Baking with Olive Oil: The Perfect Butter Replacement

When most people think of olive oil, they picture a drizzle over greens or a skillet on the stove. But lately, it’s been showing up somewhere unexpected: the mixing bowl.

Butter had a good run.
But olive oil? It’s easier to use, blends like a pro, and doesn’t melt on the counter like a drama queen.

Bakers are catching on because it works. Olive oil adds moisture, depth, and clean-label credibility without making a big scene. It keeps things tender, plays nice with other ingredients, and fits into recipes you already know by heart.

Whether you’re running a café, or baking in bulk, olive oil’s the quiet swap that makes a delicious difference.

Once you try it, you’ll probably ask yourself why you didn’t do it sooner.

Why Olive Oil Just Works

We’ve been helping people pick the right oil for the job for over 125 years. Here’s why more of them are reaching for olive oil when it’s time to bake:

It’s a feel-good choice.

Olive oil is full of monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. This makes it great for heart health, great for labels, and great for customers who read the fine print.

It keeps things soft.

Banana bread that stays tender? Muffins that don’t dry out overnight? Olive oil makes it happen, with less effort and better results.

It’s stable, scalable & smart

With butter prices on the rise, bulk olive oil and custom blends offer cost stability without sacrificing quality. Unlike butter, olive oil is shelf stable and doesn’t require refrigeration, making it easier to store, portion, and scale across busy kitchens and large facilities. It’s a win for efficiency and your bottom line.

Your Go-To Conversion Chart

Not sure how to swap butter for olive oil? We’ve made it easy:

For every 4 parts of butter, use 3 parts oil.

Pro tip: Olive oil works best in recipes where butter isn’t the main event (think muffins, quick breads, brownies, and sheet cakes). Start there, then experiment.

Where Olive Oil Fits In

Foodservice

Chefs and R&D teams love how olive oil shows up in everything from breakfast bakes to artisan loaves. It’s reliable, easy to source, and checks the clean-label box without the extra paperwork.

Retail

For private labels, olive oil is an easy win. Shoppers recognize it. Trust it. And with health-forward baking on the rise, it stands out in a sea of complicated ingredient lists.

Bulk & Manufacturing

Custom blends. Streamlined sourcing. Clean-label compliance without the texture trade-off. Olive oil keeps high-volume operations efficient and your products tasting like they were made with care.

Let’s Bake a Better Future, Together

At Catania Oils, we don’t just deliver oil. We help you figure out what works for your recipe, your brand, and your bottom line. Whether you’re scaling up or testing a new formula, we’re here to help you get it right.

Make the swap today! Your muffins (and your margins) might thank you.