I’ll take a wild guess and assume you love brownies just like I do. While following the recipe is easy, you may be looking for vegetable oil substitutes to create a healthier version. Luckily, I’m here to help! If you’re not a kitchen expert, finding a replacement for an important ingredient such as vegetable oil could be tricky.
You’d be surprised at the number of better options that you could use instead of vegetable oil. So, without further ado, here’s my ultimate vegetable oil substitute list for baking brownies.
- Olive oil
- Applesauce
- Canola oil
- Fruit puree
- Butter or margarine
- Cornstarch
- Yogurt
Because it’s an essential part of baking the perfect brownies, I had to take some extra care when searching for an alternative.
The best thing about this list is that it includes one item or another that you might already have in your pantry. Therefore, you’ll most likely not need to visit the grocery store to get an ingredient that you don’t normally use.
Also, most, if not all, of these options are healthier and lower in fat and calories than vegetable oil. And the good news is that using any of them won’t affect the taste, smell, or texture of your beloved brownies. It’s the best of both worlds, right?
I’m aware that brownies aren’t exactly diet-friendly. Yet, avoiding the negative health effects of vegetable oil might be your first step to an improved lifestyle.
Now, are you ready to find out how each vegetable oil substitute we’ve mentioned could take your brownies to the next level? Let’s break down each ingredient more in-depth.
[Related Article: 22 Best Wheat Flour Substitute List You Need to Start Baking]Vegetable Oil Substitutes to Try When Baking Brownies
It’s time to learn more about each item on our list to make the perfect brownies.
Olive Oil
You must have heard it a dozen times. Olive oil has numerous health benefits and much fewer calories than vegetable oil. So, it’s only natural that it would make for an awesome alternative when baking brownies.
Just remember to use a light or extra light olive oil and steer clear from strong-flavored olive oil. If you don’t do that, the taste of olive oil will be overpowering.
Plus, light olive oil is more refined, so it’ll make the taste and texture of your brownies smoother. To get the best results, use the same amount of olive oil like the one you’d normally use with vegetable oil.
Applesauce
Another great substitute for vegetable oil is applesauce, which is basically apple puree. The best thing about applesauce is that you can make it at home, so you can ensure that it’s 100% natural and free of preservatives.
What makes applesauce just perfect for making brownies is that it’s much lower in fat than vegetable oil is. Besides, it’s rich in antioxidants.
Again, make sure to use the same amount of applesauce as the amount of oil to get that lovely brownies texture we all adore.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is as good as olive oil is in replacing vegetable oil in the brownies recipe. This type of oil is also lower in fat and cholesterol content, making it a far healthier option.
When using canola oil, you’ll need to be extra careful not to add too much, or else the taste of your brownies might change. With trial and error, you could master adding this oil to your recipe pretty quickly.
Fruit Puree
Fruit puree works on the same principle as applesauce to provide you with a low-fat alternative to vegetable oil. Of course, you could buy fruit puree at the grocery store or online, but it’s always better to prepare it at home to have better control of the ingredients.
If you don’t have time to make fruit puree yourself, try to go for sugar-free products.
Here, you could use several types of fruit that won’t have any effects on the taste of your brownies. These fruits include:
- Pears
- Prunes
- Bananas
Generally, avoid any strong-flavored fruits and go for mild ones instead, unless you have a tendency for adventure!
Butter or Margarine
In any given recipe, you could always use butter in the place of vegetable oil, and you can count on the dessert to become wonderful. While margarine could be a bit healthier than butter, both have all the richness you might need for an incredible taste and texture.
To make brownies, remember to use the exact same amount of butter as the quantity of oil you’d typically add. You can also use melted margarine for this purpose.
However, when it’s time to bake your precious brownies, we recommend that you leave them in the oven two minutes longer than usual.
This will ensure that you get the same taste and texture that you’d get when following the original recipe.
Cornstarch
While many people might be a bit skeptical about it, cornstarch can perform really well in a brownies recipe. Yes, it won’t be as simple as adding some to the mix, but using cornstarch to replace vegetable oil is still fairly easy.
All you’ll have to do is mix it with water. Then, heat the solution until you get the consistency that you’re aiming for. Next, wait for it to cool down before adding it directly to your brownies mix.
As long as you stick to the same amount of vegetable oil, using cornstarch in your recipe won’t cause any noticeable difference. You’ll still get your favorite dessert without all the additional fat and cholesterol content.
Yogurt
I was surprised to find out that yogurt can be a vegetable oil substitute when making brownies, too! This could be especially helpful if you’re out of oil, but still have room for dessert after dinner.
While yogurt might not be an option for lactose-intolerant or vegan people, it’s still a valid solution when you want to cut down on calories. Just remember to go for plain yogurt and stay away from flavored products.
Why Looking for Vegetable Oil Alternatives Might Be a Good Idea
We’ve already mentioned that vegetable oil could affect our bodies negatively. Ever wondered how?
Vegetable oil includes unsaturated fats. When you heat this oil, the unsaturated fats oxidize, and they could be pretty harmful in this new form.
For instance, these fats could trigger inflammation, making blood-vessel plaques unstable. As a result, this might lead to a heart attack.
Still, to be fair, most people aren’t at risk of facing these negative vegetable oil effects unless they consume too much of it. Therefore, as long as it’s taken in moderation, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
However, it’s always a relief if you could find a substitute for vegetable oil, right?
[Related Article: 10 Best Applesauce Substitute List You Need To Start Baking]How to Make the Most Delicious Brownies to Feed Your Cravings
I get it. There’s nothing better than watching your favorite show with a snack. And most times, that snack just has to include chocolate. So, what has more chocolate than brownies?
Here’s a mistake-free brownies recipe for all those who just have to act according to their cravings!
Ingredients
- ½ cup of vegetable oil or any alternative we’ve mentioned
- â…“ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup of all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
To Make Frosting
- 3 tablespoons of softened butter
- 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Grease an 8-inch square pan with butter or oil, then sprinkle it with some flour
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
- In a saucepan, melt your half cup of butter, then remove from heat
- Add the eggs, sugar, and vanilla to the butter and whisk them all until you get a smooth consistency
- Put the cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder in the saucepan and mix everything thoroughly
- Spread the batter into the square pan
- Bake your brownies in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes
- To make the frosting, mix all its ingredients together and stir until they become smooth
- Frost the brownies when they’ve become warm
Now, you can enjoy your favorite dessert in almost no time since the entire recipe takes about an hour to prepare. These ingredients create 16 servings, and each serving includes about 183 calories.
Of course, if you use fruit puree or olive oil, you could manage to make these calories less. The more you experience with each vegetable oil alternative, the faster you’ll find the perfect match that does it for you.
[Related Article: 5 Best Oven Mitts And Buying Guide]Wrapping Up
After reading my ultimate list of vegetable oil substitute list for baking brownies, things should become easier. You could be motivated to cut down on calories, which can help you lose weight faster.
Plus, with some vegetable oil substitutes we’ve mentioned, you won’t have to worry much about your fat or cholesterol intake.
Yes, I know that eating healthy is sometimes a struggle, but it doesn’t have to be when making brownies. You can still enjoy these little things in life.