Using olive oil in desserts is nothing new; traditional recipes for cakes and cookies using olive oil have been around for generations. However, if you want to swap in olive oil for some or all of the fats, like butter, lard, shortening, margarine, or other oils in your baking, there are a few rules of thumb to follow to guarantee success.

Spiced Orange Olive Oil Cake | Photo by ChefJackie

Try this recipe: Spiced Orange Olive Oil Cake

Benefits of Baking with Olive Oil

Using olive oil cuts down on "bad" cholesterol and saturated fat in your baking. It's considered a "good" fat, unlike butter. It also adds extra antioxidants (natural chemicals that help protect our cells) and vitamin E to your baked goods, giving your desserts a heart-healthy boost. The vitamin E may even help keep your muffins and breads fresher, longer (and add a bit of extra moisture, too).

What Kind to Use

Cookies and cakes baked with olive oil have a light and unique flavor. The fruity aroma of olive oil can also bring out other flavors commonly used in baked goods, like chocolate, nuts, spices, and fruit. However, you want to be careful not to let olive oil's flavor overpower everything else.

Choose a mild-flavored variety for more delicate cakes, muffins, and cookies; it will give your baked goods a fruity note without overpowering your dessert. For rich and dense desserts (think brownies), feel free to use a more intensely flavored variety.

Always use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil. The rule of thumb is that if you don't like the flavor for dipping bread or drizzled on salads, you won't like it in your baked goods.

Remember that olive oil is fragile and needs to be stored properly, for the best flavor and health benefits. Keep it in a cool, dark place (not over or near the oven), so it isn't exposed to heat and light, which can lead to an off-flavor and nutrition loss.

When to Substitute

Skillet Apple Brownies | Photo by Nobody'sGirl

Do use olive oil in recipes that calls for melted butter or other liquid fats (like these scrumptious Skillet Apple Brownies).

Don't use olive oil for recipes that call for creaming butter with sugar, like some cakes and cookies. The creaming process gives baked goods a light and airy texture that won't be the same if replaced by oil.

So, keep your pound cake recipe as-is, but start experimenting with brownies, cookies, sponge cakes, quick breads, muffins, and even your favorite cookies.

Don't forget, you can also use olive oil to prepare your pans. If your recipe calls for buttering and flouring a cake or loaf pan, simply brush the pan with oil, dust with flour, and you're ready to go!

How to Substitute

When substituting olive oil for butter, the rule of thumb is to use 3 tablespoons oil for every 1/4 cup butter. (In addition to fat, butter is made of milk solids and water. So, don't do an even swap of olive oil for butter – your baked goods might turn out too greasy or goopy due to the extra fat and liquid.)

For recipes that already call for oil, like this zucchini bread, simply swap out the vegetable oil for your favorite olive oil.

Try These Recipes

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Vegan Brownies

More About Baking

• Here's a few more ideas on how healthy baking swaps.
• Discover the role sugar plays in baking.
• Try more recipes for cooking and baking with olive oil.