Substitute for Eggs When Baking

Asked by NushE. Answered on 8th February 2011

Full question

Hi could you please help me! my dad has turend Veg and whenever i make desserts he usually cannot eat them! So i would be really greatful if you could tell me what i could subsittute for egss in a recipe for baking! I've read to use milk but when it comes to measurements everything goes wrong! Please help! im sure this would be useful for a lot of your fans Thanks Nushani

One of my friends is allergic to eggs. There are plenty of egg substitutes around but my friend says they are all fairly awful. Some books recommend using bananas as a substitute in sweets and desserts but I was just wondering whether there is one really good substitute for eggs (preferably natural)? Regards Richard77

Our answer

If you are looking to remove eggs from a baking recipe it is worth bearing in mind that the lower the proportion of egg in a recipe, the more likely you are to get satisfactory results. Eggs can serve different functions, according to the recipe. For example in a sponge cake the egg provides leavening, helping the cake to rise, whilst in a cookie recipe the eggs act as a binder to help hold the ingredients together. Baked goods using egg replacements will tend to be less light and airy than those made with eggs so it is also a good idea to aim for baking recipes which are slightly denser, such as quick breads or brownies.

There are commercial egg replacement powders (such as EnerG) where you mix the powder with water or milk and use as a replacement for eggs. This is a good choice for cookies, cheesecakes and denser cakes such as brownies or yogurt-based cakes. Mashed banana is also a useful substitute for eggs - roughly 1/2 of a large banana per egg - in items such as quick breads (pumpkin bread, banana bread), muffins and some carrot cakes, though you may need to reduce the sugar slightly in the recipe as the banana will add extra sweetness. Apple puree/applesauce can also be used - roughly 4 tablespoons/1/4 cup per egg - and is good for American-style pancakes and muffins.