Baking with extra virgin olive oil

The Queen Creek Olive Mill’s Kitchen uses EVOO in all its baked goods. Using EVOO is a healthy alternative to other fats, shortenings and butter used in everyday baking. There is even a comparative conversion chart that you may use to substitute EVOO to butter. When substituting other oils use a one-to-one ratio of EVOO to the oil called for in the recipe.

Butter to Olive Oil Conversion Chart

Olive oil can be easily substituted in most main courses or baked dishes where margarine or butter is used for frying, sautéing and baking. In olive oil producing countries, olive oil and butter/margarine are sometimes also used together to enhance each other’s flavor in some recipes.

The conversion chart above is appropriate for most cake and pastry recipes where quantities are critical. Keep in mind, however, that it is not always a good idea to use liquid shortening (olive oil/vegetable oil) instead of solid shortening (butter/margarine). For instance, since cake frosting must stay solid at room temperature, butter and powdered sugar work nicely, but olive oil and powdered sugar don’t.

You should also consider the taste factor. A mild tasting late harvest olive oil could be used in most cake and pastry recipes because cooking will get rid of the aromatic olive oil flavors. Uncooked confections such as cake frosting would taste more than a bit unusual if made with olive oil.

Infused or co-pressed oils (lemon, blood orange, lime, chocolate and vanilla) can be used to enhance the flavor of all your baked goods and dishes. Not only will the baked goods remain moister for longer the product will be much more nutritious.  In the case of chocolate cake or brownie recipe the end result will be super decadent and moist. I promise you will never go back to ordinary fats when baking or cooking.

Give your traditional holiday dinner a local flair using products from the Queen Creek Olive Mill. Nobody wants to spend the whole day cooing in the kitchen during the holidays. It needs to be quick, easy and something your family will enjoy. Every recipe from del Piero at the Mill are simple and delicious.

Use these recipes to impress your family and friends and at the same time you can brag about the fact that you are using a local product made right hear in Arizona.

The wines that we have selected are reasonably priced are specifically paired to extenuate the complex flavors of our recipes.

Bring your family and friends and visit us in Queen Creek.