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If you have an egg allergy, are vegan, or you simply ran out of eggs, look no further because here are 21 of the best vegan egg wash substitutes! These substitutes create a golden brown exterior for puff pastry, pies, bread, and more. These alternatives can work for breading, as well as binding.ย
I tested 21+ vegan alternatives using my homemade flaky vegan pie crust as the base. Keep on reading to find the best vegan egg wash replacement for your use case!

How are egg washes used?
Traditional egg washes can use the whole egg, the egg whites, or just the egg yolk. There are a few main ways that they are used:
- Brushing + Browning: theyโre used to create the perfect golden brown exterior on baked goods
- Gluing: egg washes can be used to help sugar, sesame seeds, and other toppings stick to the dough and to help seal edges together for frying.
- Breading: egg washes are also used to help create crispy breading. A good example of this is the Panko coating in my vegan cordon bleu recipe.
Why Use An Egg Wash Substitute?
- Egg Allergies: if you’re allergic to eggs, no worries, you can still achieve a beautiful golden brown sheen on your pastry with the following substitutes.
- Vegan or Lacto-Vegetarian: if you’re a vegan baker, whether for ethical, environmental or health reasons, then it’s handy to have a few favorite egg wash substitutes in your repertoire for a variety of applications.
- Out of Eggs: maybe you’ve just run out of eggs, and you need a quick substitution for your recipe. This guide will help you pick the best option for your use case.
Top 3 Favorite Vegan Egg Wash Substitutes
Without further ado, here are 21 vegan egg wash substitutes! Let’s start with the top 3.

I’ve ranked each egg wash substitute based on the following factors out of 10 total points.
The golden brown color has the most points since thatโs the primary use of egg washes in baking. Each egg wash alternative is also ranked based on its shiny finish, how versatile it is (can it be used in both sweet and savory applications), and how accessible the ingredient is.
- Golden Brown Color: 5 total points
- Glossiness: 2 total points
- Versatility: 2 total points
- Accessibility: 1 total points
- Total Possible Points: 10
1. Just Egg + Plant Milk
๐ Rating: 9.5/10 ๐
Just Egg is a vegan alternative for liquid eggs. It’s made from mung beans and looks almost identical to whisked whole eggs. This egg alternative is super handy for a variety of use cases. You can learn more about how to use Just Egg in baking and cooking here.
This is the best egg wash substitute in my 10+ years of being vegan and it performs the closest to a traditional egg wash. It can be used to brown dough, seal edges for frying, and help breading adhere to your recipe.
I gave it 9.5 out of 10 points, with 0.5 points subtracted since Just Egg can be expensive and relatively difficult to find.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 5/5 |
Glossiness | 2/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 0.5/1 |
2. Fruit Preserves
๐ Rating: 9/10 ๐
Fruit preserves, jams, or fruit purees contain sugars that caramelize when baked in the oven. They also add a subtle fruity flavor to your baked goods. If you don’t have apricot jam, you could also try one of these substitutes.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 5/5 |
Glossiness | 2/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
3. Maple Syrup + Plant Milk
๐ Rating: 8.5/10 ๐
A simple 1:1 ratio of maple syrup and plant milk provides a light golden brown color to baked goods. I like using soy milk or oat milk with this option for the best color.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 5/5 |
Glossiness | 1.5/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
Other Egg Wash Substitutes
Below are other egg wash substitutes ranked in order of best performance.
4. Aquafaba
๐ Rating: 8/10 ๐
Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. Drain the liquid and store it in the fridge for when you’re ready to use it. A few tablespoons of aquafaba can make a great egg wash substitute.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
5. Maple Syrup
๐ Rating: 8/10 ๐
Maple syrup by itself (not mixed with plant milk) will also work as a egg wash substitute.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 2/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
6. Agave or Vegan Honey
๐ Rating: 8/10 ๐
Agave syrup or nectar, like maple syrup, is a great option because it’s a liquid sweetener, and it’s easy to apply.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 2/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
7. Coarse Sugar + Plant Milk
๐ Rating: 8/10 ๐
The sugar creates a nice crunchy texture and caramelizes the pastry or bread dough that you apply it to.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 2/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
8. Soy Milk or Other Plant Milks
๐ Rating: 8/10 ๐
The non-dairy milk that performs the best in my experience are soy milk, coconut milk, and oat milk. However, almond milk will also work if you’re in a pinch.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
9. Malt Powder + Water
๐ Rating: 7/10 ๐
Dry malt powder provides a golden, crisp outer crust to baked goods like bread. Be sure to use a vegan friendly version, like Anthony’s Goods Dry Diastatic Malt Powder. Use with a 2:1 ratio of water to powder (so 2 tbsp water mixed with 1 tbsp powder).

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 5/5 |
Glossiness | 0/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 0/1 |
10. Baking Soda Wash
๐ Rating: 7/10 ๐
A baking soda wash is the method used to create the characteristic deep brown color on the exterior of pretzels. Mix 1 tsp of baking soda into 1 tbsp of water.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 4/5 |
Glossiness | 0/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
11. Melted Vegan Butter
๐ Rating: 6 /10 ๐
Melted butter is a substitute that performs slightly better than plain oil. It doesn’t brown as well as other substitutes, but it can be used to help seal edges of pastry, which is why it’s ranked slightly higher on this list.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 3/5 |
Glossiness | 0/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
12. Plain Vegan Yogurt
๐ Rating: 6 /10 ๐
Plain unsweetened vegan yogurt can be brushed on pastry or baked goods.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 3/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 0/1 |
13. Oil
๐ Rating: 6 /10 ๐
Olive oil performs the best at browning, especially for baked goods like pizza crusts. I don’t recommend using vegetable oil or coconut oil if you have olive oil on hand.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 3/5 |
Glossiness | 0/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
14. Vegan Mayo
๐ Rating: 5.5 /10 ๐
Vegan mayonnaise (like Hellman’s Vegan Mayo) is a fantastic egg wash substitute to help hold on to bread crumbs.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 3 /5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 0.5/1 |
15. Molasses
๐ Rating: 5.5 /10 ๐
Molasses is made from pure sugar cane juices and has a dark, amber color.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2.5 /5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
16. Cornstarch Slurry
๐ Rating: 5/10 ๐
Cornstarch mixed with water to create a slurry can be used to help seal pastry edges. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2-3 tablespoons of water.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2/5 |
Glossiness | 0/2 |
Versatility | 2/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
17. Flax Seed
๐ Rating: 4.5/10 ๐
While flax eggs are great for binding baked goods, they fall lower down on the list for egg wash substitutes. If you have no other option, they do create a slight golden brown exterior, however the other options above perform better overall. Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 0.5/1 |
18. Chia Seed
๐ Rating: 4.5/10 ๐
Similar to flax eggs, chia seeds are great for binding baked goods, but they fall lower down on the list for egg wash substitutes. Mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 0.5/1 |
19. Mustard
๐ Rating: 4/10 ๐
Ah, good ol’ mustard. It has a characteristic yellow color which shines through when baked.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 0/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
20. Tahini
๐ Rating: 4/10 ๐
Tahini, or ground sesame paste, is high in fat and is a thick, pourable consistency.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 1/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 1/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
21. BBQ Sauce
๐ Rating: 4/10 ๐
Use your favorite BBQ sauce as an egg wash alternative to help hold onto breading.

Attribute | Rating |
---|---|
Golden Brown Color | 2/5 |
Glossiness | 1/2 |
Versatility | 0/2 |
Accessibility | 1/1 |
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And voila! There you have it. 21 creative vegan egg wash substitutes. See the recipe card below for more details on how to make my top 3 picks!
~ Happy cooking. ~
More Vegan Resources:
- 31 Creative Just Egg Recipes
- 22 Coconut Sugar Substitutes
- 20 Delicious Vegan Biscoff Recipes
- 16 Vegan Egg Substitutes for Baking

The Best Vegan Egg Wash Substitute
Ingredients
Method 1:
- 1 tbsp Just Egg
- 1 tbsp Plant Milk
Method 2:
- 1 tbsp Fruit Preserves, apricot or peach work best for a golden color
Method 3:
- 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Plant Milk
Instructions
- Below are my 3 favorite vegan egg wash substitutes. For the other 18 substitutes see the post above.
METHOD 1
- Mix the Just Egg and plant milk (soy milk or oat milk work best) together in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to apply.1 tbsp Just Egg, 1 tbsp Plant Milk
- Bake according to your recipe. If browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil or a pie shield.
METHOD 2
- Use a pastry brush to apply the fruit preserves. If they are too thick, microwave them for 5 seconds to help loosen them.1 tbsp Fruit Preserves
- Bake according to your recipe. If browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil or a pie shield.
METHOD 3
- Mix the maple syrup and plant milk (soy milk or oat milk work best) together in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to apply.1 tbsp Maple Syrup, 1 tbsp Plant Milk
- Bake according to your recipe. If browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil or a pie shield.

Did You Make This?
Leave a star rating and a comment below to let others know how it turned out for you!
Summary
- Just Egg + Plant Milk: 9.5/10
- Fruit Preserves: 9/10
- Maple Syrup + Plant Milk: 8.5/10
- Aquafaba: 8/10
- Maple Syrup: 8/10
- Agave: 8/10
- Coarse Sugar + Plant Milk: 8/10
- Soy Milk or Other Non-Dairy Milk: 8/10
- Malt Powder + Water: 7/10
- Baking Soda Wash: 7/10
- Melted Vegan Butter: 6/10
- Vegan Yogurt: 6/10
- Oil: 6/10
- Molasses: 5.5/10
- Vegan Mayo: 5.5/10
- Cornstarch Slurry: 5/10
- Flaxseed: 4.5/10
- Chia Seeds: 4.5/10
- Mustard: 4/10
- Tahini: 4/10
- BBQ Sauce: 4/10
Egg Wash Alternative FAQ
Just Egg, plant milk, maple syrup and many other ingredients can be used to substitute egg wash. See the post above for all 21 options.
Yes, oil can be used instead of an egg wash. Olive oil browns better than vegetable oil. For more options see the post above.
Egg wash or one of these substitutes can be applied with a pastry brush.
Thank you so much for this list! I really donโt think Iโve ever read a better one. Well done!
Wow, this was so helpful. Thank you! I’m making pan de agua, an everyday Puerto Rican bread, that for the most part is vegan, but traditionally it’s finished with an egg wash and sometimes hard to find without it I can’t wait to try the just egg/milk combo. Thank you for all the research. Saludos!