Cutting back on fat? Dealing with food allergies? Just straight up out of eggs and need to bake a batch of brownies? Wondering, what in the heck can I substitute for eggs?! If you said “yes” to any of these questions, then this is the post for you. These egg substitutes are hard to beat! (See what we did there?!)

chickpeas and glass of chickpea juice on white marble counter, from Shelf Cooking

If you want to perfect the art of shelf cooking, it's important to have plenty of substitutions in your back pocket. Instead of running out to the store every time you need an ingredient, start thinking about how you can use what you already have to make your recipe just as good!

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SO many recipes call for eggs! The good news? There are tons of ways to swap them out without sacrificing flavor. We've pulled together everything you need to know about egg replacers. So, the next time you think ‘What can I substitute for eggs?' remember this post!

WHAT’S AN EGG SUBSTITUTE & WHY USE IT?

plate of eggs on white marble counter, from Shelf Cooking

This may seem like a no-duh kind of moment, but there's quite a bit of science behind the humble egg. In a nutshell (or eggshell), an egg substitute is just an ingredient or mixture of ingredients used to replace eggs.

BUT, before you decide what to use as your replacement, it's important to understand why eggs are used in recipes in the first place! Let's get all Bill Nye up in here and have a quick science lesson on the four main purposes of eggs.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND EGG SUBSTITUTES

  • Binding – A lot of the time, eggs are in a recipe to serve as the binding agent. They help keep everything else from separating! The magic lies in the egg yolk, which can bind liquids and fats.
  • Leavening – This is pretty much a fancy word for foam. Think meringue!
  • Moisture – Eggs keep your baked goods from drying out and help to extend their life.
  • Flavor – In dishes like casseroles and quiches, the eggs are there for taste.

REASONS YOU MAY NEED AN EGG SUBSTITUTE

  • Allergy – Egg allergies aren't all that uncommon, so if you're cooking for a crowd, it might be safest to skip them! Luckily, thanks to these egg substitute options, you can still enjoy your favorite dishes.
  • Dietary Preferences – Watching your cholesterol? Using an egg substitute can be a big help! Eggs are high in saturated fat, but many of the replacements are not.
  • Out of Eggs – Enough said! If your house is anything like ours, you probably feel like you're always buying eggs.

Pro Tip: You can freeze liquid eggs for up to a year! (We're talking the kind that comes in a carton.) Snag some when they're on sale and have them on hand for egg muffin cups, French toast sticks, and all those other yummy make-ahead breakfasts. Check out our running list of all the things you can freeze.

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR EGGS WHEN BAKING?

cracked eggshells filled with egg substitutes, from Shelf Cooking

There are dozens of ways to swap out other ingredients in place of eggs, but we compiled eight of the most clever replacements, along with a few more you likely already have in your pantry! Score!

UNIQUE EGG SUBSTITUTES

Some of these egg replacements are a little quirky, but we think they're all pretty egg-cellent choices:

  • Ground Flax – It's super easy to create your own “eggs” using just two simple ingredients. Add three tablespoons of water to one tablespoon of flaxseed. Whisk, whisk, whisk until creamy. Then add to your recipe.
  • Tofu – If you're looking for a way to make rich vegan dishes — think custards or quiches — then tofu may be the perfect solution. Just use one-fourth of a cup in place of each egg.
  • Chickpea Brine (Aquafaba)- Word of the day alert! Did you know you can use the water from a can of chickpeas to make an egg-like mixture?! Yup! The bean protein seeps into the water and creates an egg-white-like consistency. So cool! Combine with cream of tartar to make a mean meringue. Peep the deets with this vegan meringue from Loving It Vegan.
  • Chia Seeds – Round up a tablespoon of chia seeds, three tablespoons of water, and stir, stir, stir! Wait five minutes, and you'll end up with a gel that's similar in consistency to an egg. It's almost like magic!

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR EGGS THAT I ALREADY HAVE IN THE PANTRY?

Maybe you don't have chickpea brine at the ready, but we bet you have these ingredients!

  • Vegetable Oil – The oil mimics a leavening agent, which is perfect for baking. For each egg, mix one and one-half tablespoons of oil with an equal amount of water and one tablespoon of baking soda.
  • Banana – Here's a great way to sneak some fruit into your recipes! For every egg, mash up one half of a banana. That's it! It's another kitchen hack perfect for baked goods.
  • Apple Sauce – This is another great way to cut down on the fat and add a dose of fruit. We suggest using unsweetened, so you don't alter the flavor! Just use one-fourth of a cup in place of one egg.
  • Peanut Butter – We can't get over how cool this swap is! You can trade one egg for three tablespoons of creamy peanut butter. This works well for baked goods.

Pro Tip: It's always good to keep your pantry stocked with essentials to make recipe substitutes a breeze. Here's our extensive list of pantry staples! Bookmark it, print it, and use it for your next grocery haul.

7 EGG SUBSTITUTE RECIPES TO TRY

plate of waffles topped with berries, from Shelf Cooking

Ready to put all this egg substitute wizardry into practice? Let's get to baking! We've got seven recipes you need to try:

All of these recipes freeze beautifully! Prep ahead and you'll have yummy dishes ready to reheat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and everything in between.

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR EGGS? 3 STOREBOUGHT OPTIONS

While we encourage you to use what you have to make smart ingredient swaps, we also get that sometimes you just need a quick, convenient fix. If you're looking to buy egg substitute to keep on hand, here a few suggestions.

  • Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer – You can get a twelve-ounce bag of their egg replacement at Target for around $4. This egg swap is made with potato starch, tapioca, flour, and baking soda.
  • Follow Your Heart VeganEgg – Thrive Market sells soy-based faux eggs for $6.99 per 4oz pouch. Elsewhere, they run about $7.99. Fans of this product swear they have the same taste and consistency as real eggs.
  • Orgran No Egg – This vegan “egg” product from Amazon comes in a seven-ounce bag, which sells for $8.99. It's gluten-free, and the equivalent of 66 eggs. Not bad!

Pro Tip: Bob's Red Mill offers coupons on their website, including a 20% off deal. If you sign up for their newsletter, they'll send you coupons and sale info specific to your local stores, too. Sweet!

So what do you think about these egg-centric ideas? Let us know in the comments what your favorite egg substitutes and tips are!

Image with text that reads "10 healthy and clever common egg substitutes" from Shelf Cooking

Looking for more recipe substitutions?

Get crackin' and have an egg-cellent day!