Vegan Egg Substitutes

Any vegan who is thinking about transforming the favorite baked goods into a vegan-friendly treat has learned that the most difficult part is finding an egg replacer that eliminates the egg without making the taste worse.

It’s a tall order, especially when you consider that eggs have several functions when it comes to baking:

• they add moisture,
• eggs hold the treat together,
• they have some leavening (or rising) power as well.

The good news is that there are a number of awesome vegan-friendly egg replacers you can use in your kitchen.

Here’s your best guide to replacing eggs in your favorite vegan-friendly treats you bake in your affordable toaster oven.

Unsweetened Applesauce

Not only does the applesauce act as a binding agent, but it adds required moisture to baked items as well. Because of its moisture content, it works best in brownies, cakes, bars, and quick breads.

Unsweetened applesauce is also low in calories and fat. That makes it an excellent choice if you’re watching your waistline it makes a great substitute for oil as well.

As a bonus, unsweetened applesauce adds vitamins and fiber to the recipe.

¼ cup = 1 egg

Ground Flaxseed

This source of Omega 3 fatty acids is another great egg replacer. Flaxseed has a distinctive nutty flavor that some may not like it initially, but it is easy to get used to. Because of the flavor, it is best to use flaxseed in heartier recipes like brownies, oatmeal cookies, pancakes, and waffles.

Brown flax meal adds color to a recipe, so if you need to preserve the look of the treat, choose the golden flaxseed instead.

You can find flax in the bulk section of any health food store or in the natural product section of the supermarket.

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons of water = 1 egg

Mashed Banana

This common product you can find in every supermarket is an excellent binding ingredient that’s long been used in baking.

Mashed bananas are tasty egg replacers in the muffin, cake, pancake, and quick bread recipes. If you are one of these rare individuals that hate bananas, you should be aware that bananas (surprisingly) add banana flavor to the treat. If bananas don’t tickle your taste buds, choose another egg replacer from our list.

¼ cup = 1 egg

Tofu

Made from fresh soybeans, tofu adds a refreshing and creamy texture to puddings, muffins, pies, and cakes.

Tofu is better suited for rich, decadent recipes because of its density.

Difficult to find 10 years ago, now tofu is increasingly easy to find in the refrigerated section of many supermarkets.

Blend ¼ cup with enough water to smooth it out = 1 egg

Plain or Vanilla Soy Yogurt

The soy yogurt is the tremendous vegan-friendly way to add moisture to yummy muffins, bars, quick breads, and cakes. It works best if it’s beaten well.

¼ cup = 1 egg

Ener-G Egg Replacer

The commercially formulated Ener-G Egg Replacer is a great find for vegans. It is important to note it has a long shelf life that is far longer than the eggs it’s intended to replace. That makes it easy to keep it handy for the occasion when you will get that midnight craving for freshly baked pancakes.

The Ener-G is an all-around replacer that works well in most vegan baking recipes, including cookies.

1.5 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons of water = 1 egg

Soy Flour

Made from roasted soybeans, this high protein ingredient adds moisture to baked recipes and is especially good for cakes, cookies, and muffins.

What’s more, in fried treats like doughnuts, the soy flour reduces the amount of fat that the dough absorbs. I am not sure how it helps because you will eat all these doughnuts anyway.

1 heaping tablespoon plus 1 tablespoon water = 1 egg

Canned Pumpkin Puree

Isn’t it just for Halloween treats? Not anymore.

The canned puree works much like applesauce to add moisture to vegan baked treats. It is a smart and healthy replacement for eggs in cakes, quick breads, and muffins.

1/3 cup = 1 egg

Conclusion

Does the recipe list eggs? No worries. By choosing one of these easy and available alternatives, you can create a tasty treat you’ll love to serve to family and friends. If they last that long, that is.

Here’s a chart of egg replacers and what they work best in. Don’t despair…they can be replaced. In fact, after some experimentation, you may no longer even call them egg replacers anymore.