A flax egg is a vegan egg substitute. Made from ground flax seeds and water it helps to bind ingredients together for egg-free baking.
Have you heard of flax eggs before? I know that before I became vegan I had never heard of them.
But once you've baked a few vegan cakes you'll start to see them mentioned.
If you're wondering what on earth flax eggs are then you've come to the right place.
Here I explain what flax eggs are and then tell you how to make them.
Happy vegan baking!
What are flax eggs?
Flax eggs are a vegan egg substitute.
To make flax eggs ground flax seeds (also known as linseeds) are mixed with cold water.
When left to rest for five minutes the ground seeds soak up the water and thicken to form a gloopy paste that can be used to help bind cakes, muffins and other vegan bakes together.
Other vegan egg replacements
The kind of vegan egg replacer that you'll use will depend on the recipe you're making.
Here are some of the most common vegan egg substitutes:
- chia eggs - use ground chia seeds in the same way as ground flax seeds
- aquafaba - the liquid from a tin of chickpeas can be used to make vegan meringue or mousse
- apple puree (applesauce) - can help to hold bakes together
- banana - naturally sticky - mashed banana doesn't usually need any other egg replacer when used for vegan banana bread
- pumpkin purée - works in a similar way to apple puree or banana
- bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) combined with apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice) - this helps egg-free bakes to rise, rather than helps hold them together.
There are other egg replacers such as silken tofu and yoghurt but the ones I've mentioned above are the ones I have had best results with.
Ingredients for flax eggs
You just need two ingredients to make your flax eggs:
- flax seeds (also known as linseeds) - you can buy pre-ground seeds or grind your own
- cold water
As a simple guide 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water is the equivalent to 1 egg.
How to make flax eggs
To grind your flax seeds
1. To make flax eggs you'll need to grind your seeds. I usually find it easier to grind a larger amount and store them in a jar until needed. Place your seeds in a blender.
2. And grind until broken down.
3. If you've ground more seeds than you need to use now transfer to an airtight container and store until you need them.
To make the flax eggs
4. To make two flax eggs place two tablespoons ground flax seeds in a small bowl. (Use one tablespoon flax and two tablespoons water for each flax egg).
5. Add four tablespoons cold water. Mix well and set aside for five minutes to thicken.
If you have made this recipe and loved it please consider leaving a comment and rating below.
Flax eggs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons flax seeds (linseeds)
- 4 tablespoons cold water*
Instructions
- First grind your flax seeds* in a blender or food processor. If you don't have one you can use a hand held blender or a pestle and mortar.
- To make two flax eggs mix 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds with 4 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl
- Stir well and set aside for five minutes to thicken.
- Proceed with the recipe you are following.
Notes
- Many recipes for flax eggs use 1 tablespoon of ground flax to 3 tablespoons of water. I have always got better results with 2 tablespoons. If using chia seeds then I recommend 3 tablespoons.
- If using a large blender you may find it easier to grind a larger quantity of flax seeds and store them in an airtight container until you need them. This is because a small quantity of seeds ends up flying around the blender and not grinding.
- Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.
Nutrition
Pin how to make a flax egg until later
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