Ultimate Olive Oil Brownies Recipe

Easy & Rich Olive Oil Brownies Recipe for Chocolate Lovers

Ultimate olive oil brownies change traditional chocolate indulgence into a culinary masterpiece.

Mediterranean-inspired baking brings unexpected elegance to a classic dessert.

Silky textures emerge from this innovative ingredient swap, creating a revolutionary treat that surprises and delights.

Intense chocolate notes dance with subtle olive oil nuances, promising a sophisticated experience beyond ordinary sweets.

These brownies challenge conventional baking wisdom with their smooth, rich character.

Delicate yet bold, they represent a perfect balance of comfort and innovation.

Prepare to elevate your dessert game with a recipe that redefines decadence.

Why Ultimate Olive Oil Brownies Deserve a Try

  • Revolutionize Chocolate Desserts: Swap traditional butter with olive oil for a uniquely moist and rich brownie experience that transforms your baking game.
  • Capture Gourmet Simplicity: Create restaurant-quality dessert with minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques, perfect for home bakers seeking elegant results without complicated steps.
  • Unlock Healthier Indulgence: Benefit from heart-healthy olive oil's unsaturated fats while enjoying a decadent chocolate treat that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture, making each bite both delicious and nutritionally smarter.

Everything You’ll Need for Olive Oil Brownies

Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure and texture for the brownies, with a neutral flavor that allows other ingredients to shine.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers deep chocolate flavor and rich dark color to the brownie base.
  • Powdered Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create a smooth, fine texture in the brownies.
  • Sea Salt: Enhances and balances the overall chocolate flavor profile.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Eggs: Act as a binding agent and contribute to the rich, fudgy consistency of the brownies.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Replaces traditional butter, adding moisture and a unique subtle fruitiness to the brownies.
  • Water: Helps blend ingredients and maintain moisture in the final texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Provides depth and rounds out the chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Component:
  • Dark Chocolate Chips: Offer extra chocolate intensity and create pockets of melted chocolate throughout the brownies, adding richness and texture.
Preparation Extras:
  • Granulated Sugar: Provides primary sweetness and helps create a crisp top layer.
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Ensures easy removal of brownies from the baking dish.
  • Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and makes lifting brownies out of the pan easier.

How to Bake Olive Oil Brownies Right

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Space

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grab an 8×8 inch baking dish and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. Line the dish with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine:
  • Granulated sugar
  • All-purpose flour
  • Sifted cocoa powder
  • Sifted powdered sugar
  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Sea salt

Whisk these ingredients together until they’re evenly mixed.

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together:
  • Eggs
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Water
  • Vanilla extract

Blend until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Combine Mixtures

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir gently just until everything comes together. Be careful not to overmix the batter.

Step 5: Prepare for Baking

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – you want to see moist crumbs clinging to it when pulled out.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Let the brownies cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, cut into squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, pop them in the freezer.

Baking Tips for Rich and Moist Brownies

  • Choose Premium Olive Oil: Select high-quality extra-virgin olive oil with a mild, fruity flavor to enhance the brownie's richness without overpowering the chocolate.
  • Sift Dry Ingredients Carefully: Take time to sift cocoa powder and powdered sugar to prevent lumps and ensure a smoother, more consistent brownie texture.
  • Control Mixing Technique: Stir dry and wet ingredients gently just until combined, stopping as soon as no flour streaks remain to keep brownies tender and fudgy.
  • Check Doneness Precisely: Watch brownies closely near the end of baking, looking for moist crumbs on a toothpick and slightly pulling away edges to prevent overbaking.
  • Cool Completely Before Cutting: Let brownies rest at room temperature for at least an hour to set properly, which helps create clean, neat slicing and prevents crumbling.

How to Store & Reheat Olive Oil Brownies

  • Refrigerate these olive oil brownies in an airtight container for maximum freshness. Stack brownies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture. Seal the container tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, preserving their rich chocolate flavor.
  • Freezing Method: Wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze brownies for up to 3 months, ensuring they stay protected from freezer burn. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
  • Reheating Technique: Warm refrigerated or thawed brownies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore their soft, gooey center.

Best Sips and Sides for Olive Oil Brownies

  • Pair with Rich Red Wine: Complement the deep chocolate flavors with a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, enhancing the brownie's luxurious olive oil undertones and creating a decadent dessert experience.
  • Match with Smooth Espresso: Brew a shot of intense espresso to cut through the brownies' richness, providing a robust coffee contrast that elevates the chocolate's complex notes.
  • Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Top warm brownies with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, creating a delightful temperature and texture contrast that melts beautifully against the dense, olive oil-infused dessert.
  • Garnish with Sea Salt Caramel: Drizzle a homemade sea salt caramel sauce over the brownies, amplifying the existing sea salt in the recipe and adding a sophisticated sweet-salty dimension.

New Ways to Enjoy Olive Oil Brownies

  • Nutty Olive Oil Crunch: Add 1/2 cup chopped almonds or walnuts to the batter for extra texture and a rich, roasted flavor that complements the olive oil's smoothness.
  • Mediterranean Spice Blend: Incorporate 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cardamom into the dry ingredients to give the brownies a warm, aromatic Middle Eastern-inspired profile.
  • Dark Chocolate Orange Infusion: Mix in 1 tablespoon of orange zest and replace 2 tablespoons of water with fresh orange juice for a bright, citrusy undertone that enhances the chocolate's depth.
  • Salted Caramel Drizzle: After baking, create a simple caramel sauce with brown sugar and cream, then drizzle over the cooled brownies and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a decadent finish.
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Ultimate Olive Oil Brownies Recipe

Ultimate Olive Oil Brownies Recipe


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4.8 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 16 1x

Description

Silky Italian olive oil elevates classic brownies into a luxurious dessert with rich chocolate depth and smooth, complex flavor. Mediterranean baking secrets shine through in this indulgent treat that promises pure chocolate bliss for discerning palates.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups (360 ml) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 0.5 cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 0.75 cup (90 g) all-purpose flour
  • 0.67 cup (57 g) cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy
  • 0.5 cup (85 g) dark chocolate chips

Dry Ingredients:

  • 0.5 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • 0.75 teaspoon (4 g) sea salt

Liquid Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
  • 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare an 8×8 inch (20×20 centimeters) baking dish by lightly coating with non-stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom and sides.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, powdered sugar, dark chocolate chips, and sea salt using a whisk until ingredients are evenly distributed.
  3. In a separate large bowl, vigorously whisk whole eggs, extra-virgin olive oil, water, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture becomes smooth and fully integrated.
  4. Carefully fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently and minimally to prevent overworking the batter, which could result in tough brownies.
  5. Pour the chocolate batter into the prepared baking dish, using a silicone spatula to spread it uniformly and create an even surface.
  6. Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 325°F (163°C) and bake for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, testing doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge with a few moist crumbs attached.
  7. Remove from the oven and let the brownies cool completely within the pan to allow for proper setting and easier cutting.
  8. Once cooled, slice into square portions and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or freeze for extended preservation.

Notes

  • Olive oil transforms these brownies into a luxuriously moist and rich dessert with unexpected depth of flavor.
  • Dark chocolate chips melt seamlessly throughout the batter, creating pockets of intense chocolate goodness in every bite.
  • Sea salt enhances the chocolate’s complexity, providing a subtle counterpoint to the sweet and rich brownie base.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil replaces traditional butter, introducing a fruity, slightly peppery undertone that elevates the entire dessert.
  • Whisking ingredients thoroughly ensures a smooth, glossy batter that bakes into an incredibly tender brownie with a delicate crackly top.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 16
  • Calories: 305 kcal
  • Sugar: 29 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 37 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Julian Park

Julian Park

Co-Founder, Cuisine Researcher & Food Culture Writer

Expertise

  • Global Food Cultures & Culinary History
  • Regional Flavor Profiles & Cooking Techniques
  • Food Anthropology & Cultural Identity
  • Culinary Research & Narrative Writing
  • Street Food Traditions & Heritage Dishes

Education

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Los Angeles, CA

  • Degree: Certificate in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Professional culinary techniques, global cuisine fundamentals, and real-world training in restaurant-style cooking and food presentation.

Julian Park is a natural storyteller at The Dream Café who blends hands-on culinary experience with a passion for exploring global food traditions. A graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles, Julian combines professional technique with a love for cultural discovery, diving into how dishes reflect heritage, migration, and identity. 

His work spans everything from in-depth cuisine guides to reflections on everyday meals around the world. With a curious palate and a journal always close by, Julian helps readers connect with food in a way that feels so insightful and personal.

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