The short answer: nothing too pricey, nothing too cheap, but somewhere in the middle, Goldilocks-style. Brightland Olive Oil Duo. On the flip side, cheaper bulk supermarket brands are often very processed and can be too neutral and bland to lend any real flavor.

Similar to cooking with wine, the general rule of thumb should be to cook with an olive oil you would already reach for as a finishing oil, whether to dunk bread in, drizzle over salads, or to top vanilla ice cream. If you are at your local grocery store, try to find extra-virgin olive oil that is from one particular region not a blend.

The fruity aroma of olive oil can also bring out other flavors commonly used in baked goods, like chocolate, nuts, spices, and fruit. However, you want to be careful not to let olive oil's flavor overpower everything else.

Do use olive oil in recipes that calls for melted butter or other liquid fats like these scrumptious Skillet Apple Brownies. Don't use olive oil for recipes that call for creaming butter with sugar , like some cakes and cookies. The creaming process gives baked goods a light and airy texture that won't be the same if replaced by oil.

So, make your pound cake recipe with butter, but start experimenting with brownies, quick breads, and muffins. Don't forget, you can also use olive oil to prepare your pans. If your recipe calls for buttering and flouring a cake or loaf pan, simply brush the pan with oil, dust with flour, and you're ready to go!

Here's why: In addition to fat, butter is made of milk solids and water. So, if you try a swap of olive oil for butter — your baked goods might turn out too greasy or goopy due to the extra fat and liquid. For recipes that already call for oil, like Mom's Zucchini Bread , simply swap out the vegetable oil for your favorite olive oil.

Spiced Orange Olive Oil Cake. If you don't eat it all the first day, cut it into cubes and layer with whipped cream and oranges, or toast and slather with honey. Use limited data to select advertising.

Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. To ensure that you are truly getting the best quality olive oil, we recommend purchasing high-quality, extra virgin olive oil from California.

Buying within the U. ensures that there is plenty of quality control and less steps in the process where the olive oil can be adulterated.

In addition, olive oil from California is often certified by the California Olive Oil Council COOC , which has very strict regulations ensuring that you get all the key characteristics of extra virgin olive oil.

Buying olive oil from California also means that you are closer to the source of the olive oil, which means that it gets to you faster and will stay fresher for longer. Speaking of the freshness, check the harvest date on every bottle of olive oil that you buy.

This will ensure that you are getting the freshest olive possible and that it will not pass peak flavor before you use it all up. Many producers do not label their olive oils with harvest dates, so seek out brands that are more transparent about when their olive oil was harvested so you can ensure you are getting peak freshness.

When baking, you need to consider not only the quality of the olive oil you choose, but also the flavor. Not all extra virgin olive oils have the same flavor. Depending on what types of olives are used to make the oil, it will have different flavor profiles which may or may not work with the rest of your recipe.

For example, our AWAKE olive oil is made with California Coratina olives, which result in an olive oil with a robust, peppery flavor. It works best for savory recipes as well as citrus-flavored baked goods.

Flavored olive oils can be used to add flavor to baked goods in addition to helping the batter achieve the right consistency.

Using a flavored olive oil ensures that the flavors are distributed evenly throughout the batter, which can be more difficult when using zest or a very small amount of extracts. For instance, our LUCID lemon olive oil is the perfect way to add citrus flavor to your next baking project while still incorporating the depth of olive oil flavoring.

In addition to putting olive oil in your batter, you can also use it to grease a baking pan in place of non-stick cooking spray. Because olive oil is so healthy, it is the perfect substitute for non-stick cooking spray.

Simply pour some oil on a paper towel and wipe it all over the interior of the pan, being careful to get to every crevice. For an extra non-stick factor, sprinkle a little flour evenly over the pan and then tap out the excess.

Grease the pan only a few minutes before baking for best results. Baking with olive oil offers many quality and health benefits. For one, the excellent consistency of olive oil results in baked goods that have an even texture and good mouthfeel.

And we already covered how the various types of olive oil can add flavor and depth to any recipe, including baked goods.

What we have not touched on is the many health benefits of olive oil. Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils for you and is an excellent choice for the conscious baker. Olive oil is full of beneficial fatty acids and powerful antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation.

Because of its high polyunsaturated fat content, it is also resistant to oxidation at high temperatures, making it a good choice for baking as well as cooking.

If you are looking for ways to bake healthier, adding olive oil into your baking staples is a good call.