Substitute for Vegetable Oil in Brownies: 15 Healthy Options

Brownies are the ultimate comfort dessert, and their moist interior is what makes them so incredibly addicting. Generally, brownie recipes include vegetable oil as the primary fat in brownie batter, to produce that fudgy texture we all know and adore.

When luck isn’t on your side, and the vegetable oil has vanished from your pantry, don’t panic, and take a peek at some of these healthier substitutes for vegetable oil, promising the same scrumptious results in any brownie recipe.

Table of Contents

• Vegetable Oil And Baked Goods
  • What is Vegetable Oil?
• Vegetable Oil Substitute Table
• 15 Healthy Vegetable Oil Substitutes for Brownies
  • Margarine
  • Olive Oil
  • Canola Oil
  • Avocado Oil
  • Sunflower Oil
  • Coconut Oil
  • Mashed Bananas
  • Butter
  • Applesauce
  • Fruit Puree
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Buttermilk
  • Cornstarch
  • Mayonnaise
• How to Substitute Vegetable Oil in Brownies
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
• Healthy Oils for Salad Dressings
• Vegetable Oil Substitutes – A Lot!
• Substitute For Vegetable Oil In Brownies – FAQs

Vegetable Oil And Baked Goods

Apart from brownies, there are a wide variety of baked goods (such as bread or muffins) that have vegetable oil as an essential ingredient.

What is Vegetable Oil?

Vegetable oil is a popular option for cooking. It doesn’t leave a dent in your pocket and provides a neutral flavor. The latter makes it so great for use in almost any recipe.

Vegetable Oil Substitute Table

Take a look at the table below, outlining the different substitutes, followed by the appropriate requirements to successfully replace vegetable oil.

Substitutes	Requirement for Brownies
Margarine	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of margarine
Olive oil	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of olive oil
Canola oil	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of canola oil
Avocado oil	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of avocado oil
Sunflower oil	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of sunflower oil
Coconut oil	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of coconut oil
Mashed bananas	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 3/4 mashed bananas
Butter	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of butter
Applesauce	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1/4 tbsp of applesauce
Fruit puree	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of fruit puree (reduce liquid ingredients by 1/2)
Vanilla extract	1 tbsp vegetable oil = start with 1/2 tsp of vanilla, then gradually increase
Greek yogurt	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of yogurt
Buttermilk	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1/2 tbsp buttermilk (reduce baking time by 10 minutes, and add some water)
Cornstarch	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 1 tbsp of cornstarch
Mayonnaise	1 tbsp vegetable oil = 3/4 tbsp mayonnaise

15 Healthy Vegetable Oil Substitutes for Brownies

If you’ve run out of this magical ingredient, or simply aren’t a fan, you can opt for a variety of healthy alternatives listed below.

1. Margarine
2. Olive oil
3. Canola oil
4. Avocado oil
5. Sunflower oil
6. Coconut oil
7. Mashed Bananas
8. Butter
9. Applesauce
10. Fruit puree
11. Vanilla extract
12. Greek yogurt
13. Buttermilk
14. Cornstarch
15. Mayonnaise

Margarine

Margarine has a mild buttery taste, that assures a sweetened, rich chocolatey flavor in your brownie recipe. This is why it is a perfect, healthy substitute for vegetable oil.

While it’s mostly enjoyed when spread on toast or crackers, it is often used in place of butter. When using margarine for baked treats such as brownies, substitute 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for 1 tablespoon of margarine, to achieve that silky chocolatey interior.

Olive Oil

Try substituting 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your brownie recipe instead.

Olive oil, and its types, is one of the ingredients used in vegetable oil, which is why it makes such a fantastic replacement.

Canola Oil

Canola oil contains many health benefits. This is why canola is such a great vegetable oil substitute. With very low saturated fats and lots of nutrients, this super oil is especially amazing when added to baked goods, as it promises the enhancement of heart health.

Simply substitute 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for 1 tablespoon of canola oil in your brownie batter.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a welcome ingredient for a variety of meals, including pan-fried dishes and baked goods. Since it’s known for providing many health benefits, it also makes a great substitute for vegetable oil.

When replacing vegetable oil with avocado oil, use a 1:1 ratio, i.e. 1 tablespoon of avocado oil for 1 cup of vegetable oil.

Sunflower Oil

Made from sunflower seeds, sunflower oil is another ingredient used in vegetable oil. This makes it such an incredible substitute for brownies and other baked goods.

Simply add 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil in place of 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is by far one of the best vegetable oil substitutes. While coconut isn’t exactly a subtle ingredient, it does provide your recipes with a comforting coconutty flavor.

Substitute 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your brownies recipe.

Mashed Bananas

For a unique and creamy twist to your chocolate fudgy brownies, try substituting mashed bananas for vegetable oil in your recipes.

Use ¾ of pureed bananas for every 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil used in the brownie recipe.

Butter

Butter is almost an automatic substitute for vegetable oil, especially in baked goods. When you’re craving a rich, tender, and moist brownie, you’ll need butter and lots of it.

Add a tablespoon of melted butter in place of vegetable oil when making brownies.

Applesauce

Applesauce is both delicious and a healthy substitute for vegetable oil in your brownies. You can whip up a fresh batch of this delicious sauce at home, or buy a jar from the supermarket.

If you’re planning to use applesauce in your brownie recipe, decrease the sugar, and substitute 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for ¾ tablespoon of applesauce.

Fruit Puree

Use mild-flavored fruits like avocado or banana, to produce a pleasant neutral brownie, though you can experiment with anything you fancy.

To do this you’ll need to replace 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of fruit puree and decrease other liquid ingredients by half.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is a key element in many dessert recipes. Without it, desserts would lose their glorious fragrance. Though it doesn’t contribute to the texture, it happens to make your treats taste a thousand times better.

Greek Yogurt

With a distinct tartness that seems to dance on your tongue, yogurt is assumed to clash with chocolate flavors in brownie recipes.

Replace 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of yogurt. For a healthier approach to this brownie recipe, opt for nonfat or plain yogurt.

Buttermilk

Another creamy element to include as a potential substitution for vegetable oil is buttermilk.

When using buttermilk in your brownies, substitute 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for ½ a tablespoon of buttermilk, and reduce the baking time by 10 minutes.

Cornstarch

Many people eat cornstarch. Surprisingly, cornstarch also happens to be an ideal substitute for vegetable oil.

You won’t be able to add cornstarch straight to the brownie mix like the other substitutes. Instead, mix some water with the cornstarch and heat it until it achieves the appropriate consistency.

Once this has cooled, pour this over the brownie mixture. Substitute 1 cup of vegetable oil for one cup of this cooked cornstarch.

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise has an incredibly creamy texture that is loaded with omega-3 fats. With the addition of mayo, your brownies will emerge creamier, and more delicious. This makes it an excellent replacement for vegetable oil.

How to Substitute Vegetable Oil in Brownies

Here’s a delicious brownie recipe, that replaces vegetable oil with butter. You can use this recipe and replace butter with any of the alternatives listed above.

Ingredients

• 10 tbsp unsalted butter (to replace vegetable oil)
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Add water 1 cup of water to a saucepan, and heat till it’s almost simmering.
4. Add butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium heat-safe bowl. Allow the bowl to rest over simmering water, stirring the mixture occasionally, until the butter has melted and the mixture is warm.
5. Remove the bowl and set it aside for 3 to 5 minutes. The mixture should be warm, and not hot. Then stir in vanilla extract, and add the eggs one by one, stirring constantly.
6. Next, add the flour and stir, then beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until you achieve the desired consistency.
7. Bake the brownies for 20 to 25 minutes.

Healthy Oils for Salad Dressings

Oil is a huge part of our daily meals. From frying to baking and salad dressings (or salad oil), it’s almost impossible to avoid.

Here are a few oils that are best for salad dressings:

1. Flaxseed oil
2. Peanut oil
3. Grapeseed oil

Vegetable Oil Substitutes – A Lot!

The numerous substitutes for vegetable oil promise a delicious bake so that you can enjoy your brownies without feeling the heavy absence of your favorite cooking oil.

Substitute For Vegetable Oil In Brownies – FAQs