Olive Oil Biscuits Recipes - Biscuits Made Without Butter (2024)

FAQs

Can you substitute olive oil for butter in biscuits? ›

Usually, olive oil is best used as a substitute for butter in baking recipes that call specifically for liquid butter. In these cases, olive oil should be substituted for butter in a 3:4 ratio by volume. So if the recipe calls for one cup of butter, then you would use ¾ cup of olive oil.

Of course, you can still use oil to make biscuits in a pinch, but do think twice if you don't want to sacrifice too much flavor and texture. If you're looking for dairy-free alternatives, semi-solid fats like vegan butter, coconut oil, and plant-based shortening or margarine are worth considering.

Olive oil spread is better for you than butter or margarine and it's great on toast. It's also really easy to make your own! The secret? Olive oil spread is simply olive oil kept at a cold enough temperature that it solidifies.

Crisco may be beneficial for other baking applications, but for biscuit making, butter is the ultimate champion!

As a general rule of thumb, substitute three-quarters of the butter in a recipe with olive oil. In other words: If a baking recipe calls for a stick of butter (8 tablespoons), for example, use 6 tablespoons of olive oil. (Click here to see a conversion table.)

What about substituting oil for butter? Depending on the type of oil, it can add complex flavor and welcome moisture to your baked goods. A good rule of thumb is to replace about 3/4 of the butter in a recipe with olive, canola, or vegetable oil. (If the recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use ¾ cup oil.)

For one thing, butter is made up of 63% saturated fat, whereas olive oil only has 14%. Olive oil also contains heart-healthy monounsaturated good fats and antioxidants. Butter's high saturated fat content, on the other hand, is shown in studies to lead to heart disease and other health issues.

Olive oil (or indeed any fat) added to sourdough actually coats the gluten forming proteins in the flour. As you know, oil and water are not friends. So the oil actually repels the water away from the flour, stopping it from being able to effectively form a gluten network.

For example, if a recipe calls for one stick of butter (8 tablespoons), use 6 tablespoons of oil.

Selecting the liquid for your biscuits

Just as important as the fat is the liquid used to make your biscuits. Our Buttermilk Biscuit recipe offers the choice of using milk or buttermilk. Buttermilk is known for making biscuits tender and adding a zippy tang, so we used that for this test.

Why do you need butter in biscuits? ›

The job of butter in baking (besides being delicious) is to give richness, tenderness and structure to cookies, cakes, pies and pastries. We alter the way butter works in a recipe by changing its temperature and choosing when to combine it with the other ingredients.

While biscuits receive some leavening power from chemical sources — baking powder and baking soda — the difference between serviceable and greatness comes from the extra rise that steam provides. In order to generate steam, the oven must be set at a minimum of 425 degrees for at least 10 minutes prior to baking.

Olive oil is an extremely versatile type of cooking oil and can be used for anything from baking to frying to sautéing. When recipes call for the use of either butter or any other type of refined oil, such as vegetable oil, we highly recommend substituting this for olive oil instead.

Using olive oil instead of butter in mac and cheese is a simple and healthy way to enjoy this classic dish. By choosing the right type of olive oil, making a roux, and adding flavor and toppings, you can create a creamy and delicious mac and cheese that's lower in saturated fat and calories.