When it comes to vegan baking, there’s one ingredient swap we’ve made more times than we can count: the flax egg.
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After hundreds of bakes—cakes, cookies, muffins, quick breads—you name it, we’ve learned exactly how to make a flax egg that works every time.
This simple two-ingredient mixture has saved countless recipes in our kitchen, and it’s one of the first tricks we teach anyone new to plant-based baking.
In this post, we’ll walk you through not just how to make a flax egg, but also the tips we’ve learned over years of testing so your baked goods come out just as good—if not better—than the egg-based version.
Jump to:
- What a Flaxseed Egg is NOT
- What a Flax Egg is NOT!
- Should I use Whole or Ground Flaxseeds?
- How To Make A Flax Egg
- Storing Flax Egg and Seeds
- How to Use This Flax Egg Recipe
- Sweet & Savory Recipes to Make Using Flaxseed Egg
- 🥳 Get the Full Recipe
- Flax Egg Substitute Frequently Asked Questions :
- 💬 See What People Are Saying
What a Flaxseed Egg is NOT
A flax egg is an egg replacement that is made with ground flaxseeds and water. When the two ingredients are combined, they form a gel-like consistency that mimics the binding and thickening properties of eggs in recipes.
Simply put: flax eggs are a popular, plant-based alternative to regular eggs.
They are easy to make and require only ONE ingredient besides water: ground flax seeds.
They’re also quite inexpensive in comparison to both eggs and other vegan egg options.
What a Flax Egg is NOT!
Flax eggs are not a substitute for traditional eggs in a scrambled, hardboiled, or over-easy type of situation. They are never going to have an eggy taste or texture. If you are looking for an egg substitute like this, just out our vegan egg substitutes.
This is simply a substitute for eggs when you are baking or need a binder like in a vegan meatloaf recipe.
Should I use Whole or Ground Flaxseeds?
You want to use ground flaxseeds. This will provide the most desirable result.
Whole flaxseeds don’t release enough mucilage (the gel-like substance) to form the desired texture to mimic an egg. When flaxseeds are ground, their outer shell is broken, allowing the liquid to be more easily absorbed.
How To Make A Flax Egg
The flax egg ratio is 1 tablespoon ground flax seed to 2 tablespoon hot water every time. This makes the equivalent to ONE egg.
Step 1: In a small bowl, add ground flaxseeds and hot water.
TIP: Hot water isn’t necessary, but it makes the flax egg thicken faster and without any issues.
Step 2: Stir together with a spoon or small whisk.
Step 3: Allow to sit for 7-10 minutes until you have a jelly like substance and most of the water has evaporated. You can leave this on the counter or place in the fridge while waiting. Your flaxseed egg is now ready to use.
Storing Flax Egg and Seeds
Ground flaxseed can turn rancid is left in the wrong conditions. We recommend using your ground flaxseed within 6 months of opening. To prolong this you can store in the refrigerator in an air tight container or freeze your ground flaxseed. Ground flax seeds typically last about 1 to 3 months at room temperature. In the fridge, ground flax seeds can last for up to 6 months, and in the freezer, they can last for up to 1 year.
When ground flaxseed goes bad it will smell bitter, sour, and overall unpleasant.
Flax eggs are best used when made on demand to ensure freshness and texture. However you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but don’t push it. Beware as it can turn rancid quickly since it has been cracked open and exposed to air. If it smells like oil paint or crayons it has gone bad and should be discarded.
Whole flax seeds are quite shelf-stable compared to ground flax seeds due to their protective outer shell, which helps to preserve their oils and prevent oxidation.If kept in an airtight container and in a cool, dry, and dark place the whole flax seed will last up to 1 year at room temperature. If refrigerated or frozen it can last 2 years.
How to Use This Flax Egg Recipe
It is best to mix up your flax egg before you get started with the rest of your preparations since it takes about 7-10 minutes to set up. This way, it will be ready when you need it.
Here is some recipe inspiration that calls for a flax egg. You can practice all you’ve learned to create some tasty dishes.
Sweet & Savory Recipes to Make Using Flaxseed Egg
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Flaxseed Egg
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (sometimes referred as flaxmeal)
Instructions
- To a small bowl, combine the hot water and ground flaxseed together with a spoon.
- Let the mixture set for 7-10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, your flax egg should have absorbed most or all of the liquid and be ready to use in the recipe of your choosing.
Notes
- We do not recommend using more than 3 flax eggs in a recipe that you may be converting from traditional eggs to this substitute. Something like a pound cake that requires 6 eggs, on average, would not work with 6 flax eggs substituted.
- Gluten Free baking recipes may or may not work with flax eggs since you’re missing both gluten and traditional eggs – both of which have more structural properties that gluten free flour and flax eggs do not.
Nutrition
Flax Egg Substitute Frequently Asked Questions :
The flax egg ratio is 1 tablespoon ground flax seed to 2 tablespoon hot water every time.
You will need 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed plus 2 tablespoon of hot water water stirred together and allowed to thickened to a jelly-like substance for a replacement of 1 egg.
There is no difference between the two. Some brands and/or stores just label them differently.
Whether you mistakenly picked up whole flaxseeds or you were gifted a bag, no worries!
You can use a spice grinder or food processor to create the ground flaxmeal if you didn’t purchase it pre-ground.
It’s available in most major grocery stores in the baking or gluten free flour sections. Although, sometimes stores kept it refrigerated.
Not all stores agree on where to place their ground flax so when in doubt, ask a store associate.
The color of the flaxseed may affect the color of your flax egg. Brown flaxseeds may produce a slightly darker gel, while golden flaxseeds create a lighter one, but this is purely aesthetic.
Both golden and brown flax seeds can be used to make a flax egg, and they will perform similarly in terms of texture and binding. Brown flaxseeds tend to have a slightly stronger, more earthy flavor, while golden flaxseeds have a milder, lighter taste. If you want a more neutral flavor in your flax egg, golden flaxseeds would be a better choice.
Chia seeds offer a similar binding and gelling effect, making them an ideal alternative for those with flaxseed allergies.
Unlike flax eggs, which require grinding the seeds first, chia seeds can be used whole or ground to make the egg substitute. You use chia seeds in the same ratio of ground flaxseed to water.
We hope you have a lot of fun experimenting with flax eggs in your baking and cooking! It’s a great way to create delicious, plant-based recipes. Enjoy the process, and feel free to reach out if you need more tips or ideas.
Tell us how you like to use flax eggs? Did you think it was only for baking? We encourage you to try our vegan dinner ideas that could also utilize this new technique.
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