Can you make box brownies without eggs? That’s the question we’ll answer. We’ll have to see which are the best solutions for replacing eggs in box brownies.
To give you the answer right from the beginning, there are two top options to try first: flax egg and applesauce. I will detail the instructions just below.
However, just in case you have neither, I’ll also introduce you to the way in which you can use a baking powder mix in order to make box brownies without eggs.
If you’re interested in another helpful article, check out my post on how long to let brownies cool, a quick and useful guide on how to cut up brownies cleanly.
Moreover, if you are interested in another delicious baked good that you can make without eggs, check out my article on how to substitute eggs in cornbread.
Contents
What Role Eggs Play in Brownies
In order to understand what we can use as a substitute for eggs in making box brownies, we should first talk about what role eggs play in desserts.
Eggs act as a binding agent. For example, in my post on substitutes for xanthan gum, I wrote that egg whites are a substitute. Xanthan gum is another ingredient that has a binding function.
When it comes to brownies, eggs act as an emulsifier, as a binding agent.
They help combine the dry ingredients, act as a binding agent, and offer that creamy texture to the batter.
Egg yolks are also what gives them that rich taste. However, if we add more eggs than the recipe calls for, we will create a cake-like texture, lighter and drier, when we want that chewy, decadent goodness.
I’ll be honest: in my opinion, it’s not an easy thing to replace eggs in any dessert recipe and that goes for box brownies, too.
Still, you can try using either applesauce or flax egg as a replacement and see which tastes better and provides a better texture.
The classic brownies recipe calls for:
- unsalted butter
- bittersweet chocolate chips
- sugar
- eggs
- pure vanilla extract
- unbleached flour
- pinch of salt
Brownie mixes will not contain the same ingredients as the recipe made from scratch calls for. But they can be so fast to make and taste really delicious. This kind of mix can be a blessing for a quick dessert.
1 or 2 eggs, depending on the mix, together with some water and vegetable oil will have to be added to make the mix.
Now, let’s see how we can make box brownies without eggs.
How to Make Box Brownies Without Eggs
When I decided to search for answers to the question can I make box brownies without eggs, I spent a number of hours searching the internet for all kinds of replacements.
Now, let’s see which are those replacements. There are quite a few of them. My recommendation is to start with the least complicated one and then experiment with the others if those are not to your taste.
1. Use Flax Egg
If you want to make brownies without eggs, I recommend first trying to use ground flax seeds instead. Or making flax egg.
What is 1 flax egg?
It’s simply 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir and allow the mix to sit for 5 minutes.
Now, if the recipe calls for 2 eggs, multiply the mix by 2.
I checked out the instructions for some organic brownie mix that is also vegan friendly, just to see what they would recommend.
In their instructions, they recommend mixing together 1/3 cup water and 2 tablespoons ground flax seed and to let that sit for 5 minutes. That is the mix replacing 2 eggs. As you can see, ground flax seeds are a very good recommendation.
Furthermore, that particular manufacturer recommends adding 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup almond butter and 1/3 cup water.
If you make the mix with 2 eggs you only need to add 2 tbsp. water and 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
They changed the ingredients completely for those who won’t add eggs to the mix. I think it’s a good thing to consider and to try out, whatever mix you end up buying.
2. Substitute 1 egg with this Mix
- 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1-1/2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
If the recipe calls for more than 1 egg, just use this mix by multiplying these quantities by the number of eggs the recipe calls for.
Therefore, to substitute two eggs you’ll use: 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons water, and 2 teaspoons baking powder.
This is the easiest replacement for eggs in a brownie mix and most of us have these ingredients in the pantry or in a cupboard every day of the year.
For those who don’t want to buy additional ingredients like flaxseed meal or applesauce, you should just give this one a try.
3. Make Box Brownies Without Eggs: Use Pureed Fruit/Applesauce
On egglesscooking.com, I found these substitutes for 1 egg:
- 1/4 cup pureed fruit – here you can choose between applesauce, mashed bananas, pureed prune
- or 1/4 pureed silken tofu
- or 1/4 use yogurt/buttermilk
There are quite a lot of people who prefer replacing eggs in desserts with applesauce. They use 1/4 cup applesauce to replace one egg.
It’s best to use unsweetened applesauce because the mix already contains the needed sugar.
Besides the flax egg, I think this should be your second option to try as the answer to the question can I make box brownies without eggs but that baking powder mix isn’t to be ignored either.
