14 Sweet Ways to Bake with Olive Oil

You’re probably used to drizzling your olive oil over salad or into the frying pan. But, did you know that you can bake with it, too? As long as you choose the right olive oil for the job and have a few delicious recipes for some tried-and-true sweets, you’ll find that it’s easy to infuse your cookies, cakes and more with rich, golden goodness. Just take these olive oil cookies, for example. They’re a delicious take on the original version. Instead of butter, good-quality extra-virgin olive oil is the base fat, adding moisture and richness and elevating the flavor profile of this dessert. The olive oil gives the cookies a gentle floral, citrusy, nutty and herbaceous undertone that complements the chocolate. Freshly grated orange zest further enhances the natural citrus hint the oil brings. You can’t go wrong with these upgraded-yet-classic cookies.

Olive oil belongs in brownies. It makes them feel a little grown-up and adds a distinct, earthy flavor. It's a great sub for butter, adding monounsaturated fats and a dense, fudgy texture.

Honey adds a delicious pop of sweetness to this decadent and moist olive oil cake. We’ve paired the cake with apples gently simmered in a honey syrup—perfect whenever you’re craving a fall dessert.

These sweet, frosted bars are moist and delicious. Olive oil stands in for butter adding richness and, if you use a good-quality olive oil, a lightly fruity flavor.

These corn muffins feel classic, but have the unique twist of replacing butter with olive oil, plus tangy Greek yogurt. The recipe comes together in minutes, resulting in warm from-scratch corn muffins in no time.

You may need butter to coat your cake pan but your use of olive oil will take the cake! With the added sweetness of strawberries and orange, the delicate fruity flavor of the oil really shines.

A lemon loaf is a classic treat that’s as good for breakfast as it is for afternoon tea. And, as much as we love the buttery version, this olive oil-based take is every bit as rich and delicious as the original. Plus, the olive oil imparts extra citrusy flavor.

This cake is unfussy, it stays moist and the cranberries make the most gorgeous glaze. What's not to love?!

Instead of using just butter for cookies, use a combination of olive oil and butter—which gives them a slightly crisp and chewy texture. If you spring for a good-quality olive oil it will also impart extra flavor, which complements the lemon.

It’s no secret that olive oil and citrus are the perfect pair. Take advantage of this dynamic duo in this showstopping cake; it’s perfect for dinner parties, brunch and special occasions.

Treat yourself to a moist, chocolaty fig cake with a hint of pepper and a drizzle of honey. You won’t regret it!

Transform a regular ol’ box cake into a fancy, lemony confection. Bonus points for adding extra-virgin olive oil (preferably a fruity, finishing oil) to add to the mix.

You might think the addition of olive oil will overpower the sweetness of a cake—but it actually pulls the flavors together and lets nutty ones (like almond!) shine.