• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
That Girl Cooks Healthy
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • FAQ/Disclaimer
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Health guidance
    • My Caribbean
  • My E-book
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
    • FAQ/Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipes
  • Health guidance
  • My E-book
  • ×

    BLANK » Recipe Index » Extras

    How to Make a Flax Egg

    Last Updated January 12, 2023. Published May 16, 2020 By Charla 12 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    • Mix
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    flax egg pin
    Flax egg pin

    Learn how to make this incredibly simple vegan egg substitute using only 2 ingredients which are ground flax seeds and some water. In less than 10 minutes this flax egg will be ready to use for all your baked goods and treats.

    flaxseed with a whisk at the side

    I'm always on the hunt for healthy alternatives in baking, the search just never stops with me.

    However, with that being said I'm so excited to show you how to make a flax egg, it's so easy, cost effective and relatively quick too.

    It wasn't until I started to try my hand at vegan baking that made it apparent just how crucial an egg replacement is. Don't get me wrong you can use banana, applesauce, aquafaba, nut butter etc...

    However sometimes these alternatives can create further barriers for people who suffer from allergies.

    When we bake for instance a sponge cake, we need something that acts as a binding agent and yields structure for the rest of the ingredients to hold together.

    Unfortunately, butter or milk cannot supersede the role of a binder, so what do we do in such a predicament?

    After doing some digging, along with some trial and error this is where my flax egg recipe comes in handy.

    flax egg in a spoon

    What is a flax egg?

    A flax egg is pretty much self explanatory, it's a vegan/egg free substitute to a chicken egg by the wider society in baking and otherwise.

    These animal free eggs are made using flaxseeds which have been ground/milled and mixed together with a small amount of water.

    The mixture is left to sit/rest during that time the flax/water will congeal and resemble a gelatinous texture just like an egg.

    What's so cool about this "egg"?

    • It's simple and easy to make
    • You only need 2 ingredients
    • You can use it in MOST recipes which call for egg(s)
    • It's dirt cheap
    • Great for people who have an egg allergy as well as vegans
    • Any dietary/lifestyle can use this i.e keto, paleo, gluten free, low carb etc...

    Ingredients you will need

    ingredients for flax eggs

    • Flax seed: I used whole flaxseed and simply ground them in my coffee grinder and use accordingly
    • Water: Hot water is best as this will congeal a lot quicker

    The recipe steps

    steps 1-2 milling the flaxseeds

    • Add your whole flaxseed to a spice/coffee grinder (picture 1).
    • Mill the flax into a fine consistency (picture 2).

    steps 3-4 mixing flaxmeal with water

    • Add the hot water to the flaxmeal and stir so it is combined evenly (picture 3 & 4).

    steps 5-6 whisking the eggs

    • Leave to rest for about 5 minutes (you can leave for longer if you wish) during this time the mixture should have turned gelatinous and that is your egg (picture 5 & 6).

    The pros and cons of using a flax egg

    While vegan egg(s) might be hailed as the ultimate egg replacement, it does come with its limitations so keep that in mind;

    The cons

    • You can't use a flax egg to make scramble/fried eggs, omelettes, quiche or frittatas. It just isn't design to work that way.
    • No complex recipes. Don't even think about using your flax egg for sophisticated/complex recipes i.e choux pastry, puff pastry
    • The infamous brownie....the verdict is still 50/50 on this one, so I would be mindful of using it in a brownie recipe.
    • It doesn't hold up well for recipes that call for creaminess i.e pumpkin pie
    • Don't use this in recipes that call for more than  3 eggs this is where things begin to go south with structure and texture being compromised.

    The pros

    Just like most vegan recipes you will most likely need to adapt with your usual applesauce, nut butter and milks etc...

    This is where you can tailor in your flax eggs for recipes such as;

    • Pancakes
    • Muffins
    • Quick Bread
    • Cakes

    Can you use chia seeds instead of flax?

    Both chia seeds and flaxseeds have become a popular choice for vegan, allergies and anyone looking to explore their options and broaden their horizon.

    Due to their glutinous nature of both of these choices when wet, they act as a perfect egg replacement.

    Can you use this recipe to make mayonnaise?

    No, you cannot but do try my vegan mayo recipe instead.

     Flax egg(s) is the equivalent to how many eggs?

    1 flax egg equals the use of 1 large egg

    Can you double, triple etc.. the batch?

    Yes, you can double or triple the amount you need but remember not to use more than 3 eggs for a recipe. 4 or so more doesn't work out very well.

    Can you make a huge bulk batch?

    No, see written above, only make what you need fresh at any given time.

    Can you use milk instead of water?

    Yes, milk should work with no problems just make sure the milk is HOT.

    Notes and tips

    • Hot water. While some people make their eggs" using cold/warm water I highly recommend using HOT water. This congeals a lot quicker and virtually eliminates any waiting time.
    • Only make the amount of flax eggs that you need at any give time.
    • DO NOT quantify in bulk at all.
    • DON'T go over 3 "eggs". Recipes that call for more than 3 vegan eggs need to be revised and adapted with using other ingredients. Keep your usage within a maximum of 3.
    • For best results use for fairly simple recipes i.e cakes, muffins, pancakes etc.. pastries/quiches are a NO NO.
    • It's okay to use brown or golden flaxseed, both work just fine.
    • It's better and more nutritious to use whole flax and mill it using a coffee/spice grinder.
    • Be sure to stir your "egg(s)" before using/adding to a recipe.
    • DON'T use flax flour, only whole flax or flax meal as a secondary option.

    Picking up the egg with a spoon

    Recipes to try

    • Homemade Ginger Syrup
    • Sweet Potato Flour
    • Persimmon Chips
    • Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake
    • Key Lime Pudding
    • Vegan Rice Pudding
    • Apple Crisp

    **Don't forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let's be friends and engage on Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**

    How to Make a Flax Egg

    A simple quick and easy egg replacement called flax eggs for all your vegan needs
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Extras
    Cuisine: American, British
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 53kcal
    Author: Charla

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds
    • 3 tablespoon of hot water

    Instructions

    • Add your whole flaxseed to a spice/coffee grinder.
    • Mill the flax into a fine consistency.
    • Add the hot water to the flaxmeal and stir so it is combined evenly
    • Leave to rest for about 5 minutes (you can leave for longer if you wish) during this time the mixture should have turned gelatinous and that is your egg

    Notes

    • Hot water. While some people make their eggs" using cold/warm water I highly recommend using HOT water. This congeals a lot quicker and virtually eliminates any waiting time.
    • Only make the amount of flax eggs that you need at any give time.
    • DO NOT quantify in bulk at all.
    • DON'T go over 3 "eggs". Recipes that call for more than 3 vegan eggs need to be revised and adapted with using other ingredients. Keep your usage within a maximum of 3.
    • For best results use for fairly simple recipes i.e cakes, muffins, pancakes etc.. pastries/quiches are a NO NO.
    • It's okay to use brown or golden flaxseed, both work just fine.
    • It's better and more nutritious to use whole flax and mill it using a coffee/spice grinder.
    • Be sure to stir your "egg(s)" before using/adding to a recipe.
    • DON'T use flax flour, only whole flax or flax meal as a secondary option.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy!
    « Homemade Ginger Syrup Recipe
    Jamaican Boiled Dumplings (Gluten Free) »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard
    • Mix

    About Charla

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mirlene

      May 17, 2020 at 2:28 am

      5 stars
      WOW! This is pure genius! I can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 17, 2020 at 10:19 am

        You are welcome Mirlene

        Reply
    2. Krissy Allori

      May 17, 2020 at 2:16 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the great guide. I don't always have eggs on hand so this will be great to have on hand.

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 17, 2020 at 10:19 am

        Thanks Krissy

        Reply
    3. Nart at Cooking with Nart

      May 17, 2020 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      Whoa, this is so cool. I never knew it took only two ingredients to make a vegan egg substitute!

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 17, 2020 at 10:20 am

        Thanks Nart. Yup! Only 2 ingredients!!

        Reply
    4. Irina

      May 16, 2020 at 11:33 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for your great guide. I often bake, and to know how to substitute eggs in making vegan desserts is important for me.

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 16, 2020 at 11:35 pm

        You are most welcome Irina

        Reply
    5. Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness

      May 16, 2020 at 10:07 pm

      5 stars
      This is perfect!! I haven't been able to find eggs lately, so I'm definitely going to give this a go. Thanks 🙂

      Reply
      • Charla

        May 16, 2020 at 10:13 pm

        You are welcome Cathleen.

        Reply
    6. Immaculate

      November 30, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      Charla who knew? I have never baked with flax seed as an egg substitute but will soon be. Thanks for sharing !

      Reply
      • Charla

        November 30, 2014 at 5:10 pm

        It was a shock discovery for me but oh so worth it. I hope you have fun exploring flax eggs too Imma.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Greetings

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes. Learn more about me

    JOIN MY MAILING LIST AND BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN I POST EXCLUSIVE HEALTHY RECIPES.

    Featured recipes

    Plate of tofu scramble, green, plantain and avocado

    Vegan Caribbean Breakfast

    cake with decorations

    Jamaican Fruit Cake (Vegan, Gluten Free)

    Guava Juice Recipe

    Escovitch Sauce (Jamaican Pickled Vegetables)

    Dhal Puri Roti (Gluten Free)

    Jamaican curry shrimp

    Jamaican Curry Shrimp

    More

    Featured in

    Top Choice Recipes

    Coconut Yogurt Bowl

    Spice in a jar

    Cajun Seasoning Mix

    cheese board with cut up cheese

    Homemade Vegan Cheddar Cheese

    smoothie with 2 persimmons

    Persimmon Smoothie (Vegan)

    drink with lights around it

    Haitian Cremas (Vegan)

    fritters with dipping sauce

    Crispy Oven Baked Prawn Fritters (Gluten Free)

    Blueberry apple oatmeal (vegan)

    Seasoned cho cho

    Roasted Cho cho (Chayote)

    Footer

    Featured In

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Copyright © 2020