Whether you’re egg-free, feeling the effects of increased egg prices, or are just looking for alternatives to switch things up, you’re in the right place! We’ve gathered our top tips for egg-free baking success, plus 40+ egg-free desserts that are similarly fluffy, tender, reliable, and delicious. Find cookies, cakes, muffins, brownies, quick breads, donuts, decadent pancakes, and more!
Guide to Egg-Free Baking
When it comes to egg-free baking success, there are a few things that are helpful to know:
- When deciding which egg substitute to use for a recipe, a great way to start is to think about what the egg is doing for the dish. For cookies, it could just be a binder. If it’s a cake, the egg can be adding moisture, richness, binding, and lift. For a custard, it acts as a thickener. When you identify what exactly you’re looking for in an egg replacer, it makes it easier to choose the right one.
- Flax eggs add a little bit of binding and work especially great in cookies, brownies, and pancakes. A similar option to flaxseed meal is ground chia seeds, but they’re a stronger binder, so you’ll want to use a little less of it.
- Fruit & veggie purées – while flax eggs can also be helpful for quick breads, muffins, and cakes, these baked goods often benefit from having another source of moisture and binding that won’t create a gummy texture. Mashed banana, applesauce, pumpkin purée, and beet purée (when paired with strong flavors like chocolate) can all be helpful in these cases.
- Aquafaba is your best bet if you’re looking to replace egg whites because of its similar whipped texture. It also helps add lift to cakes and will work in meringue-based desserts.
Want to learn more? Scroll down to see our recommendations for each dessert category and also check out our Guide to Egg Substitutes.
Egg-Free Desserts
Cookies
Cookies work well with egg substitutes. Our favorite for a classic, chewy cookie is a flax egg. If you’re looking for a cakier cookie, try applesauce or mashed banana!
Fluffy 1-Bowl Sugar Cookies (Vegan + GF)
Fluffy, perfectly sweet sugar cookies made in 1 bowl! Roll out and cut into shapes or roll into easy circles. Entirely vegan and gluten-free, and perfect for the holidays and beyond!
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Vegan Oatmeal Cookies (GF)
Undetectably vegan and gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookies! Just 30 minutes and simple methods required for perfectly chewy oatmeal cookies. A perfect healthier treat for any time of year!
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Classic Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic chocolate chip cookies made vegan and gluten-free! Chewy on the inside with crisp buttery edges. Just 1 bowl and 8 ingredients required!
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Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Tender, fluffy, vegan pumpkin sugar cookies that require just 1 bowl! Super fluffy, simple preparation, and perfect for fall!
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Fudgy Vegan Brownie Cookies
Insanely fudgy vegan brownie cookies that are tender on the inside, crisp on the outside, and reminiscent of a brownie! Just 10 ingredients required for these naturally sweetened gluten- and grain-free treats!
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Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 Bowl!)
The perfect classic vegan chocolate chip cookie made in 1 bowl! Salty-sweet, buttery, slightly crisp edges, tender center, and gooey chocolate chips. Just 9 ingredients and simple methods required!
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1-Bowl Cowgirl Cookies (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
Chewy, nutty, and perfectly sweet “cowgirl” cookies with walnuts, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips! Undetectably gluten-free and vegan, with just 1 bowl and 20 minutes required!
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Cakes & Cupcakes
Cakes and cupcakes are a little tricky when it comes to getting the right texture without eggs, especially when trying to make them gluten-free! Our go-to? Applesauce! It’s the queen for achieving a moist cake without gumminess. Sometimes we also bring dairy-free yogurt or mashed banana on board for the right texture. If you’re looking for lift in your cake, whipped aquafaba can be helpful!
1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
The most incredible chocolate cake that happens to be vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free. Just 1 bowl and simple methods required for this perfectly tender, moist, delectable chocolate cake that’s perfect for special occasions and beyond.
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1-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake
1-bowl vegan chocolate cake made in less than 1 hour with simple ingredients. A 2-layer buttercream-frosted cake that’s moist, fluffy, and rich with chocolate flavor.
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1-Bowl Chocolate Hazelnut Cake (Vegan + GF)
AMAZING, rich chocolate hazelnut cake made in just 1 bowl! Entirely vegan and gluten-free and so simple to make. Perfect for every day or birthdays and special occasions.
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Vegan Beet Cupcakes
Fudgy vegan cupcakes with pureed roasted beets and a dusting of cocoa powder.
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One Bowl Vegan Funfetti Cupcakes
1-bowl vegan funfetti cupcakes that taste JUST like the real thing! Fluffy, sweet, and loaded with vegan buttercream and sprinkles.
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1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake
A 1-bowl vegan gluten-free vanilla cake that’s perfectly tender, fluffy, and sweet! Delicious frosted or unfrosted and SO easy to make! 10 ingredients and 1 bowl required.
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Easy Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes (Gluten-Free)
Perfectly fluffy vanilla cupcakes that happen to be vegan, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened. Just 1 bowl and 10 ingredients required!
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Lemon Loaf Cake (Vegan/GF)
Fluffy, tender lemon cake made in 1 bowl! Vegan and gluten-free and topped with a stunning 3-ingredient glaze. Perfect for spring and beyond!
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Vegan Strawberry Cake (GF)
Fluffy strawberry cake that’s undetectably vegan and gluten-free! Infused with vibrant strawberry flavor and perfectly sweet. Just 9 ingredients required!
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Muffins
Muffins often benefit from having more than one egg substitute on board. We like to pair a flax egg with mashed banana, pumpkin purée, applesauce, or plenty of almond flour to achieve binding + moisture.
1-Bowl Blackberry Cornmeal Muffins
Simple, 1-Bowl Cornmeal Muffins studded with ripe blackberries. Tender, perfectly sweet, and a delicious snack or side dish for savory entrées.
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1-Bowl Fudgy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Vegan/GF)
The fudgiest plant-based, gluten-free chocolate muffins on the block, made in 1 bowl with wholesome ingredients like almond flour, flaxseed, cocoa powder, bananas, and more!
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1-Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
1-bowl vegan pumpkin muffins with pecan crumble! Tender, flavorful, and naturally sweetened. The perfect fall snack or dessert!
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1-Bowl Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins (Vegan)
Undetectably gluten-free and vegan blueberry muffins made with simple ingredients and just 1 bowl! Fluffy, moist, blueberry-full perfection!
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1-Bowl Vegan Banana Nut Muffins (GF)
Tender, perfectly sweet banana muffins studded with walnuts! Easy to make in just 1 bowl, plus entirely vegan and gluten-free!
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Sweet Potato Almond Butter Muffins
Super moist vegan muffins with sweet potato puree and a spoonful of salted almond butter in every bite. The perfect light breakfast or afternoon snack.
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Fudgy Vegan Double Chocolate Beet Muffins
Fudgy, vegan double chocolate muffins with a secret healthy ingredient: pureed beets! Healthy, easy to make, and satisfies a serious chocolate craving.
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Fluffy Cinnamon Swirl Muffins (Vegan + GF)
Fluffy and tender cinnamon swirl muffins, like perfect little coffee cakes! Undetectably gluten-free and vegan, with just 10 ingredients required!
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Brownies
To achieve the fudgiest texture in brownies, we suggest using a flax egg. Since brownies typically just need a binder, a flax egg achieves this without adding much lift.
Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Brownies
10-ingredient vegan gluten-free brownies that are naturally sweetened, fudgy, rich, and studded with chocolate chips and nuts!
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Vegan Gluten-Free Black Bean Brownies
Black bean brownies (vegan and gluten-free) that require just 1 bowl and about 30 minutes to prepare! Healthy, easy, and delicious – the best kind of dessert.
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Simple Vegan Brownies
Easy vegan brownies made with simple ingredients. Chocolatey, rich and so satisfying.
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Refined-Sugar-Free Turtle Brownies (GF)
Fudgy black bean brownies made in a food processor. Entirely naturally sweetened, swirled with date caramel and pecans. A sneaky vegan, gluten-free dessert.
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Quick Breads
For quick breads, we like using a flax egg to give the mixture a little moisture and bind it together to avoid a crumbly, dry bread. Pumpkin purée, applesauce, and mashed banana also help to keep quick breads moist.
1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Amazing vegan, gluten-free banana bread made in 1 bowl! Wholesome ingredients, naturally sweetened, and so delicious!
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1-Bowl Pumpkin Bread (V + GF)
1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread that’s moist, perfectly spiced and sweet, and seriously simple! Ideal for breakfast, snacking, and fall gatherings.
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Vegan Pumpkin Currant Bread
Healthier vegan pumpkin bread that’s dense, moist, and packed with fall flavor.
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1-Bowl Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Fluffy, tender, insanely delicious Chocolate Zucchini Bread! Made in just 1 bowl, naturally sweetened, SO delicious!
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1 Bowl Nutella Banana Bread (Vegan + GF)
1 Bowl NUTELLA Banana Bread that’s super moist, easy to make, and so flavorful. The vegan Nutella swirl makes it! The perfect vegan, gluten-free snack, breakfast, or dessert.
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The BEST Vegan Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread
Comforting, classic zucchini bread that’s undetectably vegan and gluten-free! Just 1 bowl required for this moist, nutty, subtly-spiced loaf.
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Donuts
Baked donuts have similar properties to muffins. See muffins section for tips.
Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Cider Baked Donuts
Fluffy, apple-cider-infused vegan, gluten-free donuts! Naturally sweetened, about 30 minutes from start to finish, and perfect for fall!
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30-Minute Chocolate Donuts (Vegan / GF)
Fluffy, baked chocolate cake donuts made in 30 minutes! Gluten-free, perfectly sweet, and topped with a simple coconut oil glaze!
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Indulgent Pancakes
Pancakes can sometimes get away with not having a binder thanks to the natural binding qualities of all-purpose flour. When it’s not enough or when you’re making gluten-free pancakes, adding a flax egg is helpful.
Vegan S’mores Pancakes
Fluffy vegan pancakes made with whole wheat flour and bursting with s’mores flavor thanks to graham cracker crumbs, vegan marshmallows, and melty semisweet chocolate.
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Peanut Butter Cup Pancakes (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
Peanut butter cup-inspired pancakes with a chocolate rim and peanut butter center. Vegan, gluten-free, and ooey-gooey delicious.
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Vegan Snickers Pancakes
Fluffy vegan pancakes studded with peanuts and chocolate chips and topped with a homemade vegan caramel sauce.
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Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes 2.0
A new and improved version of our popular chocolate chip oatmeal cookie pancakes, this time made gluten-free, vegan, and requiring just one bowl and 30 minutes!
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Vegan Blueberry Muffin Pancakes
The fluffiest, most flavorful vegan pancakes I have ever made. The best part? They taste just like a blueberry streusel muffin.
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& More!
For desserts like custards and puddings, we find cornstarch, arrowroot starch, and agar agar are the most effective egg replacements. Blended cashews also have some magical properties when it comes to achieving a pudding-like texture.
Easy Vegan Flan (No-Bake!)
Creamy, luxurious vegan flan with salted caramel sauce, no baking required! Surprisingly easy to make with just 7 simple ingredients.
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Vegan Tiramisu Pudding Cups
Creamy, rich vegan pudding infused with the flavors of tiramisu! An easy, decadent, no-bake dessert made with just 7 simple ingredients.
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Easy Vegan Eggnog
Incredibly rich, creamy vegan eggnog that’s easy to make and perfect for the holidays! Naturally sweetened, 6 ingredients, 1 blender required!
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5-Ingredient Vegan Peanut Butter Pudding
Thick and creamy vegan peanut butter pudding made with just 5 ingredients in 1 saucepan! Naturally sweetened, easy to make, and the perfect balance of salty and sweet! Enjoy plain, with chocolate ganache, or as a pie filling!
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Vegan Chai-Spiced Crème Brûlée
Creamy vegan chai-spiced crème brûlée! A decadent, warming, custard-like dessert with a crackly, caramelized top. Simple methods and just 10 ingredients!
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If you try any of these recipes, let us know! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!