Eggless Christmas Recipes: How to Replace Eggs With Applesauce, Yogurt and More

With Christmas comes the wintry festive season, full of joyous activities and culinary delights. Every year, the subtle aroma of the holiday season fills the air around this time. And when it is Christmas time, baking is at the very heart of the celebrations. However, while the festive delicacies indeed taste delicious, the regular recipes with eggs become a problem for many. While some people prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet, others often have health concerns. Some people avoid eggs due to certain religious and cultural belief systems as well.

Be it a cake, cookie, pie, or brownie, eggs are present in almost every single baked dessert recipe. However, considering dietary restrictions and preferences, the alternative eggless Christmas baking recipes are gaining popularity these days. Whether someone is allergic to eggs or prefers vegetarian desserts, these options can actually be the safer ones to go for.

Yogurt, Applesauce, Cornstarch, And More: How Do The Substitutes Work

The list of egg substitutes features many options. Based on the requirements of the recipe, a combination of these substitutes can be used for optimum results. For example, for moisture and binding, the ideal options are mashed bananas, applesauce, yogurt, curd, and a mixture of flax or chia seeds with water. Beating these substitutes well does the job of eggs by adding liquid, fat, and sticky or gelatinous compounds in a recipe, which hold all the ingredients together and add moisture.

For leavening, a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and baking powder works well. The common ratio of mixing is 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of baking soda per egg. The combination leads to a chemical reaction that releases carbon dioxide gas, which imitates the leavening effect of eggs.

For adding richness to the recipe, silken tofu, mayonnaise, and puréed sweet potato are great options. Whipped cream is another popular option for adding moisture and richness, while condensed milk is a potent binder. For effective thickening, a cornstarch slurry (mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water) is another popular choice.

This year, try the following eggless Christmas baking recipes. The recipes used substitutes like yogurt, cornstarch, flax seeds, whipped cream, and condensed milk to ensure no compromise on taste and texture despite not having eggs.

1. Eggless Christmas Fruit Cake

For the bakers, the Christmas festive season is all about baking delicious cakes. A classic rich fruit cake soaked in a sweet fruit juice is an integral part of the Christmas baking ritual. Traditionally, the Christmas cake recipe mixes soaked dried fruits, nuts, and spices with a classic cake batter. However, in this eggless recipe, yogurt replaces eggs. Here’s the recipe in detail.

Classic Christmas Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, and dates),
• 1 cup of chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1:

Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C. Keep a baking pan ready by lining it with a baking sheet.

Step 2:

Prepare the dry fruit mix by soaking the dried fruits in orange juice for at least a few hours. To prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake, consider adding a little flour to them before soaking.

Step 3:

Use an electric hand mixer to cream the softened butter with brown sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Next, add yogurt and vanilla extract.

Step 4:

Once the wet ingredients are mixed well, add the dry ingredients such as all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Mix all of them to form the cake batter.

Step 5:

Combine the prepared fruit mixture with the cake batter and give it a good mix before pouring it into the prepared baking pan.

Step 6:

Bake it for about 1.5 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top layer is browning too quickly, a piece of parchment paper can be placed on it with a hole in the center for the last 15-20 minutes.

Step 7:

Once it is out of the oven, allow the cake to cool completely in the tin.

Step 8:

Meanwhile, prepare the orange syrup by combining orange juice and sugar in a bowl and then heating it on the stovetop until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Step 9:

Once ready, poke some holes on top of the cake and pour some extra orange syrup all over the cake while it is still warm. Allow the cake to absorb the juice for some time before serving. For garnishing, add some edible Christmas decorations on top.

2. Panettone Tiramisu

Be it Christmas or any other occasion, with its creamy, soft, and smooth texture, a classic tiramisu never fails to win hearts. However, this recipe introduces a Christmassy twist to the traditional recipe. Instead of the classic layer of Italian Ladyfinger biscuits, it includes layers of espresso-soaked panettone. A panettone is a traditional Italian fruit-studded sweet bread. The creamy layer is made with a whipped mixture of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and egg yolks.

Tiramisu blends sweet and bitter flavors perfectly. Here, the bitterness of espresso and cocoa powder is balanced by the sweetness of sugar. Made in 20-25 minutes, the creamy texture of the mascarpone cheese brings in that effortlessly comfortable texture to this classic dessert. With every single serving, the velvety layers instantly melt in the mouth. The dessert is often garnished with a dusting of cocoa powder.

3. Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

Popularly known as ‘Brookies’, this recipe brings the best of cookies and brownies together. It is a mix of chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter. It features a dense, moist bottom layer, while the top is a soft, chewy, and crisp cookie.

For an eggless version, eggs can be replaced by substitutes like yogurt, a flaxseed and water mixture (flax eggs), or a mixture of milk and cornstarch. However, in this recipe, yogurt is used to add moisture and binding. All the other ingredients (flour, milk, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, melted chocolate, unsweetened cocoa powder, and chocolate chips) remain unchanged.

To prepare the layers of the delicious chocolate chip cookies and brownies, place the cookie dough and brownie batter alternately on each other. Once ready, bake them in the preheated oven at 180° for 20 minutes.

4. Eggless Chocolate Cream Pie

A regular chocolate cream pie is a baked pie filled with luscious chocolate cream or custard. And this eggless version tastes equally delicious. Every single bite of this ooey-gooey dessert brings a lot of comfort and joy. Often served with a dollop of whipped cream on top, this can be the star dessert of any celebration.

To make this eggless recipe, start by baking the traditional pastry shell for the crust. It is ideally made from either Graham crackers or a shortcrust pastry, mixed with melted butter and pressed into a pie dish. Next, prepare the creamy filling with melted chocolate, milk, whipped cream, sugar, cornstarch, and butter. Here, the cornstarch and whipped cream replace eggs. Fill up the crust with this layer of creamy fillings. Before serving, add a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream over the cooled filling. For garnishing, one may consider some chocolate shavings and edible Christmas decorations on top.

5. Eggless Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie is one of the most popular winter holiday desserts. The classic fall dessert features a pastry crust filled with a spiced, pumpkin-based custard filling. A typical pumpkin pie recipe includes ingredients like pumpkin puree, eggs, butter, flour, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. However, in this eggless recipe, condensed milk and cornstarch replace eggs for binding, richness, and moisture.

To make this delicious eggless dessert, start by baking the traditional pastry shell for the crust using Graham crackers mixed with melted butter and pressed into a pie dish. Now, prepare the smooth and creamy filling with freshly made pumpkin puree, cinnamon powder, condensed milk, sugar, cornstarch, and butter. Fill up the crust with the creamy fillings and allow it to chill. Once ready, serve it with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Conclusion

This Christmas, make sure the dessert platter has something for everyone. The fun of tasting festive desserts should never depend on having eggs or not. With these eggless Christmas baking recipes, make this year’s celebrations memorable for everyone.