Brownies are the perfect comfort food, with their rich chocolate flavor and gooey texture. However, they can be loaded with unhealthy fats, especially if made with vegetable oil instead of butter or canola oil.
Luckily, there are healthier ways to make brownies that are just as tasty but lower in calories, such as using applesauce instead of vegetable oil in this recipe.
The trick to replacing vegetable oil in brownies without altering the texture is to cut back on the sugar and use fewer eggs than usual.
These substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies will satisfy your craving without sabotaging your diet.
1. Olive Oil
You might not think to put olive oil in your brownies, but it can be among great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies! It will give your brownies a delicious flavor and make them nice and moist.
Plus, olive oil is a healthy option. To substitute olive oil for vegetable oil in your brownies, simply use the same amount of olive oil as you would vegetable oil.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an excellent substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. It has a similar consistency and will give your brownies a nice coconut flavor. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to vegetable oil.
To substitute, simply use the same amount of coconut oil as you would vegetable oil. If you don’t have any on hand, melted butter can also be used in place of coconut oil.
3. Butter
Butter is probably the most obvious substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. After all, it’s fat and solid at room temperature, just like vegetable oil.
Plus, butter adds a delicious richness and flavor you can’t get from vegetable oil. To substitute butter for vegetable oil in brownies, simply melt the butter and mix it into the dry ingredients.
4. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is also one of the great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. It has a similar consistency and will make your brownies just as moist and delicious. Plus, it’s packed with healthy fats and antioxidants. To substitute, simply use the same amount of avocado oil as you would vegetable oil.
5. Sunflower Oil
You can use sunflower oil as part of the substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. The taste will be slightly different, but the texture will be the same.
Sunflower oil has a higher smoke point than vegetable oil, so it can be used in recipes that call for higher baking temperatures. It’s also a good choice if you’re looking for an oil with a neutral flavor.
6. Shortening
Shortening is a type of fat used in baking. It is made from vegetable oils, such as soybean or cottonseed oil.
Shortening is solid at room temperature and has a higher melting point than butter, making it ideal for baked goods. It can be used in place of butter or margarine in most recipes, including brownies.
When substituting shortening for butter, use an equal amount of shortening and decrease the recipe’s liquid content by two tablespoons per cup of shortening. 6. Shortening can also make brownies fudgier by replacing some butter with shortening.
7. Coconut Oil
You can use coconut oil as a 1:1 substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. Not only does it add a delicious flavor, but it also makes the brownies moister.
Be sure to use refined coconut oil, though, so there is no coconut flavor. You can also use olive oil, avocado oil, or even melted butter.
8. Bananas
Believe it or not, you can use bananas as substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. This healthy fruit is packed with nutrients like potassium and fiber, which can help give your brownies a moist, delicious texture.
To use bananas as a vegetable oil substitute, simply mash them up and add them to your brownie batter. You may need to experiment with the amount of banana you use, depending on how moist you want your brownies to be.
9. Yogurt
You can use yogurts as healthy substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. Just be sure to use plain, unsweetened yogurt. This swap will work best with chocolate brownies.
You may need to add a little extra sugar to balance out the tartness of the yogurt. Also, this substitution is more likely to produce a gooey or crumbly brownie than one that is crisp and chewy.
10. Applesauce
You might not think that applesauce would make suitable substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies, but it works well! Applesauce adds moisture and natural sweetness to the brownies and helps to keep them nice and moist.
Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to vegetable oil. To substitute applesauce for vegetable oil in your brownie recipe, add 1/2 cup of applesauce for every 1/2 cup of oil.
11. Canola Oil
Canola oil is also among the great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. It has a neutral flavor so that it won’t affect the taste of your brownies. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to other oils.
To substitute canola oil for vegetable oil in brownies, simply use the same amount of canola oil as you would vegetable oil.
12. Vanilla Extract
You might not think of vanilla extract as an oil, but it contains a high percentage of alcohol, making it a great substitution in recipes. Simply add the same amount of vanilla extract as you would vegetable oil.
The flavor will be more subtle than oil, so feel free to add an extra teaspoon or two if you want a more robust vanilla flavor.
13. Buttermilk
You can substitute buttermilk for vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio. Just use the same amount of buttermilk as you would oil. This substitution works best in cakes and quick loaves of bread. The acidity in buttermilk will react with baking soda to create a tender, soft crumb.
Buttermilk also adds a nice flavor to baked goods. If you don’t have any on hand, milk is among substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies.!
14. Vinegar
If your recipe calls for two tablespoons of oil, try using one tablespoon vinegar and one tablespoon water instead. Vinegar’s acidic nature reacts with leavening agents in the recipe to help produce light, fluffy brownies or blondies.
15. Agave Nectar
For one cup of oil in your brownie recipe, try substituting half agave nectar (100 grams) and half water (50 grams). Agave has a low glycemic index which means it won’t spike your blood sugar levels like other sweeteners might do when eaten alone.
16. Fruit Puree
You can use various fruit purees as substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. Just make sure to use the same puree as you would oil.
Pureed fruits will add natural sweetness and moisture to your brownies, so you may want to reduce the sugar in your recipe by half. You can also experiment with different fruit purees to see what flavors you like best.
17. Cornstarch
You might not think of cornstarch as an oil, but it can be used as a replacement in many recipes. Simply mix equal parts cornstarch and water to create a slurry, then add it to your brownie batter.
The result will be a slightly denser brownie but one that is just as delicious. You can also use other starches like tapioca or arrowroot starch in the same way.
18. Margarine
You can use margarine as a one-to-one substitute for vegetable oil in brownies. Because margarine is solid at room temperature, you’ll need to melt it before using it.
When using substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies, especially margarine for oil, use an equal amount of margarine. If your recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil, use 1/2 cup of margarine.
Conclusion
Butter, olive oil, and coconut oil are great substitutes for vegetable oil in brownies. You can also use avocado, peanut, canola, or sunflower oil. If you want a healthier option, try using applesauce or mashed bananas. And if you’re looking for a unique flavor, try using pumpkin puree or sweet potato puree.
