Olive Oil Brownies

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Moist-centred, crinkly-topped, and fudgy-deliciousness is really the only way to describe this wonderfully easy recipe for olive oil brownies. Oh, and chocolate-y! That part is kinda important too.

Chocolate brownies are quite possibly one of the culinary world’s greatest accomplishments. There, I said it! Sure, sous vide is cool. But I’ll take a chocolate chip brownie, thanks. And sure, molecular gastronomy is trendy. But it’ll never be a family favourite like these easy-to-make, fudgy, olive oil brownies.

Okay, I’m kidding around a little bit. But brownies are really one of my favourite desserts. And it’s not just because they’re delicious little chocolate bombs. It’s because they’re quick, easy, and accessible to most people.

A chocolate cake is great, but not everyone has the time and the confidence to make and decorate a cake. But brownies? Brownies are a dish where even beginners can feel like pros.

(Though if you’re completely new to cooking and recipes, I’d recommend you start by reading my post on How to Read a Recipe post (…properly).)

A close of up of a chocolate olive oil brownie piece, the remaining batch can be seen in the background.

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What are olive oil brownies
Tips for making the BEST brownies (using olive oil)
More easy brownie recipes
Helpful tools
📖 Recipe

What are olive oil brownies

As the name suggests, olive oil brownies are brownies made using olive oil as the main fat (that is, they typically substitute butter out). This makes them a favourite dairy-free brownie recipe (more on this later).

Flavour-wise, olive oil has fruity, nutty and ever-so-slightly bitter elements to it, and this pairs wonderfully with chocolate. (It’s that bitterness that is a great complement to the chocolate in the recipe!) The use of olive oil in brownies also results in a rich, fudgy chocolate brownie.

What about vegetable oil in brownies?

If you’re in a pinch, vegetable oil (even canola oil, sunflowers, safflowers oil, etc) is a simple one-to-one substitution for olive oil in brownies. However, I’d still recommend olive oil in brownies for a few reasons:

Health benefits of olive oil. Olive oil generally contains slightly healthier fat content and is lower in saturated fats.
Brownie texture. Depending on the type of olive oil, your brownie mixture may have a fudgier texture.
Flavourful. The unexpected flavor combination of olive oil and chocolate makes for a more unique chocolate brownie.

A flatlay showing the full batch of baked brownies, as well as a single piece that's on a sheet of parchment paper.

Tips for making the BEST brownies (using olive oil)

Your brownies will keep cooking for a little while after you take them out of the oven. Trust in the toothpick method. It’s time to remove your brownies from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean or almost-clean.
Make sure to use All-Purpose Flour (cake flour will result in something that’s a little too delicate here).
If you REALLY love chocolate, or want to make this recipe a little sweeter, you can drizzle over some melted chocolate (milk chocolate, if you’re looking for extra sweetness).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will olive oil make brownies taste bad?

Not at all, the flavours found in olive oil actually complement chocolate. The result will be a delectably rich and fudgy chocolate brownie. If you find that the taste is overpowering, you can swap for an extra light olive oil.

What kind of olive oil should you use for olive oil brownies?

You won’t need any fancy artisanal olive oil for this brownie recipe. Your standard everyday extra virgin olive oil is perfect (light olive oil is a great option too if richer, darker chocolate-y flavours aren’t your thing).

This recipe actually uses ½ cup of olive oil (and once you’ve made it once, you’ll be making it often…Trust me on this!), so you definitely don’t want to be using up any of the good stuff here (the baking process will compromise much of the quality you’re paying for anyway).

Should you use an electric mixer for olive oil brownies?

No, this is one of the rare cases where I’d suggest you don’t bother using an electric mixer; a good wooden spoon will serve you well. Flex those brownie batter muscles, bestie!

Can you use olive oil in brownies?

Yes, absolutely. While an overuse of olive oil may result in a bitter taste, a nice olive oil with a balanced ratio of ingredients will enhance the rich chocolate flavor of the brownie without giving it too much of a distinctive taste.

Two brownies pieces stacked atop one another.

How to make this a Dairy-Free Chocolate Brownie Recipe

I mentioned earlier that olive oil brownies are a favourite, particularly if you’re looking for dairy-free recipes. There are two small changes you’ll need to make to my recipe if this is the case for you:

Line in your baking dish with parchment paper, and don’t use any butter to grease it.
Make sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips.

More easy brownie recipes

A single olive oil brownie on a wooden board.

Helpful tools

The link below is an affiliate link. This means that if you choose to purchase using it, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). These small commissions help keep Chocolates & Chai going. Thank you.

I used an 8-inch stoneware baking dish to bake these olive oil brownies. If you don’t have one already, I’d recommend them to bake with, and serve food in too!

Have you tried these olive oil brownies yet? Drop me a comment below and let me know what you thought!

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