats and don’t change the flavor?

It’s true, you can change up some of the ingredients and still have a delicious result.

Can I use olive oil in brownies?

You may wonder, what can I mix up to be healthier? The oil that you use, for example.

So, now you ask, can I use olive oil in brownies? How will it affect the texture of my brownies? Is the process the same?

All of these are legitimate questions that have answers. The important part when you bake is to know that olive oil’s texture is different and so is its nutritional content.

Are you ready? Let’s dig in!

So… Can I Use Olive Oil in Brownies?

Yes, you can. The idea when you do this is to use a healthier substitute for regular oil. While using this oil might change your brownies up a little bit, it will certainly bring good things to your plate.

Though your flavor might be different than when you use butter, it will still be delicious. If you are always using vegetable oil, then don’t worry, you may not even notice the difference.

Why Use Olive Oil?

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which unlike other oils that contain saturated and trans fats, are good for your diet. In fact, there are many ways olive oil has proven to have beneficial side effects to our diets.

On one side, olive oil has been scientifically proven to prevent cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure. Because of its nutrients, it also helps reduce inflammation.

Consuming olive oil is also boost your metabolism because of its healthy fats. MUFAs lower your LDL (bad cholesterol), which means your arteries are less clogged and you will have less risk of stroke and heart disease.

If you want to learn more, watch this and find out about the benefits of using olive oil.

Will My Brownies Change if I Use Olive Oil?

There are many myths about baking with olive oil, and some of these can be slightly true, but the trust is, olive oil won’t change your flavor or texture that much.

When you use olive oil in brownies you will definitely taste it in the batter, but you won’t be able to distinguish the flavor once the brownies are baked. With all that said, however, it is better that you don’t pick the richest olive oil out there, try one of the lighter ones so that the smell and flavor of olive isn’t overwhelming.

If you decide to use olive oil, the texture of your brownies will change…but for the better! Because olive oil has a rich, gooey texture, your brownies will be more soft and chewy.

Whatever happens don’t use extra virgin olive oil. With the extra virgin olive oils, the heat of the oven will make them release a strong flavor and smell that you may not want on your brownies.

Maybe get started with these brownies and try out olive oil in them.

How Much Olive Oil Should I Use?

This all depends on the amount of batter you’re planning on making. But if you were to make 16 brownies, you would use ¾ cup of olive oil total. Check out this recipe if you feel like making olive oil brownies.

If you want to substitute the vegetable oil in your recipe, then you should always go with the same amount of olive oil. Instead, be careful when the recipe is with butter, this time, use less olive oil, about ¼ less.

Ready to Bake?

Get your olive oil–remember not extra virgin–and preheat your oven. This is the perfect time to bake and this time around you can do it in a healthier way.

I recommend using olive oil instead of sunflower or canola oil and especially instead of butter. But let me know what you think. In my experience, only using extra virgin oil will cause the flavor to change noticeable.

If you are wondering what else you can change to make your brownies healthier, try out using only egg whites, or less of yolks. Also, try making them vegan, gluten and dairy free, like these ones I made.

Let me know what you thought, can’t wait to hear how your brownies turned out!