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
  • Flaxseed Oil
  • Peanut Oil
  • Grapeseed Oil
• 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.

Since vegetable oil doesn’t contribute to flavor or color, you’re probably wondering why vegetable oil is so popular. The answer is that vegetable oil keeps your baked goods fluffy and moist. It locks gasses released from a chemical reaction cause by both baking powder and baking soda, preventing gluten formation.

What is Vegetable Oil?

Vegetable oil is made from vegetables and extracted from a plant source that can be from vegetables, fruits, seeds or grains. Essentially, the vegetable oil you purchase from supermarkets include a combination of different types of oils such as: canola, sunflower, soy, and more.

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 using in almost any recipe.

Ideally, vegetable oil is best used for stir-fried dishes, grilled items or baked goods – especially brownies.

Vegetable Oil Substitute Table

Vegetable oil is recommended for most brownie recipes, however, when unavailable the popular alternatives promise a delicious outcome every time. 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

Most cooking oils can be replaced without a fight. Although, vegetable oil provides the best texture to your recipes. This makes it an essential ingredient in every household.

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.

Additionally, you will need to bake your brownies for an extra minute or 2 to achieve the same delicious results.

Olive Oil

When rummaging in your pantry for some vegetable oil, you find a bottle of extra light olive oil in its stead. 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.

While olive oil can provide a pleasant aroma in many baked goods, it can also emit an unpleasant grassy flavor, which isn’t great for sweet brownies. This is why it’s best to opt for light or extra light versions instead.

Once you add extra light olive oil to your brownie mix, you’ll instantly notice the significant change in flavors and texture.

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.

Canola oil provides a neutral taste, so you won’t notice the absence of vegetable oil in your brownie recipe. Most vegetable oils contain a little canola, which means the taste and texture of your brownies shouldn’t change in the slightest. Although, large quantities of canola oil can alter the taste.

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 make a great substitute for vegetable oil.

The addition of avocado oil will produce a wonderful buttery element to your brownies, and a gorgeous enriched flavor, that doesn’t go undetected.

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.

Apart from its pleasant neutral flavors when used moderately, adding a splash of sunflower oil can transform your recipes from tasty, to a little overpowering.

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.

If you’re not particularly fond of the strong coconut taste, add a little vanilla extract to your brownie mix, to balance the flavors.

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.

Take care to decrease the amount if you’re hoping to produce a batch of light moistened brownies.

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.

While butter isn’t the healthiest option, it definitely provides strengthening properties to the ingredients. Butter imparts a delicious richness to chocolatey desserts, making them worth devouring.

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.

Since applesauce yields a particularly fruity taste, most people are discouraged by this, assuming that it won’t complement the chocolate flavor of brownies well. However, you’ll be pleased to know that the taste of your brownies, won’t be altered in the slightest, though the consistency will – in a positive way.

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

Another fruity substitute to include in your wonderful chocolatey brownie recipe is fruit puree.

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

The downside to using fruit puree in brownies is the fact that the batter will puff up when baked. So it’ll produce a cakey brownie, instead of the standard flat chocolate brownie.

This is where you’ll have to pay attention to the amount of liquid added to your recipe otherwise you’ll be dealing with a bunch of soggy brownie squares.

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.

Vanilla can certainly replace vegetable oil, though there isn’t a definite amount for this option. It’s best to start with a very small amount before increasing to suit your personal preference.

It’s important to note that vanilla extract harbors an incredibly potent sweetness. It can potentially overwhelm the chocolate flavor of your brownies, so take care before pouring!

Greek Yogurt

While yogurt can be delicious on its own, it happens to contribute to the rich creamy consistency of many recipes.

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

However, the actual results are the opposite. You’ll quickly become addicted to the heavenly moistness of your brownies, reaching for another squared delight without hesitation.

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.

Much like the name implies, buttermilk is made from both butter and milk, imparting a tangy flavor. Different from sour cream, the sourness of buttermilk shouldn’t deter you from adding it to your chocolate brownies. Its flavors are almost undetectable, depending on how much you use.

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.

Cornstarch doesn’t contribute to the flavors of your brownies, though it’s inclusion will elevate the overall texture of these cubed treats.

Mayonnaise

Before you wrinkle your nose at the thought of squeezing mayo into your brownie mix, let’s talk about the texture.

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

How to Substitute Vegetable Oil in Brownies

When substituting vegetable oil for a similar alternative in your brownie recipes, ensure that you’re using the right amount. This way, you don’t overpower the flavors, or compromise the textures of your 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 nor hot. Then stir in vanilla extract, 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. Fortunately, there are healthier oils available, contributing to numerous health benefits that’ll allow you to add a drizzle here and there without fear of being unhealthy.

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

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

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil can easily be swapped for other types of oil in salad dressings, dips and sauces. You can also include 1tablespoon of flaxseed oil into smoothies or shakes.

It should not be used for cooking, though. It doesn’t have a high smoke point, so it can potentially form harmful compounds when heated.

The benefits of flaxseed oil are phenomenal. It can improve skin health, reduce inflammation thanks to its omega-3 fatty acid content, may help treat constipation, can benefit heart health, and reduce cancer cell growth.

Overall flaxseed oil, seems like the best option to go for, when opting for healthier alternatives in your salad dressing.

Peanut Oil

Since peanut oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, it is best when included in salad dressing. Peanut oil is an incredible source of vitamin E, which contributes to protecting our bodies from harmful substances, improve immune system, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Grapeseed Oil

As well as this, grapeseed oil is a good source of vitamin E, protecting your cells, and supports your immune system. A great way to enjoy healthier meals is through the inclusion of grapeseed oil in a bunch of fun recipes.

Thanks to its high smoke point, grapeseed oil is great for frying and sautéing. Also, drizzling over a bowl of salad!

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