You’ll fall head over heels for these deliciously easy Olive Oil Brownies. Made without butter, these fudgy dairy-free brownies can ready to eat in under 1 hour. No electric mixer needed.
Quick Look Olive Oil Brownies
- ⏱ Prep time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cook time: 30 minutes
- ⏳ Total time: 50 minutes
- 🍪 Serving: 12 brownies
- 🍂 Flavour profile: Soft and fudgy with a rich chocolate flavour.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
- ❤️ Why we love them: No electric mixer, super fast to make, kids can help – and they stay moist for days.
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Best. Brownies. Ever. You’re going to LOVE these amazing Olive Oil Brownies. Not only are they dairy-free, but they’re delicious, with a seriously fudgy centre.
Just like my favourite Olive Oil Chocolate Cake recipe, olive oil keeps these brownies soft and moist. Despite being made without butter or melted chocolate, they’re filled with cocoa powder and chocolate chips and are still full of chocolate flavour.
I love to make these when I’m craving something chocolatey but I don’t have a block of chocolate in the house and can’t make my classic Homemade Brownies. They’re chewy, gooey and all too sweet.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy: Made with just a bowl and spoon, this Olive Oil Brownie recipe is simplicity at its best. No electric mixer or fancy equipment needed.
- Basic ingredients: This recipe uses only pantry staples, including cocoa powder instead of a block of chocolate. Great for those days when you crave chocolate but don’t have any in the house – or butter either.
- Moist for days: Since these brownies have oil in them instead of butter, they stay moist and soft.
Excellent, have made them 3 times and they worked every time. Yum!
– Celia (reader)
Recipe testing
Sometime late last year I wrote on my recipe list, Olive Oil Brownies. And this week I decided to dive headfirst into the wonderful world of recipe testing brownies.
I was looking for a brownie that had all the key elements of a regular brownie – a crispy top, chewy edges and a fudgy centre. So I started by making my tried and true One Bowl Cocoa Brownies, but subbed in olive oil for butter.
The result (brownie 1) was too fudgy and oily. So next, I reduced the sugar and eggs slightly and subbed in more cocoa to create a drier brownie.
The result (brownie 2) was delicious but it moved over into the cake category. I lost my crinkly top and the fudgy centre was much more like a thick, rich cake. So for test 3, I added a little more sugar back in and reduced the cocoa powder.
Brownie 3 was very close to my perfect Olive Oil Brownie. It was fudgy, sweet with a moist (but not too wet) texture. However, there was one problem. I had lost my signature crispy, crackly top. It was then I realised I didn’t need to change the ingredients but rather the method.
So instead of adding all the ingredients into one bowl and mixing them together. I whisked the eggs briefly separately before adding them to the batter. And that’s when we landed on brownie 4. The Winner.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of pantry staples to make Olive Oil Brownies from scratch. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need, including any substitutions you can make.
- Olive oil: I recommend using a mild olive oil for this recipe. If you don’t have any olive oil, you can use other flavourless oil like vegetable oil, grapeseed oil or even coconut oil.
- Sugars: This recipe uses both caster sugar and brown sugar. If you don’t have caster sugar, you can use granulated sugar.
- Eggs: You will need three eggs to make these brownies. If you want an egg-free brownie recipe, try my Vegan Brownies.
- Plain flour: You will need plain flour or all purpose flour for this recipe. Because we want these brownies to be fudgy, they do not have any raising agent in them.
- Cocoa powder: These brownies rely on cocoa powder for their chocolate flavour. You can use natural cocoa powder or Dutch processed cocoa powder. I also love to dust the top with extra cocoa powder too.
- Chocolate chips: To make these brownies extra fudgy, I love to add in chocolate chips. You can use milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.
See the recipe card below for the full list and quantities of ingredients.
How to make Olive Oil Brownies
Olive Oil Brownies couldn’t be easier to make. You only need to mix the ingredients together using a bowl and a whisk – so easy! See below my step-by-step photos and instructions for making brownies from scratch.
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Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add olive oil, vanilla and sugars. Whisk together until combined.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, adds the eggs. Whisk the eggs briefly with a fork or hand whisk.
Step 3: Add eggs to olive oil mixture and whisk until combined and smooth.
Step 4: Add cocoa, flour and salt. Whisk or stir until smooth and combined.
Step 5: Stir through chocolate chips.
Step 6: Pour brownie batter into prepared pan and gently smooth it out into one even layer.
Step 7: Bake brownie for 28-30 minutes until it no longer wobbles in the middle. Dust cooled brownie with cocoa powder.
See recipe card below for full method and baking instructions.
Storage instructions
Storage: You can keep Olive Oil Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. To enjoy them warm, reheat brownies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Freezer instructions: You can also freeze brownies. Simply cover them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. To serve, thaw them at room temperature or reheat in the microwave in short bursts until warm and fudgy again.
Olive Oil Brownie FAQs
Yes! You can use this recipe but use any mild or flavourless oil you like. I like to use a mild olive oil or grapeseed oil which are fairly tasteless. Vegetable oil will work as well. You could also try my Coconut Oil Brownies.
Yes you can. I find they add a little more chocolate flavour and moistness, but the brownies are still lovely without.
Yes. These brownies don’t have any butter in them. Just be sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips to make them truly dairy-free. If you are looking for an egg-free brownie, try my Vegan Brownie recipe.
Unlike cake, my brownies are designed to be dense and fudgy. To achieve this texture. I don’t use any raising agents like baking soda or baking powder in my Olive Oil Brownie recipe.
Jessica’s EXPERT tips
Try not to over-bake your brownie. The more you bake it, the less fudgy it will be. You’ll know it’s ready when it no longer wobbles or appears wet. If you insert a skewer into the centre and it has a few moist crumbs attached, it’s ready.
More brownie recipes to try
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok for more amazing recipe ideas.
Let’s Bake
Olive Oil Brownies
Fudgy Olive Oil Brownies that are also dairy free.
Ingredients
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) mild olive oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 150 grams (3/4 cup) caster sugar or granulated sugar
- 90 grams (1/2 cup) brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 40 grams (1/2 cup) cocoa powder, sifted, plus extra for decorating
- 70 grams (1/2 cup) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 80 grams (1/2 cup) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Line an 8-inch square pan with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vanilla, caster sugar and brown sugar until combined.
- In a separate bowl, add the eggs. Whisk with a fork or a hand whisk for approximately 30 seconds, just to break up the yolks.
- Add the eggs to the sugar mixture and briefly whisk to combine. Then add the cocoa powder, flour and salt. Finally, stir through the chocolate chips.
- Transfer brownie batter into prepared tin. Bake for approximately 28-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave brownies to cool slightly before gently removing from the pan. They will firm up as they cool.
- Dust brownies with cocoa powder. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Olive oil: I recommend using a mild olive oil for this recipe. If you don’t have any olive oil, you can use other flavourless oil like vegetable oil, grapeseed oil or even coconut oil.
Cocoa powder: You can use natural cocoa powder or Dutch processed cocoa powder for this recipe.
Chocolate chips: Use dairy free chocolate chips if you want to make this recipe dairy free.
Storage: You can keep Olive Oil Brownies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. To enjoy them warm, reheat brownies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Freezer instructions: You can also freeze brownies. Simply cover them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. To serve, thaw them at room temperature or reheat in the microwave in short bursts until warm and fudgy again.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 1 brownie Calories: 178 Sugar: 17.6 g Sodium: 15.6 mg Fat: 9.7 g Carbohydrates: 22.8 g Protein: 2.4 g Cholesterol: 34.9 mg
Sapphire says
Can I use rapeseed oil?
I’ve used olive oil and found its amazing its just I’ve run out
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Sapphire, so glad you like these brownies! I haven’t tried making these with another oil but I think it would be ok!
Megan says
This Is my second time making these! First one I didn’t have any choc chips and they still tasted good! This time i added them, even better!
Jessica Holmes says
Fabulous! So glad you like them Megan!
Sumaiyah says
Hi, thank you for this. Does it have to be olive oil or could I use sunflower oil?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, I haven’t tried myself but I’m sure it would be good too.
Angela says
Wow wow wow!!
I made these yesterday and now there’s only 2 left!! So so yummy! Great recipe, thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
Love hearing that! Thanks for the kind feedback Angela!
Dini says
hi, can i make this brownies with extra virgin olive oil?
Jessica Holmes says
Yes Dino!
eilidh says
how long do the brownies keep for? PS I LOVE THEM
Jessica Holmes says
Aw so glad you like them! They’ll keep well for 3-4 days!
Fiona Ford says
Hi Jess, you talk about ‘brown sugar’ but I’m not sure which type you use: soft brown sugar (light or dark?) muscovado or demerara? It would be good to know your preferred sugar.
Thanks,
Fiona
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Fiona, great question! Here in Australia, we have one main type of brown sugar but I think it’s most akin to light brown sugar in other countries. But either light or brown would work in this recipe!
Tanya says
Can I use white chocolate instead of normal ?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Tanya, I haven’t tried but it will change the outcome due to the make-up and sweetness of white chocolate.
Audrey says
These brownies are so good, I baked them last night and 30 minutes later, my boyfriend and I had already eaten half of it. Oh, also… I even had a little square with my coffee this morning. I must say I added a pinch of salt to bring out the flavors, but that’s ll! A truly great recipe. Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
Aww love that Audrey! Thank you for the kind feedback!
Julie Grant says
Hi Jess
I see you olive oil but you don’t say if its extra virgin? Help!!!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Julie, yes extra virgin is ok!
Myiesha Manzoor says
I don’t know what to say yet bc they are baking in the oven as I write this but for one thing the batter is very sugary is it soposed to be very sugary? Like not the same techture as other recipes I use
Jessica Holmes says
Hi, yes they have quite a bit of sugar in them as they are brownies! Hope you enjoy them.
layana says
ok I am ver very confused it say 70 grams of flour and then it said 1/2 cup how is 1/2 = 70 grams? That doesn’t make any sense because 1/2 cup is 125 grams!.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Layana, flour should be measured with a light hand – spooning the flour into the cup measurement and then smoothing the top. For me, that equals 70 grams. If you’re worried, I recommend going with the gram measurements.
Mars says
I absolutely adore all your recipes
Jessica Holmes says
Thank you so much!
Valentia says
Hi may I ask how come my brownies didn’t rise? Since there is no baking powder / soda in the recipe. But yours looked like it was able to rise? Thank you! It tasted good just that the brownies didn’t rise:(
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Valentina, none of the brownie recipes on my website have a raising agent in them. It helps to keep them fudgy and not turn into cake!
Mary says
I found this recipe to make for a friend who has dairy issues, and I agree with a lot of the other posts-these are legitimately good brownies with easy to find ingredients and are very easy to make! I added a pinch of salt to mine, and my husband commented on how they may be some of the best brownies he’s ever had. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Jessica Holmes says
Thank you so much Mary! Your comment just made my day!
Nyla Bower says
Hiya, can i substitute the sugar for honey or syrup?
Jessica Holmes says
I haven’t tried so I can’t say – sorry!