7 Simple Egg Substitutes You Can Use in Cake Mixes

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Boxed cake mixes are so incredibly convenient. They are quick to put together, fast to bake and give you a fresh, delicious cake that would make anyone’s mouth water. And with a few minor tweaks, you can make them truly unique and delicious!

However, most cake mixes require the addition of eggs in order to make the batter. But what if you do not have eggs on hand? Or perhaps you are following a vegan diet and would like to avoid eggs. Or, maybe you’re just looking for healthy ingredient substitutes.

Don’t worry! You can still make amazing cakes using a box mix even without the eggs. Here are a few perfect ways to replace eggs in a cake mix.

The Function of Eggs in Cake Mix

Before thinking about how to replace the eggs in a cake mix, it is important to know what the purpose of eggs is (make sure to learn about the purpose of other ingredients in cake as well). What exactly do the eggs do when mixed into the batter?

Eggs actually play a lot of important roles in cake, the first being that they add structure. When the eggs bake inside the cake batter, the proteins in the cake coagulate, helping to create the overall structure of the cake.

Not enough eggs and the cake may be too soft and flat (use these tips to make your cake rise higher). Too many eggs and the cake will be tough and chewy.

Eggs also add to the overall flavor of the cake. The yolk of the egg has a good amount of fat which makes the batter taste rich and smooth.

Eggs add moisture as well since they are made primarily of water. This keeps the cake tender as I bake, preventing it from becoming too dry.

Eggs are responsible for adding nutrients to your cake mix as well. They are full of protein and healthy fats along with iron, vitamins and minerals. This definitely helps if you want to consider your cake mix healthy!

Now that you know the purpose of eggs when making a cake mix, you will be able to replace them in a smart and beneficial way, creating a perfect egg-free boxed cake mix.

How to Substitute Eggs in a Cake Mix

1 – Vinegar and Baking Soda

One of the easiest replacements for eggs in a cake mix is a combination of vinegar and baking soda. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of vinegar together in a separate bowl to replace one egg.

This substitute will give your cake batter the volume that eggs usually provide as the chemical reaction of the ingredients will cause the mix to rise.

Vinegar and baking soda will not lend much flavor to your cake but it is a good substitution to use and also two ingredients that you may have on hand already.

2 – Applesauce

To replace one egg in a cake mix, you can simply use ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce. Applesauce will add a nice, smooth flavor to your cake as well as provide moisture to the batter, keeping your cake from drying out as it bakes.

Applesauce can make your cake batter a little more dense but this can be a good thing! When using applesauce as an egg replaces in cake mix, never use more that 1 cup (or replace 4 eggs) with applesauce or your cake may have a rubbery texture.

3 – Plain Yogurt

Yogurt can take the place of eggs in cake mix as it is also full of healthy protein and has a nice smooth texture. Yogurt will not act as a leavener, however, and will cause your cake to be a little more dense.

Be sure to use plain yogurt (or even plain soy yogurt, if you are on a vegan diet), so as not to add more sugar to the cake. A ¼ of a cup of yogurt can be used to replace one egg in your box cake mix recipe.

4 – Tofu

Silken tofu has been a favorite egg replacer for years. It has the protein needed to help stabilize the cake as it bakes and it also has a very subtle taste.

The trick to using tofu as an egg replaces is to blend it first in a blender in order to break it up, making it nice and creamy.

Tofu should only be used to replace a maximum of two eggs per recipe as using more than that will cause your cake to be too dense. ¼ cup pureed, smooth tofu is a perfect substitution for 1 egg.

One more little tip when using tofu is to keep an eye on your cake as it bakes- it will not be as golden brown when baked as a cake made with eggs so you should definitely use a knife or toothpick to test when the cake is done.

5 – Ripe Banana

Just like applesauce, bananas can be used to replace eggs in a cake mix, a nice, mashed, ripe banana is also a great substitute.

Banana will not only help the cake brown but it also adds a nice flavor to your mix in addition to a little bonus nutrition (bananas are full of potassium, vitamin C and can aid in digestion).

A ¼ cup mashed banana (about half a small banana) will replace one egg in your boxed cake mix recipe.

6 – Protein Powder

The protein in eggs is what helps them make the structure of a cake. In order to get protein without using eggs, you can simply use your favorite protein powder.

Mix one tablespoon of protein powder with 3 tablespoons of water to substitute one egg. Add this mix to your cake batter and you will get a delicious, fluffy and golden brown cake!

While unflavored protein powder (like this Isopure Protein on amazon) is best, you can definitely use vanilla, chocolate or any of your favorite powders, just remember this will add flavor to your cake as well!

7 – Flaxseeds

Combine 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons of water and let the mixture sit and thicken. Then, mix it into your cake batter as a replacement for one egg.

Flaxseeds will thicken the batter in a similar manner to eggs but they do add a strong nutty flavor so be aware of this when you chose this substitute.

On the plus side, flaxseeds are super nutritious, full of fiber and protein that will definitely put your cake into the ‘healthy’ category!

As you can see, you definitely do not need eggs when you want to make a boxed cake mix. There are many other great options and substitutions you can use!

So choose one of these perfect egg replacers and give it a try- you’ll never need to use eggs again!

And if you’re feeling adventurous, try out these 16 ways of baking a cake without other common ingredients as well!

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