This homemade flax egg recipe will change your baking forever. Made with just ground flaxseed and water, this simple vegan-friendly egg substitute is ready in minutes.
For those with food allergies or who eat an exclusively plant-based diet, flax eggs are an excellent substitute for standard chicken eggs in certain baked goods.
While they won’t replace eggs in every application, such as those that require a lot of lift and structural support, it’s a simple, two-ingredient alternative to have on hand when making vegan-friendly treats.
From expert tips to storage advice, here’s how to make a flax egg from scratch.
What is a Flax Egg?
A flax egg is a vegan egg alternative made from ground flax seeds, also known as linseeds, soaked in water.
When a recipe calls for eggs, they serve several different purposes: binding ingredients, leavening, creating a more robust crumb structure, and adding moisture. They also act as an emulsifier, which allows non-mixable components, like oil and water, to combine uniformly throughout a batter.
Flax eggs achieve many of the same purposes, though it’s not as effective at leavening or providing structure. This aspect imposes some restrictions on their use, as does the color of the seeds, to some extent.
Flax releases a gluey gel when soaked because they contain a soluble fiber called mucilage, similar to chia seeds. When left to set, the mucilage rehydrates and thickens the water, creating a gelatinous substance that is similar to egg whites in consistency.
They’re also high in natural oils, which help replace some of the fats in chicken egg yolks.
What Can You Use Flax Eggs For?
Flax eggs are best in simple baking applications, where the egg acts as a binder and provides additional moisture to the recipe, such as:
- Banana bread and zucchini bread
- Muffins
- Cornbread and corn muffins
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- Dense cakes
If you want to limit the color of flax eggs added to your baked goods, use golden flax meal rather than brown flax meal. The natural caramelization of your treats will do a better job of masking the tannish-yellow tint.
Unfortunately, they aren’t a reliable replacement for egg whites in meringues or macarons, as it is challenging to incorporate the amount of air necessary to achieve stiff peaks when whipping.
That’s not to say it’s not possible to replace egg whites in these recipes, but it requires considerable effort, and you may not achieve the results you’re looking for.
For savory recipes that require ground meat, they’re also an excellent binder for meatballs or hamburger patties.
However, flax eggs aren’t a suitable replacement for egg-based dishes like quiche, scrambled eggs, or crepes. These applications rely on an “eggy” taste, which flax eggs don’t have.
How Much Flaxseed is Equal to an Egg?
To replace a single chicken egg in your baking recipes, you’ll need one tablespoon of ground flaxseed and three tablespoons of water.
You can easily scale the recipe to accommodate the number of eggs required by your recipe, using two tablespoons of flax and six tablespoons of water for two eggs, and so on.
Can Flax Eggs Be Whipped?
Flax eggs can be whipped, though not to the extent of chicken egg whites. If you want to experiment with flax eggs in meringues or macaron batter, you’ll need to strain your flax eggs through a very fine mesh sieve to remove the seed hulls.
You’ll also need to use an electric mixture rather than hand-whipping, as the process takes significantly longer.
Quick Tips
- If you only have whole flaxseed, simply grind the seeds in a pestle & mortar or coffee grinder. Pulse until the seeds until they resemble fine meal, similar to almond flour.
- Ensure you combine the flaxseed and water well before leaving to sit. Do not simply layer the water on top!
FAQ
Are Flax Eggs Healthier Than Regular Eggs?
Flax eggs are healthier than regular eggs as they contain more fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also around half the calories of a standard chicken egg.
How Long Do Flax Eggs Last?
Flax eggs last for one week in the refrigerator, so you can make them in bulk if you plan to use them multiple times within the next seven days.
Can You Freeze Flax Eggs?
You can freeze flax eggs and store them in ice cube trays. Most ice cube trays hold 2 tablespoons per section, which means that each flax egg “cube” is equivalent to ½ of an egg.
Easy Homemade Flax Egg
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed (also sold as flaxseed meal)
- 3 tbsp water
Instructions
- Pour the ground flaxseed into a bowl. Add the water and stir well, until fully incorporated.
- Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator. Let the mixture thicken for 15 minutes.
- Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and stir well
- Check the consistency. It should feel similar to egg whites.
- Use the flax eggs in a 1:1 ratio to standard chicken eggs
