Eggs and dairy
Substitutes for eggs
Eggs bind, lift, add moisture and help things set, often all at once. Each swap below covers one or two of those jobs, which is why they work best in recipes with one or two eggs.
-
Flax egg
- How much
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water for each egg
- How
- Stir and let it sit 10 minutes until it turns gel-like.
- What changes
- Binds well but gives less lift, so bakes are a little denser and flatter, with a mild nutty taste and brown flecks.
- Best in
- Muffins, quick breads, pancakes, oatmeal cookies, brownies, meatballs.
- Skip it for
- Light, tall cakes and anything with three or more eggs.
-
Chia egg
- How much
- 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water for each egg
- How
- Stir, wait 10 minutes. Grind the seeds first if you don't want them to show.
- What changes
- Works like a flax egg: good binding, little lift, slightly denser crumb. Whole seeds stay visible and a bit crunchy.
- Best in
- Muffins, pancakes, cookies, bars.
-
Unsweetened applesauce
- How much
- ¼ cup for each egg
- How
- Add ¼ tsp baking powder per egg replaced to make up some of the lost lift.
- What changes
- Moister and denser, with a soft, slightly gummy crumb if you swap more than one egg. A faint apple sweetness.
- Best in
- Brownies, spice cakes, muffins, quick breads.
-
Mashed ripe banana
- How much
- ¼ cup for each egg
- What changes
- Moist and dense, browns faster, and tastes of banana.
- Best in
- Banana bread, pancakes, muffins, oatmeal bakes.
-
Aquafaba (chickpea can liquid)
- How much
- 3 tbsp for each whole egg, 2 tbsp for each white
- How
- Shake the can, measure the liquid, and whisk it a little before adding. Whipped with a pinch of cream of tartar, it foams like egg whites (it takes longer).
- What changes
- Neutral flavor and decent lift; bakes are a bit more fragile and dry out sooner.
- Best in
- Cookies, cakes, meringues, mousse.
Good to know
- Dishes where eggs are the main event (omelets, quiche, custard, French toast) have no real swap; pick a recipe written to be egg-free.
- Only need a binder for meatballs or meatloaf? 3 tbsp breadcrumbs soaked in 2 tbsp milk, or a flax egg, holds things together.
Simmerbee recipes with eggs (84)
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Air-Fryer Chicken Katsu
- Air-Fryer Orange Chicken
- Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
- Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Bakery-Style Blueberry Streusel Muffins
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cheddar Chive Buttermilk Scones
- Chewy Ginger Molasses Crinkle Cookies
- Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Spiced Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Chicken Cobb Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread
- Chocolate Cupcakes with Fudge Frosting
- Cinnamon Apple Galette
- Classic Baked Beef and Pork Meatballs
- Classic Chicken Pot Pie
- Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Classic Cream Scones
- Classic Creamy Potato Salad with Eggs
- Classic Crispy Potato Latkes
- Classic Double-Crust Apple Pie
- Classic French Crêpes
- Classic Glazed Meatloaf
- Classic Herb Bread Stuffing
- Classic Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
- Classic Meat Sauce Lasagna
On those recipes, tap Swaps next to the ingredient for the short version.
More eggs and dairy swaps
ButterMilkButtermilkHeavy creamHalf-and-halfSour creamYogurt and Greek yogurtCream cheeseParmesanCheddarRicotta
Ingredient guide: Eggs: pick, store and measure