How to Substitute Flax Seed for Eggs in Baking

Flax seed meal can serve as a substitute for eggs or fats in recipes.

If you are looking to adapt a baking recipe to suit a vegan, or if you simply are out of eggs, you can substitute a flax seed product for the eggs. First, you'll need to grind whole flax seeds into a powder that tends to be somewhat oily. The resulting flax seed meal is high in fiber and essential fatty acids. The food has a distinctive nutty taste, so it is a tasty substitute in things like muffins, oatmeal cookies and pancakes.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Coffee grinder or blender
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk

1. Measure 1 tablespoon of flax seed to replace one egg and grind it in a blender or coffee grinder.

2. Add ground flax seed to a small bowl with 3 tablespoons of water and whisk.

3. Allow the mixture to thicken by sitting for two to three minutes before you use it in your recipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Flax seed has heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids that are only digested when ground, so this is also a good way to increase the health benefits in your baked goods.

• You may want to investigate other egg substitutes (like tofu) when baking recipes that aren't complemented by the nutty flax seed flavor.

References

• Flax Council of Canada: Flax Meal