Fear not, if you are allergic to eggs or lead a vegan lifestyle, you can still eat brownies. These delicious desserts can still be made using alternatives to eggs.
For instance, yogurt is popularly used as an egg substitute in baking.
If you are looking for a delicious sweet treat, you cannot go wrong with a brownie. They have a deep chocolate flavor that many people find irresistible.
Sadly, some people can miss out on brownies due to allergies, food intolerances, and dietary requirements. As a result, if you want to buy a brownie from a shop or restaurant, you might be unable to find one that suits your needs.
Luckily, there are a few different ingredients that can be swapped with substitutes. This guide aims to answer whether brownies can be made with eggs. If so, how? Plus, we answer what the point of eggs is in baking.
Can You Make Brownies Without Eggs?
Yes, you can make brownies without eggs! While eggs play an important role in the creation of brownies, there are several food substitutes that you can use instead. In fact, the majority of the ingredients can be substituted.
This is great news because it means that you can customize the recipe to suit your dietary needs.
Why Substitute Eggs In Baking?
There are lots of valid reasons why you would want to replace eggs in a recipe. For instance, you might be allergic to eggs. Therefore, you can make yourself ill if you eat foods that contain eggs.
Symptoms of egg allergy include vomiting and rashes when you consume them.
Even if you are not allergic to eggs, you may have an intolerance to them. These intolerances can cause you to experience a wide range of symptoms, namely digestive problems and diarrhea.
You might also want to forego eggs because of ethical reasons. Vegans and some vegetarians refuse to eat eggs. This is because they believe that it is immoral to eat any form of animal product.
Not to mention, many people are discouraged by the unethical practices used to mass produce eggs.
Lots of people have issues with the poor conditions in which hens are kept in, given that they are housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Finally, you may simply want to use an egg substitute because you have run out of eggs. In this situation, you will likely be rummaging through your cupboard or larder to find something that can be used instead of eggs.
Luckily, we have lots of suggestions for you.
What Is The Purpose Of Eggs In Baking?
Many recipes involve eggs, including cakes, tarts, meringues, and flans. The reason why eggs are so widely used is that they fulfill an essential job.
They are rarely used to add to the flavor of the result but instead perform more of a structural role in baked goods.
Here are some of the main uses for eggs in baking:
They bind ingredients: this means that the separate ingredients combine to form one mixture. Without the eggs, the mixture would just be separate ingredients that are unable to join together.
They provide moisture: in the case of cakes and brownies, eggs add some moisture to the ingredients. Without them, these baked goods would be dry and hard to consume. If eggs are not added to a mixture, the result will have a crumbly texture.
They thicken sauces: when eggs are whipped, they become thicker. This is a scientific reaction, which causes the protein in the eggs to alternate from a liquid to a semi-solid state.
The egg whites are particularly good at thickening. This is why meringues are made from egg whites and thickened with an electric whisk. Moreover, in custard, eggs are used to thicken the mixture and make it taste richer.
They act as a leavening agent: a leavening agent is a baking term that refers to ingredients that cause doughs to expand. Eggs, more specifically egg whites, are commonly used as leavening agents.
They make dough puffier mainly when air is beaten into the mixture.
They form a gorgeous glaze: as you likely already know, the appearance of food is important in baking. If something doesn’t look appetizing, you likely won’t want to eat it.
One way of making food look increasingly appealing is to give it a glaze. Before being put in the oven, some foods will be topped with an egg glaze to make them appear more shiny and appealing.
These egg washes can also be used to seal the edges of pastries.
They are akin to glue: a final usage for eggs in baking is as a type of glue. Eggs can be used as glue because they are incredibly sticky ingredients.
Plus, unlike other glues, they do not take very long to dry. Thus, if you need to glue something light when baking, eggs are an excellent choice.
How Can You Make Brownies Without Eggs?
Now that you know that eggs can be substituted in baking, you will need to know which substitutes can be used. The answer is that there are numerous different ingredients that can be used as replacements.
You’ll need to spend some time thinking about which alternative works best for you.
Among the most common substitutes for eggs in brownies are:
Yogurt
Approximately ¼ of a cup of yogurt should be enough to replace an egg. Yogurts are excellent egg replacements because their texture ensures that the brownies remain mist. Furthermore, they add air to the brownie mixture.
Greek yogurt in particular is used. This is because its subtly sour flavor will not alter the taste too much. If you use heavily flavored yogurt, it could impact the taste of the brownie.
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda, is a compound regularly used in baking. Aside from this, it also has multiple uses outside of baking, such as for cleaning and removing odors.
When used in baking, it will cause mixtures to rise and develop a fluffy texture. This is due to a chemical reaction within the mixture.
Thus, if you use baking soda instead of eggs, the mixture will still have the characteristically light texture of a brownie.
Baking soda is often used alongside vinegar. Namely, a teaspoon of baking soda will be mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar. The vinegar will ensure that the mixture is still moist, while the baking soda is used to make the brownies rise.
Flaxseed Or Chia Seeds
These can be used as vegan alternatives to eggs. Flaxseeds are plant-based foods that are high in protein and fiber. Meanwhile, chia seeds are rich sources of omega-3 and fiber. As a result, they can be considered healthy egg substitutes.
You can mix a tablespoon of either chia seeds or flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Give these ingredients a thorough mix before adding them to the brownie batter.
These seeds tend to taste quite nutty and earthy, so you should bear in mind that the flavor of the brownie can be altered. If you don’t mind a hint of nuttiness in your brownies, then you should consider using either chia seeds or flaxseeds.
You can also use this replacement in other cakes.
Carbonated Water
The idea of adding carbonated water to a brownie mixture might sound odd. Luckily, this substitute works brilliantly. As you can imagine, the water ensures that the brownies are moist, preventing them from being overly dry.
This is not the only effect that carbon water has. It also acts as a leavening agent, much like eggs. This is because the carbonated water creates air bubbles, resulting in the batter being light and airy.
¼ of a cup of carbonated water can be used in place of an egg.
Tofu
If you are vegetarian or vegan, then you are likely already familiar with tofu. Interestingly, it can also be a key ingredient in baking.
Tofu is made with soy milk instead of the milk of an animal, meaning that it is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.
Tofu tends to have quite a bland flavor, meaning that it won’t affect the taste of the brownies at all. Instead, the tofu will absorb the rich chocolatey taste of the brownie.
It tends to be quite thick and holds its shape, which will help ensure that the brownie has the ideal texture.
Silken tofu is particularly recommended for baking. You should aim to use ¼ of a cup of tofu for every egg used.
Applesauce
Applesauce is a scrumptiously sweet puree made from apples. You can actually use a variety of pureed fruits in place of eggs. This is because they add some much-needed moisture to the brownie mixture.
The most common puree used is applesauce, because it is sweet without being overwhelming. Ideally, you should use unsweetened applesauce.
Otherwise, you can upset the taste of the batter. If you use sweetened applesauce, you might want to remove some of the sugar to ensure that the mixture is not too sweetened.
As with many egg substitutes, you should use ¼ of a cup of applesauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make Brownies Without Sugar?
Yes, brownies can be made without sugar. They will have a much less sweet flavor than traditional brownies. Consequently, you may want to use a substitute, such as fruit concentrates.
What Happens If You Don’t Put Eggs In A Brownie Mixture?
If you fail to put eggs or a similar replacement in your brownie mixture, it will fail to rise. Instead, it will develop a rather dry and crumbly texture.
17 Delicious Cornbread Combinations For A Sweet And Savory Treat
Cornbread is a great complement to the dish and adds a nice texture. A great cornbread combinations recipe will make your meal even better. It is often eaten with soups, stews, chili, and more various recipes such as barbecue, chicken pot, pork, hotdogs etc.
Hi! My name is Jessica, and I recently decided to set up the site My Baking Heart, as an extension of my love for baking. It is something I have enjoyed since being a young child, when I would bake cookies and cakes with my grandma
Over the years, I have developed my skills and love to try all kinds of baking, from genoise sponges, to peach cobbler, and everything in between. New recipes are so much fun to follow and recreate.
Through this site, I hope to teach others the basics of baking, from how to use certain equipment, to the best types of recipes to follow. My site is a mixture of useful informational content, recipes, and of course, review of the best types of baking equipment.
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