Overspending on Eggs? Try These 12 Egg Substitutes for Baking
Eggs are expensive. Try these egg substitute ideas to save on groceries.
Egg prices are at an all-time high. Try these egg substitute ideas the next time you bake if you’re looking to cut costs on your food budget.
Since 2020, egg prices have increased 170%! 😳 So while trying egg alternatives may not have been on your bingo card, it may be something worth adding to your meals to save.
These are the best egg substitute options if you’re looking for an egg alternative for baking:
1. Flax Seed Meal
For each egg needed, simply substitute with 1 tablespoon flax seed meal + 3 tablespoons water. Allow the mixture to thicken for a few minutes and then add to your dishes.
Hip Tip: This is a very common method for baking and cooking because the texture really does mimic an egg! Also, this works great as a binder for making these easy parmesan meatballs air fryer.
2. Chia Seeds
Using the same method with chia seeds also works! Simply mix 1 tablespoon chia seeds + 3 tablespoons water to substitute 1 egg. Let the mixture thicken for a few minutes before adding it to your recipe.
Hip Tip: The texture gets nice and gooey using chia seeds making it great for baking, such as in cookies, waffles, and bread.
3. Vinegar & Baking Soda
Mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of vinegar can replace one egg in some recipes. These two ingredients produce a reaction that makes carbon dioxide and water, which can make baked goods light and airy.
Hip Tip: We have used this method when baking cakes and pancakes instead of eggs, and it works great!
4. Greek Yogurt
You can use 1/4 cup of unsweetened Greek yogurt for each egg that needs to be replaced. This is often the method recommended on cake boxes and other baked goods as the best egg alternative for desserts!
5. Creamy Nut Butter
To replace one egg in your baked goods, use 3 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter. Peanut butter and almond butter are both acceptable! Just note that this option will affect the flavor of your dish the most out of all the mentioned substitutes for eggs.
6. Carbonated Water
A 1/4 cup of carbonated water can be used instead of 1 egg for leavening as it adds moisture and air from the bubbles. This also works very well with cake and bread recipes.
7. Bob’s Red Mill’s Egg Replacer
One pack of Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer is equal to 34 eggs, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional eggs. With the rising price of eggs, this plant-based option provides nearly triple the amount for a comparable cost.
Here’s the egg replacement one of our Hip readers recommends:
“Ener G egg baking substitute powder hands down in baked goods bc it retains the rise and texture in most recipes – used it for years for egg allergy. Bob’s Redmill doesn’t quite cut it on the height and things stay pretty dense. And Tru Egg in the fridge section for times you want a liquid sub.” – Angela, Hip reader
8. Aquafaba (liquid from many canned beans)
Aquafaba is the liquid in canned chickpeas, legumes, and beans; you can also preserve Aquafaba after cooking your chickpeas. Many vegans actually use Aquafaba as an egg white replacement, and you’ll use three tablespoons per egg. Considering you likely have some sort of canned bean in your pantry, this option is practically free!
9. Applesauce
Applesauce has a similar texture to beaten eggs, and using 1/4 cup can substitute eggs in almost every recipe. Since applesauce is often sweetened or mixed with other spices, try to opt for an unsweetened option. Priced at under $4, you’re getting a snack and an egg replacement.
10. Bananas (& other puréed fruits)
Certain puréed fruits are another common way to mimic eggs and are probably the most frugal option. Bananas are one of the most popular options; since they will flavor your recipes, opt for pumpkin or avocado if you’re looking for a more subtle egg alternative.
11. Silken Tofu
Tofu’s firmness depends on its water content; silken tofu has greater water content, making it very soft. It adds thickness to your recipes, so you’ll want to add 1/4 cup of silken tofu to recipes like brownies, cakes, and bread. Tofu is also incredibly affordable and another vegan-friendly option!
12. Gelatin
Unflavored gelatin is another handy egg alternative. Simply combine three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of gelatin. This pack of gelatin under $20 has 32 tablespoons, which makes each “egg” serving about 55 cents.
Vegan or vegetarian? Opt for agar-agar.
Which egg replacer is right for you?
You may need to do a bit more experimenting when using egg substitutes, but it definitely can be done. Through trial and tribulation, you’ll be able to develop a preference for which substitute is best for whatever you’re making. On top of helping out those with egg allergies and sensitivities, we hope these options offer you a way to save money and cut back on the cost of eggs.
Still using eggs? Try the egg water test to see if they’re still fresh!
To check if an egg is fresh, try the egg water test. Simply place your egg in a bowl of cold water. This works because eggs become more porous over time, letting in air that eventually makes them float.
- Sinks to the bottom: it’s fresh.
- Stands upright: it’s still safe but not as fresh.
- Floats: it’s too old to eat.
For extra confirmation, you can also do a sniff test (bad eggs smell sulfurous) or shake the egg and if it sloshes, it’s likely too old.
Can you freeze milk, dairy, eggs, and more? You sure can. 😏
Oh my goodness, this is absolutely awesome information…!! Thank you Hipsterz….!!!!!!! Wowwowowowo, I just bought two dozen at Aldi in Port St. Lucie Florida last night, $4.19 a dozen…! 🙄🙄😳😳
You’re SO welcome!! Happy this is so helpful! 💞🙌 Thanks for letting us know the price of eggs at your Aldi.
I was allergic to eggs for many years and never found a substitute to use in brownies. The butter will come to the surface and not reabsorb. You can just leave eggs out of meatloaf and you won’t miss them. I have been extending scrambled eggs with liquid egg whites. I am considering the cost of the ingredients and deciding if I want to take a chance on something not turning out. Today I made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies and after considering the two bags of chocolate chips and the butter I thought it was worth using four eggs to be sure they turned out and did not end up in the trash.
Hi Lana! Yes, taking the overall cost into consideration before trying substitutes is great advice. Thanks for sharing your honest feedback on what has worked for you. 💞
I was recently diagnosed with an egg allergy among several others. My favorite and best substitute I have found is the bottle of Simply Eggless. I buy it from Trader Joe’s, but I read that it may also be available at Super Target. I’ve used it very successfully with baking many things, most specifically Gluten Free recipes.
So sorry to hear about your allergies, Stephanie. Glad you were able to find a substitute you love. Thanks for sharing about Simply Eggless. 🤗💗
Have been using ground flax seed as an egg substitute for years in baked goods. Also applesauce as a substitute for oil. Works great. Thanks for several of the other subs! Hip2save is the best!
You’re very welcome, Irene! Glad to share the substitutes.💞
I love H2S! Thanks for great post!
How sweet! Thanks for the kind comment! We truly appreciate YOU! 💞🥰 Glad you’re loving this post!
Ener G egg baking substitute powder hands down in baked goods bc it retains the rise and texture in most recipes – used it for years for egg allergy. Bobs Redmill doesn’t quite cut it on the height annd things stay pretty dense. And Tru Egg in the fridge section for times you want a liquid sub.
Thanks for letting us know what substitutes you’ve tried and how they’ve worked out for you, Angela! 💞🙌
Yes Ms. Angela. Ener G egg baking sub powder is awesome!!! For the holidays, I use it to make allergy-free sweet potato pies (along with Country Crock plant-based butter, rice or soy milk, and Wholly Wholesome pie crust). For some recipes, I use a handheld frother to whip the powder/warm water combination into a foam – works so much better. I plan to try the other egg subs listed here. I’ve heard good things about the aquafaba liquid. Thanks so much.
Is there a printable version of this list? it’s great information, thank you!
Yes! You can print out this list when clicking through the print option at the bottom of the post. ❤️🥰
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. My neighbor has a sign out where she is selling eggs and I called her to see how much she was charging. She said for you they are free. Check your neighbors and see if they are selling eggs. Can’t hurt. I am going to try some of these methods and see how they work. I have been using applesauce instead of oil for decades.
Woohoo! Free eggs are awesome!! You’re so welcome, Patricia! Great idea to check with neighbors.🙌🎉
I use chickpea flour as a replacer when the purpose is protein and structure. 1/4 chickpea flour to equal amount of water equals 1 egg. Also, combining some of these works better. i.e. combine flax or chia with applesauce. (I have been egg free for 9 years)
1/4 cup* sorry
Sweet! Thanks, Ginelle!🤗 We sure appreciate you sharing your tips and egg replacer!💕
Recently I was making a birthday cake for my dogs and needed to replace the eggs to make it lower in fat for them. My daughter read online that pumpkin puree could replace eggs in humannrecipes. We used pumpkin puree instead of the eggs and the cake tasted great and it was not orange colored at all. (Yes we ate some too!) We all loved it! I know dogs can have eggs and we do feed our dogs eggs but we were trying not to add too much to this treat to avoid upset tummies! We have a few that can be sensitive! Pumpkin helps with that so that is another reason to use it instead of eggs in their treat! We were using a cake mix and making it in a bone shaped pan.
After doing this for them, I would do it for the humans here too!
That’s so sweet, Eva! 🥰 Love that you went the extra mile to make a special cake for your pups—and so cool that the pumpkin puree worked as an egg substitute! Even better that it was a hit with both humans and dogs! Such a great tip for sensitive tummies too. Thanks for sharing! ❤️🎂
If you still want real eggs and have Trader Joe’s nearby I’m finding them there for 3.49
The organic and regular eggs at Costco in Wharton and Wayne, NJ have been 8.99 for a 24-pack cartoon.