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12 Best Egg Substitutes for Baking Recipes & How to Use Them

This is your complete guide to the best egg substitutes including an egg substitutes chart with all the information you could ever need for baking egg free treats!
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Hi Bold Bakers!

IN THIS ARTICLEYou’re about to get a comprehensive guide on how to best replace eggs in your baking, including the 12 best egg substitutes for baking, along with a how-to video — and a free downloadable chart as well to keep on-hand in your kitchen. I’ll break down each substitute, what types of recipes it works best with, and then suggest some recipes for you to try with your newfound knowledge!

Hands down, the most common request I get is, “What can I use as egg substitutes for baking?” I get that question on a daily basis now, so much so that it made me rethink if I am catering to this audience enough. I try to make my baking and recipes accessible to everyone, but because there has been such a demand for vegetarian baking, egg substitutes for baking, and egg-free recipes I want to give you the tools and information you need so you can bake happily without eggs and still get Big & Bold results.

Plus, I’ll even show you how and when to use them. Watch my video below and get a FREE Downloadable Conversion Chart further down on the page, too.

And, per the request of millions of Bold Bakers, as of January 2023, I’ve updated this guide with 5 NEW SHELF-STABLE egg substitutes to provide you with more reliable and easier choices! 

Why Egg Substitutes?

Sometimes it’s as simple as running out of eggs and not being able to head to the store. But, other times, there’s a real need.

Many want to avoid eggs for a lot of reasons: health, culture/religion, dietary restrictions, etc. Although adding eggs makes for a different end product, it does not mean that we cannot do without. There might be a change in taste and texture, but for the most part, the end result is still pretty similar. Here is a list that comes in handy for me while I am making such a recipe.

Egg Substitutes for Baking

How Much Egg Substitute Do I Add To Replace An Egg?

Jot this down: 1 egg is roughly 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons/60g/2oz) so you need to replace that volume in your recipe. Your egg substitute needs to equal the amount of egg you are leaving out.

Banana is a substitute for eggs in baking recipes Yogurt is a Substitute for Eggs in Baking Applesauce is a substitute for eggs in baking Tofu is a substitute for eggs in baking Flax is a substitute for eggs in bakingWater is a substitute for eggs in baking Sweetened Condensed Milk is a substitute for Eggs in baking Buttermilk is a good substitute for eggs in baking

Most Commonly Used Egg Substitutes for Baking

Shelf-Stable Egg Substitutes for Baking

Shelf-stable egg substitutes for baking are easy to store without refrigeration (besides vinegar) and are pantry staples in common households.

  • Cornstarch
  • Arrow root powder (paleo)
  • Vinegar+Baking Soda
  • Oil+Water+Baking Power
  • Chia Seeds

The choice of egg substitutes really depends on what it is for in a recipe. It could be used as a binder, or even to enrich the flavor of the bake. In some recipes, substitution is not possible (like a lot of custards) — and if you’re ever in doubt, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of any of our recipe pages and we’ll respond!

[If you’re looking to substitute sugar in your recipes be sure to head over to my post on How to Substitute Sugar.]

How to substitute eggs in cakes How to substitute eggs in cupcakes

Egg Substitutes for Cakes and Cupcakes

When baking cakes or cupcakes, for each whole egg used you can substitute it with one of the following:

  • ½ a medium Banana, mashed
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Applesauce
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Silken Tofu 
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Buttermilk
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Yogurt (vegan or regular)

Find out how different egg substitutes affect cake recipes by watching my video—Which Egg Substitute Made the Best Cake from Gemma’s Test Kitchen!

Try Substituting Bananas In These Recipes

Tip: If you’re going to use bananas, make sure they’re ripe — in fact, the riper the better. We’re not talking all the way black or brown, here, but ripe enough where mashing is a breeze.

How to Substitute Eggs in Cookies

Egg Substitutes for Cookies

When baking cookies, for each whole egg used you can substitute it with one of the following:

  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Sweetened Condensed Milk

Try It In These Cookie Recipes

How to Substitute Eggs in Brownies

Egg Substitutes for Brownies

When baking brownies, for each whole egg used you can substitute it with one of the following:

  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water
  • ½ a medium Banana, mashed
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Applesauce
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Silken Tofu 
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Yogurt (vegan or regular)
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) Buttermilk

Try It In These Recipes:

Flax Egg SubstituteFlax plus water is a good egg substitute

Notes About Using Flax Seed as an Egg Substitute

  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water = 1 egg

Grind the flaxseed in a coffee grinder and mix it with water. Allow it to rest till it becomes gelatinous, then use.

Tofu as an egg substitute

Notes About Using Silken Tofu as an Egg Substitute

  • 1/4 cup blended Silken Tofu = 1 egg

Process in a blender until completely smooth and creamy, leaving no graininess or chunks. Now it is ready to use as an egg substitute in your recipes.

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOADABLE CHART

Egg Substitutes chart, showing the best egg substitutes for baking!

Shelf-Stable Egg Substitutes as a Thickener: for Custards (Pies, Tarts, Cheesecakes, etc.)

  • 2 Tbsp of cornstarch+3 Tbsp water/other liquids from the recipe=1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp of arrowroot powder+3 Tbsp water/other liquids from the recipe=1 egg

Slake (combine) 2 Tbsp of cornstarch/arrowroot powder into 3 tablespoons of water (or liquid from the recipe) for every egg replacement.

Try It In These Recipes:

Shelf-Stable Egg Substitutes as a Leavener: for Quick Breads, Muffins, Cupcakes, and Pancakes

  • 1 Tbsp vinegar+ 1tsp Baking Soda=1 egg
  • 1 ½  Tbsp Oil+1 ½  Tbsp Water+ 1 tsp Baking Powder=1 egg

Try It In These Recipes:

Shelf-Stable Egg Substitutes as a Binder: for Yeast Breads, Cookies, and Brownies

  • 1 Tbsp chia seeds + 1/3 C water=1 egg

Grind the chia seeds in a coffee grinder and mix them with water. Allow it to rest till it becomes gelatinous, then use.

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Sanjana
Sanjana
3 years ago

Hello! Will the flavour of egg substitutes used be reflected in the cake or cookie

Neelam
Neelam
3 years ago

HI Gemma, if we replace eggs with sweetened condensed milk do we have to reduce the quantity of sugar added while making cookies.

Falguni Y Parekh
Falguni Y Parekh
4 years ago

Hi Gemma,

I am from India and just found your recepies through Facebook love them because they are simple and easy. In chocolate chip cookies what ingredients is best useto substitute egg please advise.
Thanks and regards Falguni

Ernestina Cruz
Ernestina Cruz
3 years ago

Hi,
We eat egg whites only, like egg heaters or egg whites in carton. Is it ok to use as a substitute for a whole egg? Want to make cookies with egg whites only, no yolk.
Thanks!

Gemma Stafford
Editor
Gemma Stafford
3 years ago

I’m sorry to hear that Julian. Bananas as substitute are best with cakes or breads. For brownies, flax seed, yogurt or sour cream yield good if not the best results. I hope this helps.

Vani Goel
Vani Goel
3 years ago

Hello, can’t we use sweetened condensed milk as an egg substitute for cakes? You haven’t written it, that’s why I asked. Actually, I can’t find the other items except for condensed milk nearby that’s why I wanted to ask.

Karen Schanding
Karen Schanding
4 years ago

Due to allergies and the need to strictly follow FODMAPS, apple and banana are not options for us, could I substitute the same amount of pumpkin purée or carrot purée?

Shivangi Ranjan
Shivangi Ranjan
3 years ago

Hi, I have a question. So if a recipe calls for a 1/3 of a cup of applesauce, how many eggs would that be? Could I specifically use only egg yolks? My dad’s birthday is this Sunday and I am planning to make your vanilla birthday cake and make a chocolate banana muffin recipe. My plan with the muffin batter is to swirl some of the batter into the vanilla cake batter, and when the cake would bake it would have a pretty swirl. But the thing is that the muffin recipe is vegan and I do not have apple… Read more »

Jenny
Jenny
4 years ago

What about best egg substitute to go in my grandmothers chocolate pie? I cook the chocolate on a double boiler. Should I go with xanthum gum or actual egg replacer or a better option?

Rachana
Rachana
5 years ago

Hi Gemma! Love your baking!!! I want to make your homemade ice-cream cones, but my parents don’t eat egg. What can I substitute instead of egg whites?

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About Us

Meet Gemma

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

 

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