What Can You Use to Substitute for Eggs in Brownies?
Eggs are both a structural component and a leavening ingredient in brownies, meaning they bind the ingredients as well as add air to help baked goods rise. Without eggs in your brownies, your recipe may turn out differently, but surprisingly good.
Eggs are both a structural component and a leavening ingredient in brownies, meaning they bind the ingredients as well as add air to help baked goods rise. Without eggs in your brownies, your recipe may turn out differently, but surprisingly good. Depending on whether you like your brownies chewy, gooey, crumbly or chunky, whether you ran out of eggs or eat a vegan diet, there is a substitution for eggs in your brownie recipe.
Yogurt
For gooey, fudgy textured brownies, substitute one egg with one-quarter cup of yogurt. If you have a box of brownie mix on hand, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then combine one-third cup cold water with one-quarter cup plain nonfat yogurt, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix the wet ingredients with a fork, then add them to the brownie mix. Add a quarter cup of nuts, if desired, and pour the mixture into a greased 8-by-8-inch pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
Applesauce, Banana or Pumpkin
Cooks have long-known that applesauce can be used as a tool for reducing the amount of oil needed in recipes, but applesauce and bananas make good substitutes for eggs in baking as well. Swap one egg for one-third cup of applesauce in your brownie recipe. Or, for a densely textured brownie, replace one egg with a half of a small banana that has been well mashed with a fork. Or substitute one egg with one-third cup of cooked pumpkin for a slightly fall-flavored alternative.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is high in omega-3 fatty acids, phytochemicals and fiber, making flaxseed helpful in maintaining digestive health, keeping cholesterol levels healthy and avoiding heart disease. Alternate one egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed simmered in 2 to 3 tablespoons of water, then precede with your brownie recipe as usual. A tablespoon of ground flaxseed per day meets the amount the Institute of Medicine has deemed adequate for adult consumption.
Other Substitutes
Tofu makes a good substitution in recipes that call for many eggs, such as quiches. However, it also can replace one egg when you whip a quarter cup soft tofu in your brownie recipe. Tofu is an inexpensive, healthy protein-rich alternative to animal products. If your brownie recipe calls for three eggs, one 12-ounce can of soda can be used as a substitute. Different varieties of soda will produce slightly different flavored brownies, with dark colas being the least conspicuous.