Can you make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes without eggs?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes without eggs?”, and what are the best substitutes for eggs in pancakes?

Can you make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes without eggs?

Yes, you can make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes without eggs. 

Studies indicate that the cake mixes market which was growing at a value of USD 1.43 billion in 2021 is expected to reach the value of USD 2.08 billion by 2029 (1). 

The following vegan variation of Aunt Jemima’s pancakes is made using applesauce as a replacement for the eggs. But you can also work with mashed bananas, chia seeds, flaxseed powder, etc. more on this in the article below.

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup Aunt Jemima original pancake mix
  • ½ cup plant-based milk
  • ⅓ cup apple sauce or mashed banana

Instructions 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk all the ingredients until well-combined and lump-free. Add more milk if the batter seems too thick. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to maximize the fluffiness.
  2. Heat oil in a pan. Then ladle ½ cup of the pancake batter onto the heated pan. Each ½ cup batter yields 1 pancake.
  3. Cook the pancake for about 2-3 minutes or until bubbles emerge from the center of the pancake and the edges start to brown. 
  4. Then flip the pancake and cook the other side for about 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. 
  5. Repeat the process with the rest of the batter.
  6. Stack the pancakes on the serving plate. Drizzle some maple syrup on top. Top off with fresh berries and serve.

What is the purpose of eggs in pancakes?

Eggs perform multiple functions in pancakes. The egg yolk imparts a rich texture to the pancakes while the egg whites make them light and fluffy. The egg is also an excellent ingredient in terms of nutrition. Besides basic nutrients, eggs are also a great source of potential nutraceuticals (3).

The most important function that the eggs perform in pancakes is binding. Eggs ensure that the dry ingredients bind well with the wet ingredients, yielding light, and fluffy pancakes that stay intact after cooking. 

Egg protein is essential in bakery products which has a great influence on the structure of its batter for its appearance and texture. Because of such functional roles, acting as an emulsifier and foaming agent, it would be difficult to reduce or substitute egg in cake completely. Emulsifiers have the ability to bind the ingredients together, create oil in water emulsions and help to entrap air in the batter. Without emulsifiers, the hardness of cakes increases and volume decreases. Some alternative proteins have been used in bakery products, including whey protein concentrate, soy milk, bovine plasma, cowpea protein isolates, kidney bean, field pea and amaranth protein isolates, and white lupine protein (2).

Without the binding agent, the pancakes will be too crumbly and fall apart easily. If you are a vegan, you do not have to worry about crumbly pancakes. Because some plant-based ingredients can perform the same function as eggs in pancakes.

What is a good substitute for eggs in pancakes?

Making egg-free pancakes is not rocket science. The good part is that the egg-free pancakes taste as delicious as the pancakes made with eggs. 

Some of the best substitutes for eggs in pancakes include mashed bananas, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, whipped tofu, applesauce, yogurt, nut butter, and store-bought egg replacers, etc. You can also combine any of the two of the aforementioned egg substitutes to achieve the desired results.

How to make pancakes with nut butter as an egg replacement?

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter (or sunflower butter for nut-free)
  • 1 ¼ cup milk of choice (2%, oat milk or almond milk)

Instructions 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients until well-combined. 
  2. Beat the oil and peanut butter in a small measuring cup. Add this oil and nutter butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Then stir in the milk. 
  3. Whisk everything until homogenous and no lumps appear. 
  4. Heat some coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Then ladle ½ cup of the pancake batter onto the heated pan. Each ½ cup batter yields 1 pancake.
  5. Cook the pancake for about 2-3 minutes or until bubbles emerge from the center of the pancake and the edges start to brown. 
  6. Then flip the pancake and cook the other side for about 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. 
  7. Repeat the process with the rest of the batter.
  8. Stack the pancakes on the serving plate. Drizzle some maple syrup on top. Top off with fresh berries and serve.

Can you substitute baking soda for baking powder in pancakes?

Yes, you can substitute baking soda for baking powder in pancakes. Since baking soda has an alkaline ph, it needs an acidic ingredient to function as a leavening agent. 

You can use a variety of acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, cream of tartar, etc to complement the baking soda. Replace 1 tsp of baking powder with:

  1. ½ teaspoon cream of tartar plus ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  2. Or 1 teaspoon of lemon juice plus a ¼ teaspoon of baking soda

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you make Aunt Jemima’s pancakes without eggs?”, and what are the best substitutes for eggs in pancakes?

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

References

2.-

Khalilian Movahhed, Mohammad, et al. The effect of different emulsifiers on the eggless cake properties containing WPC. J food sci technol, 2016, 53, 3894-3903.  

3.-

Réhault-Godbert, Sophie, Nicolas Guyot, and Yves Nys. The golden egg: nutritional value, bioactivities, and emerging benefits for human health. Nutrients, 2019, 11, 684.