The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the biggest baking seasons of the year. People are constantly either having company or visiting others, and often want to share some baked goods during these visits. Whether it’s Christmas cookies, Hanukkah goodies, or seasonal breads and cakes, there are actually certain situations in which you can cut back on the butter and substitute olive oil instead.
There are many reasons why people try to substitute olive oil for butter. The greatest benefit is that removing the butter in favor of extra virgin oil significantly reduces the amount of saturated fat you’re putting into your baked goods. Considering how much baking you’re likely to do this holiday season, every little bit of health-conscious cooking can help! Best of all, olive oil can be substituted for butter in almost all baking recipes. 
But how exactly do you go about substituting olive oil if the recipe you have specifically calls for butter?
The general rule of thumb is to put in three quarters of the amount of butter in olive oil. So, for example, if a recipe calls for a stick of butter (eight tablespoons), you would use six tablespoons of olive oil instead. If the recipe uses melted butter, you still use three quarters of the amount.
A common question is, “what do I do if the recipe asks for the butter to be creamed with sugar?” In this case, it depends on what else is included in the recipe. If there is an additional liquid in the recipe, such as milk, you can still follow the recipe instructions as stated, and continue to substitute oil for butter at the rate of three quarters the amount.
Finally, you can also substitute olive oil for other types of oils, such as vegetable oil or canola oil. In these situations, you would make the substitution on a one-to-one basis.
A high-quality extra virgin olive oil can truly enhance the flavor profile in your baked goods while also cutting back on the damage they’re doing to your diet. The importance of this during your holiday eating season cannot be understated! For more information about the various health benefits and applications of extra virgin olive oil, contact us today at My Olive Tree.
