DIY egg substitutes (2024)

Eggs are magic: they help baked goods rise, bind ingredients, lend moisture and add richness. For vegans, the allergic and others who go eggless, here’s how to recreate that magic with egg substitutes.

As with all baking detective work, a good way to deduce which egg substitute to use in a particular recipe is to first consider its role. Need a cake to rise or get light and fluffy? Add vinegar and baking soda, whose fizz contributes natural leavening. Want to mimic the richness of eggs? Silken tofu or plain yogurt will lend a wonderful creaminess.

Also consider the flavor profile of your recipe. If it’s dainty and delicate, avoid bold replacements such as flaxseed or banana, which could overwhelm its flavor. However, either replacement readily disappears in most quick breads and cookies. And Ener-G Foods egg replacer is an all-around solution that works in just about any recipe (and they’re local, too!).

Now that we’re all in the mood to bake, find any of these ingredients at your local PCC, and find plenty of inspiration in our baking recipe collection!

Egg replacers

Vinegar & baking soda

Replace 1 egg with: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar

Bakes best in: Cakes, brownies, quick breads

Notes: Combine separately, then add to recipe to add loft to fluffier baked goods.

Unsweetened applesauce

Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup applesauce

Bakes best in: Muffins, brownies, cakes, bars

Notes: Avoid using more than 1 cup total in any recipe as it can create a rubbery texture.

Plain or vanilla soy yogurt

Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup yogurt

Bakes best in: Muffins, cakes, bars

Notes: Can be heavy and works best if beaten well before adding to other ingredients.

Silken tofu

Replace 1 egg with: Whirl 1/4 cup silken tofu in blender, adding water until smooth.

Bakes best in: Pies, quick breads, muffins, dense cakes

Notes: Can be very heavy. Avoid using in recipes that call for multiple eggs. Baked goods will not brown as deeply.

Ripe banana

Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup mashed banana

Bakes best in: Quick breads, muffins, cakes

Notes: Very ripe bananas will leave a hint of flavor and increase sweetness. Can create a rubbery texture.

Ground flaxseed

Replace 1 egg with: Stir together 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed in 3 tablespoons water until thick and gelatinous.

Bakes best in: Brownies, cookies, breads

Notes: Adds an earthy, nutty taste and can create a firm or chewy texture, best with hearty baked goods.

Recipe to try

We use banana to replace eggs in our Vegan Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes

DIY egg substitutes (2024)

FAQs

DIY egg substitutes? ›

Substitutes like vinegar and baking soda, plain yogurt or buttermilk can help keep cake light, airy and structurally sound. Replace each egg with 1 teaspoon of baking soda combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, ¼ cup of plain yogurt or ¼ cup of buttermilk.

What can I use to substitute eggs? ›

Substitutes like vinegar and baking soda, plain yogurt or buttermilk can help keep cake light, airy and structurally sound. Replace each egg with 1 teaspoon of baking soda combined with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, ¼ cup of plain yogurt or ¼ cup of buttermilk.

What can I substitute if I run out of eggs? ›

When you're baking and run out of eggs
  • 1 egg = 2 tablespoons water + 2 teaspoons baking powder + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.
  • 1 egg = 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana.
  • 1 egg = 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds and 3 tablespoons of water.
  • 1 egg = 3 tablespoons aquafaba.

Can you replace eggs with baking powder? ›

For recipes which use eggs primarily as a leavening agent you can try a commercial egg replacement product (see above) or the following mixture: 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil mixed with 1-1/2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon baking powder per egg. Note: this mixture calls for baking powder, not baking soda.

What can I use in baking without eggs? ›

Here's what you can use to substitute for eggs in baking and how.
  1. Avocado. ...
  2. Baking Powder and Oil. ...
  3. Mashed Banana. ...
  4. Nut Butters. ...
  5. Aquafaba. ...
  6. Chia Seeds. ...
  7. Flaxseed. ...
  8. Condensed Milk.

What can replace eggs in brownies? ›

Best substitutes for eggs in cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and brownies:
  1. Ripe Banana- (most common) ¼ cup mashed ripe banana = 1 large egg. However, there is a definite banana flavor.
  2. Apple Sauce- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce = 1 large egg. ...
  3. Peanut Butter- 3 tablespoons of peanut butter = 1 large egg.
Jan 20, 2023

What is a substitute for eggs in the shortage? ›

Use one banana to substitute one egg. One to two ounces of tofu are equivalent to one egg, but be sure that the recipe can take on the nutty flavor of tofu. If a recipe calls for one or two eggs, applesauce is also a good substitution. About half a cup of applesauce is equivalent to one egg.

Can sour cream replace eggs? ›

Tangy dairy products like yogurt and sour cream are a great swap when making egg-free desserts. As long as you make sure you're using full-fat varieties, these ingredients can incorporate lots of moisture to your recipes.

What happens if I forgot the eggs in my cake? ›

Eggs serve multiple functions in cake: They can be used to leaven the cake (think Angel Food Cake), and add moisture, tenderness, and structure. For chemically-leavened cakes — that is, cakes calling for baking powder or baking soda — it's OK if you don't remember to add the eggs until the end.

What is an artificial egg substitute? ›

Egg Replacer is a mixture of "potato starch, tapioca flour, leavening (calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, cream of tartar), cellulose gum, modified cellulose". The Vegg is a vegan liquid egg yolk replacer, suitable in any recipe that one would alternatively use egg yolk.

Can I substitute mayo for eggs? ›

If you have a jar of mayo in the fridge, you can use 3 tablespoons in place of one egg. "Mayonnaise has been used as an egg substitute because of its moistening properties and is best suited for cakes with strong flavors, like spice cakes and chocolate cakes," Tutunjian says.

What happens if there are not enough eggs in a cake? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What is the best substitute for eggs? ›

Egg replacers
  • Vinegar & baking soda. Replace 1 egg with: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar. ...
  • Unsweetened applesauce. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup applesauce. ...
  • Plain or vanilla soy yogurt. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup yogurt. ...
  • Silken tofu. ...
  • Ripe banana. ...
  • Ground flaxseed.

What can I make instead of eggs for breakfast? ›

9 Satisfying Breakfast Alternatives For People Who Just Don't Like Eggs
  • Gluten-Free Espresso Banana-Acai Bowl (pictured above) ...
  • Chia Seed Pudding. ...
  • Lemon Blueberry French Toast Bake. ...
  • Nordic Breakfast Porridge. ...
  • Low-Fat Raspberry-Corn Muffins. ...
  • Berry-Oatmeal Bake. ...
  • Hash Browns Makeover. ...
  • Chia Seed Pancakes.

How do you substitute just egg in baking? ›

For most recipes simply substitute 3 tablespoons of Just Egg for each large egg. For each extra-large or jumbo egg called for substitute 4 tablespoons of Just Egg. In recipes that need either a more eggy flavor or a stronger structure, use 4 tablespoons of Just Egg per egg.

Can I use milk instead of eggs in cake? ›

Using a 1/4 cup of milk or yogurt in place of eggs is perfect for baked goods where moisture is key, such as cakes or muffins. (Vegans can use plant-based milks or yogurt in its place.

What can I use as a binder instead of eggs? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  • Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  • Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  • Fruit puree. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Gelatin. ...
  • Xanthan gum. ...
  • Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  • Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

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