Instead of using eggs, we use flax eggs or chia eggs in baking and cooking. Let us show you how to make a flax egg–it’s so easy! To make one flax “egg”–

1. Put one tablespoon of ground flax seed into a cup or small bowl.
2. Add three tablespoons of water.
3. Set in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

That’s it! The result is a thick, gelatinous mixture that works as a binder in baking and cooking.

We use flax eggs in baking recipes such as muffins, cookies, and cakes. They also work well when preparing veggie burgers and lentil loaf because they help ingredients stick together. (For an example, see our Lentil Loaf recipe by clicking here).

Please note that the picture above with the blue background shows whole flax seeds. This is how they are usually sold. In order to use them for a flax egg, you will need to grind them. We use our Nutri Bullet with the flat blade for this. You could also use a coffee bean grinder. We grind about a cup at a time and keep the ground flax seeds in a jar in the refrigerator. Grinding them also allows your body to digest them properly to reap the benefits of the Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Another options is to use chia seeds instead of ground flax seeds to create an egg replacer:

To make a chia “egg” you can follow the same directions listed above, but you do not need to grind them. When using a chia egg, you will be able to feel the texture of the chia seeds in your food. The flax egg sort of disappears in the recipe–you can’t even tell it’s there when enjoying your food. The chia seeds will provide a little texture and crunch in the final product. Sometimes, that is a good thing. For instance, we find the the added texture works nice in Lentil Loaf and lemon poppy-seed muffins. Other times you want a light, smooth texture in your recipe, such as vanilla cupcakes.

Please note that flax and chia egg replacers work great when you need a binder in a recipe. (They are not meant to replace eggs if you are preparing an omelette or making a meringue, there are other options for those).

There are tons of vegan recipes online that do not use eggs, and they turn out great. Some of them use flax and chia eggs while others use applesauce, more liquid, or a mashed banana such as our Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Get creative and let us know what you find!