Cornbread is one of those foods that warm the heart with thoughts of home-cooked meals and country living. However, when you want to make this time-tested country bread, and you’re short on ingredients, you might ask the same question I did: “Can you make cornbread without eggs?”. Well, my friends, I’m here today to find out!
Even though most cornbread recipes include eggs, some recipes can still guarantee you a delicious meal with no eggs. Therefore, being allergic to eggs or if you are out of them shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the oldest soul food on the continent.
Cornbread is one of the most delicious quickbread folks have enjoyed for centuries. It’s without a doubt one of our family’s favorites. Even as a frequent baker, I also end up realizing I am out of ingredients, and more often, eggs! And I can tell you there is no need to put everything back, but there are options!
So this article will answer the question, “can you make cornbread without eggs?”. I’ll also show you a few recipes for cornbread without eggs that I enjoy.
What Is Cornbread?
Cornbread was initially introduced to settlers in the Southern United States via the Native Americans. The bread has a long and rich history and was initially made using ground cornmeal. The Hopi natives, according to Wikipedia, used cornmeal as a staple part of their diet. They created all sorts of recipes using cornmeal, but cornbread is by far my favorite. It is especially good when you use the tricks of the Seneca and Cherokee to add berries, apples, sunflower seeds, chestnuts, and other ingenious ingredients. They really knew how to spice up their cornbread to make it even tastier (and more nutritious).
As you can well imagine, the different tribes using cornmeal would come up with their own specific recipes and regional variations of cornbread. Although variations exist, one thing is true cornbread has stood the test of time.
Even though you won’t find much cornbread for sale that has chestnuts and other cool treats in it, modern bakers use more modern ingredients including baking powder to help leaven modern cornbread for a lighter and fluffier texture.
Therefore, modern cornbread is slightly different but has the same texture. This quick bread can be either blunt or tasty, thanks to the ingredients you may have to introduce in your recipe. But what makes it stand out is its unique, almost grainy flavor and texture that has remained the same over the last few centuries. Its texture makes it a perfect side dish that you can serve with some meals.
Can You Make Cornbread Without Eggs?
We have all been there, you start to prepare for baking, and you realize you are out of ingredients, in this case eggs. Or you may even have someone allergic to eggs, but you still want to bake cornbread. What you can you do, are there any replacements?
Well, you’re not alone; many people have found themselves with this issue; fortunately, you can bake it without, eggs. Even though eggs play a crucial role in the cornbread, you can get a viable alternative that will still give you great results as eggs. But before we talk about the best substitutes, we need to understand what an egg does to your recipe; after all, it plays an important part in the recipe for centuries.
What Does The Egg Do In Your Cornbread Recipe?
Generally, most baking recipes include eggs; therefore, most of us tend to crack the eggs into our mixture without thinking of their function and benefits. Let us know why eggs are part of most cornbread recipes.
- Binding Agent
Most recipes feature several dry and wet ingredients that will not bind together magically. Therefore, adding the eggs can help create a stretchy batter and tie everything together. After all, when the protein in the egg coagulates, it binds all the ingredients together.
- Leavening Agents
As a leavening agent, the eggs will help add volume to your cornbread and make it seem bigger. The eggs also help trap some air bubbles that expand when heated, creating a fluffy and airy cornbread.
- Moisture
The eggs give the cornbread a fluffy texture that melts perfectly in your mouth. After all, it does contain some liquid that provides the needed moistness while making your cornbread tasty.
- Flavor
Besides adding moisture, the eggs can also improve the taste of your favorite bread, making you satisfied every time you consume it.
- Improve The Appearance
Cornbread have an exceptional brown appearance, but did you know that eggs play a vital role in giving them this unique appearance? When the eggs are introduced into the oven, they start browning immediately.
After going through the above benefits, I’m sure you are wondering how you can bake without eggs and still create a delicious meal. While it’s true that eggs are essential, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get the same results when baking without eggs. After all, the main goal of replacing the eggs is getting a replacement that can do all the above and still give you delicious and fluffy cornbread. Fortunately, several substitutes can do the above and even add more nutrients.
What Are Some Of The Best Egg Substitutes That Can Improve Your Cornbread?
The great news is that there are several egg substitutes that you can try when you run out of eggs or if you’re allergic to them. So before you run to the store for more eggs, you should try the following substitutes:
Applesauce
If you have seen vegan baking recipes, you may have noticed that most of them replace eggs with applesauce. Applesauce is an exceptional binding agent that provides plenty of moisture. And just like eggs, applesauce will also add flavor to your recipe. They can add sweetness like a natural sweetener, but you can also use unsweetened applesauce.
Sweetened applesauce can give your cornbread a hint of cinnamon to make your day. Therefore, you should replace each egg with a quarter cup of applesauce.
Applesauce has done wonders for vegans in baking over the last few years, so it should also do the same for you.
Ground Flax Seeds
Another common egg substitute among vegans is ground flax seeds; most vegans prepare their egg substitute using water and ground flax seeds. To create this, you should mix three tablespoons of water with a tablespoon of the flaxseeds and stir it. Let your mixture settle for about 5 minutes before preparing your dough.
This mixture of fake flaxseed eggs can replace a single egg; therefore, if your recipe calls for more than one egg, you should increase the quantity of the mixture.
The flaxseed egg mixture works just like a normal egg, and as a bonus, it is rich in protein and omega-3 fiber. It will also add a nutty flavor, which makes it ideal for someone baking something with oats or whole grains.
Silken Tofu
Did you know that silken tofu can be this versatile? Well, I’m sure you didn’t know it can replace eggs in your cornbread recipe. Silken tofu has become a key ingredient in most kitchens, including mine. It can replace meat or eggs in any recipe without affecting the taste of the meal.
To use it as a substitute, you should use a quarter cup of Silken tofu for a single egg. Remember, you can double the amount of silken tofu if replacing more eggs. The fact that this ingredient is easy to use and can generate the needed moisture while binding the other ingredients is a bonus.
This ingredient can also give your cornbread the needed protein boost that your body needs to function correctly.
Yogurt
Most of us store yogurt in our fridges, but we have never thought of using it for baking purposes. Think again; your yogurt can perfectly replace eggs when preparing cornbread. But make sure you don’t use flavored yogurt or a product with too much sugar; after all, it can alter the final result. You should use plain Greek yogurt to give your cornbread more nutrients.
But remember, you can replace an egg with a quarter cup of yogurt.
Mayo
Another ingredient that most folks have never tried with cornbread is mayonnaise. Generally, mayonnaise is similar to yogurt, and it can be an exceptional egg substitute in a cornbread recipe. Therefore, you should expect it to give you moist and delicious cornbread every time you use it.
You can replace each egg with ¼ cup of mayonnaise for a perfect cornbread.
Aquafaba
Aquafaba is a viscous starchy liquid that many bakers use to prepare legume seeds like chickpeas. This liquid can mimic some of the functional characteristics of eggs when being cooked; therefore, it can be an excellent replacement for eggs in most recipes. It is a great option for vegans or anyone allergic to eggs.
This fluid may seem like nothing, but it can be a perfect egg substitute for your cornbread recipe. But if you’re worried that your cornbread will taste and smell like beans, fear not, as baking removes all the lingering flavors.
It will produce the same results as eggs while adding some nutrients to your cornbread.
You need three tablespoons to replace a single egg.
Mashed Banana
Another popular egg replacement for baking purposes is mashed bananas, but the only disadvantage of baking with mashed bananas is the cornbread may end up with a mild banana flavor. Other purees like avocado and pumpkin can also work, but they may affect the taste of your cornbread. Another disadvantage is that it may not brown like other egg substitutes.
But they will produce a moist and very dense quick bread. Whichever fruit puree you pick, you can replace ¼ cup of mashed banana with a single egg.
Commercial Egg Replacer
Several reliable commercial egg replacers can do more than improve the quality of your cornbread. These commercial egg replacers are made from leavening agents, tapioca, and potato starch. These commercial replacers are ideal for most baked goodies, and the fact that they don’t affect the flavor of your cornbread is a bonus.
All these commercial egg replacers come with their instructions, but in most cases, you will need to mix three tablespoons of water with 1.5 teaspoons of this powder.
Sour Cream
If you love sour cream, you can use it as an egg substitute for your cornbread recipe. The sour cream can help give your cornbread flavor and texture, but you may have to add baking powder to give your bread a bit more lift. Sour cream can also improve the flavor of your cornbread, making it one of the best-baked products available.
Why Would You Need To Replace Eggs In Your Recipe?
You may need to substitute eggs in your recipe for several reasons. It could be that you have run out of eggs and don’t have time to go to the store. But the most common reasons among most folks are:
- Egg Allergy
Generally, an egg is the second most common food allergy in the United States. Some studies confirmed that 50% of American children have egg allergies by the time they’re three years old. Fortunately, most of them outgrow this allergy by the time they are five years old, and they can start to consume these eggs without worrying about side effects. (source)
Others outgrow this food allergy by age 16, and while most become tolerant with time, some have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Other folks don’t know if they have this allergy until they are in their adulthood, and then they have to deal with the side effects of eating eggs.
- Vegan Diet
Most vegans don’t consume meat, eggs, and dairy products. Most folks avoid them for several reasons, including ethical reasoning, environmental causes, and health purposes. Therefore, their recipe will always be without eggs.
Final Verdict
Cornbread is one of the few meals featured in native American cuisines for centuries; in fact, there are several variations of this quick bread. Fortunately, most recipes include eggs as part of the ingredients, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare it without eggs. After all, several egg substitutes can do the trick, like applesauce, mayo, and yogurt, among others.
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