Why Olive Oil, Snacks And Desserts Are A Surprisingly Sweet Match
Updated 10th December 2025
Why Olive Oil, Snacks And Desserts Are A Surprisingly Sweet Match
When most people think of olive oil, they picture a savoury drizzle over roasted vegetables or a finishing touch on pasta. But in modern kitchens, quality extra virgin olive oil can transform your favourite treats—and offer meaningful health benefits.
If you’re new to using olive oil in sweeter dishes, our guide to Cooking with Extra Virgin Olive Oil explains why EVOO works beautifully in both savoury and sweet recipes.
From air-popped popcorn to silky vanilla ice cream, using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil such as Morocco Gold lets you enjoy snacks and desserts that feel indulgent yet still support your wellbeing. Below you’ll find simple ideas and two easy recipes that show how olive oil can shine in sweet dishes.
Key Points at a Glance
- Extra virgin olive oil can be used in snacks and desserts – not just savoury dishes – adding flavour, moisture and natural antioxidants.
- Olive oil popcorn is a whole grain, high fibre snack that can be a healthier alternative to butter-laden versions when made with quality EVOO.
- Using Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil in sweet recipes offers heart-healthy fats and naturally occurring polyphenols.
- Swapping butter or vegetable oil for EVOO can support heart health and weight management when enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
- Simple servings like vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt show how sweet and savoury flavours can work beautifully together.
Why Olive Oil Works in Sweet Snacks And Desserts
When it comes to preparing healthy snacks and desserts, extra virgin olive oil adds more than moisture. It delivers:
- Rich flavour with subtle fruity or peppery notes
- Silky texture for cakes, muffins, and quick breads
- Improved shelf life, thanks to natural antioxidants
- A dairy-free alternative for those avoiding butter
Many of these benefits come from the natural polyphenols found in high-quality oils like Morocco Gold, which you can learn more about in our Polyphenols in Extra Virgin Olive Oil guide.
When swapped into snacks and desserts, olive oil creates indulgence without heaviness—and often with a more interesting flavour profile.
Snack & Dessert Ideas That Shine With Olive Oil
Moist, fragrant, and zesty. This lemon olive oil cake brings out the citrus notes and keeps the crumb tender for days.
Dark Chocolate & Olive Oil Truffles
Whisk together warmed olive oil and melted dark chocolate for truffles that are decadent yet heart-healthy.
Olive Oil Skillet Granola
Swap butter for olive oil to create a crispy, golden granola with fewer saturated fats and more depth of flavour.
Olive Oil Popcorn
A simple favourite: drizzle warm extra virgin olive oil over freshly popped kernels and sprinkle with sea salt, cinnamon sugar, or even cocoa powder.
Popcorn made with extra virgin olive oil is also a great example of how simple swaps can support overall wellbeing, fitting neatly into the Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil framework.
Any parents out there will be pleased to hear that olive oil as a substitute for vegetable oil or saturated fats is an easy way to keep popcorn and other snacks healthy.
So, what better way to set off your popcorn with a healthy drizzle of the best extra virgin olive oil such as Morocco Gold? – Here’s how:
For even more dishes using EVOO in creative ways, explore our Recipes & Inspiration hub.
Olive Oil Popcorn
Ingredients
- 2 tbs Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup corn kernels, 110g
- Salt, To Taste
Instructions
- Use a 2.8L pot, pour the extra virgin olive oil and allow it to spread on the whole bottom surface.
- Add the corn kernels and place the lid slightly open.
- Place the pot on high heat and allow the kernels to pop. It should take 5min from the time the pot is exposed to heat.
- At least once throughout the cooking, carefully shake the pot (holding down the lid and then open it slightly again to allow for more space for the kernels to pop. Allow the lid to be open a bit so that steam doesn’t build up and so that the popcorn doesn’t soak up the extra moisture
- A good way to know that the kernels are all cooked, is when the popping sound is not as frequent. Be careful you don’t burn them. The pot size is perfect for the amount of kernels listed above. However, if you have a smaller pot and the popcorn overflows, you may empty the popcorn quickly in a bowl and return the remainder of the kernels on the heat to cook.
- As soon as the popcorn is ready, place them in a heatproof bowl and season them with salt to taste while they are hot
Vanilla Ice Cream With Olive Oil Recipe
If you enjoy cooking at home, you’ll love this easy vanilla ice cream recipe. The addition of olive oil not only gives the ice cream a delicious flavour, but it also helps to keep it creamy and smooth. So go ahead and give it a try – your family and friends are sure to be impressed!
Ingredients
- 4 large scoops Natural Vanilla ice cream
- 2 Tbsp Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil
- Flaky sea salt
- Cashews (optional)
Instructions
- Divide the ice cream among 4 cold bowls.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and a generous pinch of salt.
- Scatter a handful of cashews (if using) over the top.
Using extra virgin olive oil to make popcorn makes this whole grain, high fibre snack even healthier. Packed with polyphenols and a good source of energy, olive oil is the perfect choice for making popcorn. Every parent on the planet will at one time or another struggled to get their kids to eat a particular food ‘because it’s good for you’ – only to be told – ‘but it’s YUCKY!’
A big bowl of freshly made popcorn never seems to go out of fashion with children of all ages (and plenty of adults too!). As long as it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is a whole grain and high fibre snack – making it a good choice for lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Did you know that popcorn contains more fibre per serving than whole-wheat bread? Using extra virgin olive oil to make popcorn is our favourite and it is the healthiest option.
If you’d like to understand why Morocco Gold is so well suited to heart-healthy cooking and snacking, visit About Morocco Gold for details about our single-estate, high-polyphenol production.
Olive Oil vs Butter for Snacks and Desserts
| Butter / Vegetable Oil | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Main fats | Higher in saturated fats or refined seed oils | Rich in monounsaturated fats |
| Antioxidants | Minimal to none | Contains natural polyphenols and vitamin E |
| Flavour profile | Heavy, creamy or neutral | Fruity, light, sometimes peppery; enhances sweetness |
| Best uses | Traditional baking and frying | Popcorn, cakes, quick breads, granola, ice cream |
| Health impact | Higher saturated fat intake | Supports heart health when replacing saturated fats |
Choose Olive Oil In Snacks And Desserts For Better Health
Two of the stand out health benefits from choosing olive oil over saturated fats when preparing snacks and desserts are improved heart health and weight management. Let’s consider those separately:
Olive oil—especially extra virgin—is rich in monounsaturated fats and polyphenols, both linked to:
- Lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
- Reduced inflammation
- Better overall cardiovascular function
Replacing butter or shortening with olive oil is one of the easiest ways to improve the heart-health profile of your baked goods.
Weight Management
Contrary to the old myth that “fat makes you gain weight,” research consistently shows that healthy fats can have a positive role in your nutritional profile.
Using olive oil in snacks can help you feel satisfied longer, which may support:
- Reduced snacking between meals
- More stable blood sugar
- Better control over overall calorie intake
Olive oil can be a smart ingredient for anyone looking to maintain or reach a healthy weight—without sacrificing flavor.
Final Thoughts
Baking and snacking with olive oil is one of the simplest ways to create treats that feel indulgent yet align with your health goals. With its heart-healthy fats, powerful antioxidants, and ability to help promote satiety, olive oil proves that better-for-you options can still be incredibly delicious.
So the next time you’re in the kitchen, reach for that bottle of extra virgin olive oil—you might be surprised by how sweet the results can be.
👉 Shop Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
FAQs: Popcorn, Snacks and Desserts with Olive Oil
1. Is popcorn made with olive oil a healthy snack?
When popcorn is air-popped or made with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil and lightly seasoned, it can be a whole grain, high fibre snack. Using olive oil instead of butter reduces saturated fat and adds heart-friendly monounsaturated fats.
2. Which type of olive oil is best for making popcorn?
A good quality extra virgin olive oil works best. It adds flavour and naturally occurring polyphenols. Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil is ideal for drizzling over freshly popped kernels or for use in the pan.
3. Is it safe to heat extra virgin olive oil for popping corn?
Yes, as long as you avoid very high temperatures and do not let the oil smoke. Using medium to medium-high heat and shaking the pan helps pop the kernels while keeping the oil within a sensible cooking range.
4. Can olive oil be used in cakes, muffins and other baked desserts?
Absolutely. Extra virgin olive oil can replace butter or vegetable oil in many baking recipes. It adds moisture, a tender crumb and a delicate flavour, while providing more monounsaturated fats and antioxidants than many traditional fats.
5. Does using olive oil in snacks help with weight management?
Olive oil is still an energy-dense fat, but it can help you feel fuller for longer and may support better appetite control when used in sensible amounts, as part of a balanced diet. It should always be combined with an overall healthy eating pattern.
6. Is olive oil on ice cream really a thing?
Yes – drizzling high-quality extra virgin olive oil over vanilla ice cream with a pinch of sea salt is a popular restaurant trick. The fruity, peppery notes of the oil contrast with the sweetness of the ice cream and create a simple yet sophisticated dessert.
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