When I Make Birthday Cake from the Cake Mix, Can I Substitute Vegetable Oil

Updated on July 15, 2013
Y.P. asks from Los Angeles, CA
31 answers

with "extra virgin olive oil? This is my first time baking a cake from the market- purchased cake mix. The recipe calls for using vegetable oil. I am thinking using extra virgin olive oil instead. Would I be making a mistake for the cake purpose?? Thanks very much in advance for mamas' collective wisdom.

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K.L.

answers from Redding on

hmmm, Denise, we must not be the top bakers here. I use olive oil for everything. Havent used any other oil in years. I have never had trouble with cakes being heavy or tasting bad. You dont taste olives in the oil, anymore than you taste corn or whatever a canola is, in those oils. Olives are vegetables. They make a fine oil. Im going to go bake a cake now,,and use olive oil..(o:

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A..

answers from Kansas City on

You can...but you will taste the olive oil. I tried it once in a chocolate cake and I could really taste the oil. If you are using a white or yellow cake mix, then I would think that the taste would be overpowering.

I say, just use the bad for you vegie oil and enjoy a piece of cake!!

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P.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try applesauce...plain no added sugar kind...it works great, keeps cake moist and doesn't have the fat of oil.

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Substitute unsweetened applesauce instead. It is healthier, and it will make it moist!

4 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

No - don't do it! Any olive oil is too heavy for baking (regular, extra virgin, whatever) and it doesn't hold up well in high heat. Even high-heat frying is not good with olive oil - use canola or vegetable. I use canola because it's healthier than corn oil but you can use any of those in baking.

If you want a healthier alternative, use applesauce and no oil at all. Pretty much the same amount - a cup for a cup, you know? You can use egg whites instead of eggs too. Just use a little more than if using whole eggs. Like if the recipe says 2 eggs, then use 3-4 eggs whites (make sure the carton says you can use it in baking - usually you can, although the egg whites won't whip).

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B..

answers from Dallas on

It's a bit yucky, actually. I substitute unsweetened apple sauce, and it works wonderfully!

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D.K.

answers from State College on

Yes, I use olive oil for everything instead. I also substitute apple sauce for oil in many things.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

No do not use olive oil. So so heavy.

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J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

So you've got lots of answers. Here is what I know:

To answer your question, for baking - I like incorporating some apple sauce with an oil. Olive is not the best one for sweets and is not a high heat oil. I'll use Grapeseed.

Omega 6 oils are used in everything, especially fast food and restaurants and you want to avoid using them at home when you can. Canola and Soybean are the worst offenders. Other Omega 6 oils are Safflower and Sunflower.

Omega 3 ols are the best to use as they are absorbed and utilized for the brain. Olive, Grapeseed, and Coconut are Omega 3 oils. As I said above Olive should not be used for cooking with as it becomes a 'bad' oil when put at high heat. Coconut Oil is really not an oil as what we are used to seeing as it is solid but I love adding this when I am making a soup, cooking the onions in it. Adds a great unique flavor. We use Grapeseed for just about everything.

Why are Soybean and Canola the worst offenders? Genetically Modified. Avoid them like the plague. Soy - hormone disruptor as well.

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S.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Lots have told you try apples sauce and that is a good choice in place of veg. oil. Sometimes it makes for a little less of a yummy cake cause you are taking some of the fat out. what you can do to counter that is add one extra egg. It really helps. You could also just use melted, but cooled butter. Dont wanna accidentally scramble your eggs :) I hope your cake came out good or comes out good. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

you can not use flavored oil to substitute the vegetable oil unless you want it to taste very strange!
you can use butter
you can use apple sauce
you can use a can of soda
those are my favorite substitutions!
good luck!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Oh gawd no. Not unless you don't have a good sense of taste.

Corn oil is the best veggie oil I've found (keeps cakes moist and sweet 2-3 TIMES longer than regular veggie or canola oil) and improves the depth and richness of flavor. I use it for all cakes except angelfood.

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G.T.

answers from Washington DC on

Olive oil is fine, that's what I use.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

I wouldn't just for taste reasons and it's not a high heat oil. I typically use canola oil as it has very little taste like vegetable oil.

Of course you could always do a test cake to try it out before using the change for an event cake.

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E.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Canola oil works well and organic coconut oil fares well in all recipes that are sweet. I even use this for pancakes. Olive oil is too strong and not compatible with sweet tasting foods.

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C.P.

answers from Provo on

I am not sure about the extra virgin olive oil. I guess it would work. My daughter always uses apple sauce in place of the oil and it makes the cake really fluffy.

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E.T.

answers from Denver on

NO!!! Its COMPLETELY gross!!! Applesauce, melted butter/margarine, or mayo are good substitutes.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I can't imagine tasting olive oil flavor in a cake. There is no reason to substitute vegetable oil...if you need to cut something out you can do half veggie oil and half applesauce.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try using grapeseed oil or half grapeseed/half olive oil. Though the olive oil might impart a slight taste, should be minimal. Both grapeseed and olive oils are much better than canola or other vegetable oils. A cooking class instructor explained that almost all other oils include partially hydrogenated fats.

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C.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes, you can use EVOO. It does affect the taste slightly. It's a little less sweet, but the cake will still rise, etc. We used it for our son's first birthday cake and it turned out amazing.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have. But I prefer canola.

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J.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Tried it once because I ran out of veggie oil and did half and half. It was terrible and I could taste the olive oil. I would follow some of the other ideas people have shared. Great question though because I bet a lot of other mommies have wondered the same thing!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Olive oil is great for cooking, but not baking - it has too strong of a flavor.
You can substitue apple sauce or mashed bananas though.

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

I've used it and it turned out fine. Otherwise I use Canola oil. Coconut oil would probably be fine too but I"ve never tried that!

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C.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Don't do it. Vegetable Oil should be used (or canola) because it is tasteless. Olive oil does have a distinct taste and could end up spoiling your cake.

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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

it will work but it won't taste good. the olive oil has a very distinct and dominated flavor that does not compliment baked goods.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would use butter instead of olive oil. It has a strong taste that may not go well with the cake.

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

NO!!! I have done that with brownies. BLECH!

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K.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I use unsweetened applesauce instead of oil. Never had a problem.
Good luck!

M..

answers from St. Louis on

I use applesauce in place of oil.

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H.A.

answers from Chicago on

I know this is a old posting but decide to say something just saw it browsing, no never add evo to a cake recipe it is not dense enough. What you can use is pudding, boxed or ready to eat, from my experience of baking since I was 11, it is best use boxed pudding don't cook it just add to any box cake mix, the flavor you want and add butter instead of oil or applesauce, the pudding will make it very moist.

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