Perhaps you’ve just run out of the ingredient or wish to do without it for whatever reason. If you need a meringue powder substitute, look no further.
You’ll find meringue powder used in recipes where egg whites must get beaten to make the frostings stable and to form those mountain peaks. Meringue powder can be useful in other baking recipes such as bread, muffins, brownies, or even cookies.
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What is Meringue Powder Substitute?
Meringue powder [1] is itself a substitute for actual meringue. Meringue uses confectioner’s sugar and beaten eggs to make toppings and icing mostly.
Meringue powder is dehydrated egg whites, gum, sugar, cornstarch, and various flavoring agents and stabilizers.
The reason you would use this substitute in place of real meringue is because of the risks that come with using raw eggs in a recipe. Meringue powder is less messy and removes the risk of salmonella poisoning.
Top 10 Meringue Powder Substitutes
While each substitution on this list may not be exactly like meringue powder, it will at least give you similar results.
Remember that some substitutes will add volume and moisture to a recipe, so you might need to scale back a little on dry ingredients to compensate.
1. Powdered Egg Whites
A solid substitute for meringue powder is egg white powder which consists of pasteurized, dried egg whites.
This substitute fits in seamlessly for cookies, baked goods, cakes, meringue, smoothies, icings, and much more. Just remember to rehydrate the egg white with water before adding it to a recipe.
Also, keep in mind that meringue powder uses additives such as stabilizers and sweeteners. Egg white powder should get used at a 1:1 ratio as meringue powder.
2. Egg Whites (Whipped) for Royal Icing
The best meringue powder substitute for royal icing or buttercream is raw egg whites.
You have to separate the yolk from the egg whites and start whipping them thoroughly until you see those signature stiff peaks.
Next, add a stabilizer like cream of tartar or lemon juice. That ingredient helps the peaks stay firm and not collapse.
3. Agar-Agar
Agar powder [2] is a known meringue powder substitute. Derived from algae, agar-agar powder is a vegetable gelatin.
Firstly, mix the same parts of water and agar powder, and let it boil for five minutes. After the mixture sits, whip it until firm.
This meringue powder alternative is great if you have an egg allergy, or you’re vegan or vegetarian. Use a tablespoon of water mixed with a tablespoon of agar powder.
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4. Aquafaba
Aquafaba is a viable substitute for meringue powder. Just drain the liquid from a can of chickpeas and whip it until you see foam start to form. You’ll have to add cream of tartar to stiffen the peaks and as a stabilizer.
For every cup of meringue powder, use 1.5 cups of aquafaba liquid.
5. Flax Seeds
You can find nutritious flax seeds [3] in a lot of sweets, acting as a binder. It’s perfect for muffins, cookies, cakes, and so on.
The seeds develop a texture that’s similar to a gel or jelly once the outer layer touches liquid. To use flax seeds as a meringue powder substitute, add three tablespoons of water to one tablespoon of ground seeds.
Allow it to sit after you’ve mixed it. After 15 minutes you can whip it.
6. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are small, black seeds that have a lot of nutrients. They also have a nice nutty aroma and flavor.
When you soak them in water, chia seeds will form a texture similar to gel. You can then use it to make a mixture thicker or to bind the ingredients together.
Chia seeds can be ground up and used as a meringue powder replacement. Chia seeds might make your dish change colors. To avoid this, you can use white chia seeds instead.
Add two teaspoons of water to one teaspoon of chia seeds.
7. Xanthan Gum
Used as a thickening agent, xanthan gum adds a nice thickness to sauces, dairy products, and even meats. It comes in powder form, mainly made from fermented corn sugars.
This is perfect for vegan recipes as well. Mix one-fourth of a teaspoon of xanthan gum with one-fourth of a teaspoon of water. Allow it to get thicker for several minutes.
8. Gelatin
Gelatin comes from animal collagen in connective tissue, bone, and the skin of cows, pigs, and other animals.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this would be a good substitute for meringue powder.
You can get gelatin in powder form to thicken up your ice cream, yogurts, puddings, pies, and other baked goods.
All you need is three tablespoons of water and one tablespoon of gelatin. The water should be warm. After letting it sit for just a couple of minutes, you can whip the ingredients.
9. Bananas
What is meringue powder substitute that works well in baking? You might be surprised to find that bananas will work in a pinch. You can use them to add moisture instead of using eggs.
You can’t use it to make icing or pie, but it’s excellent for bread and cookies. It has a specific flavor that differs from meringue powder and will add volume to the recipe.
Keep those points in mind when you substitute with mashed bananas.
10. Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder [4] is similar to potato starch. It has a subtle flavor that’s mild and sweet. You can use it in both sweet and savory recipes, and you can even add a little sugar to make it sweeter.
Use one tablespoon of arrowroot powder with two tablespoons of water. Let it sit for around ten minutes, and then start whipping it.
FAQs About Meringue Powder
How to make meringue royal icing with egg whites?
You can easily make royal icing without meringue powder by using egg whites, here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 egg whites
- 4 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
To learn the detailed steps, just watch the video below.
Can meringue powder substitute cream of tartar?
The short answer is no. Meringue powder is usually made of dried egg whites which can be used to create a meringue by mixing with water.
However, cream of tartar is just a stabilizer which is often used in making meringue to keep the eggs from collapsing.
You can’t use meringue powder as a substitute for cream of tartar. They are quite different in functionality and composition.
What’s the best substitute for meringue powder in frosting?
As fresh & pasteurized egg whites has the best foaming capability, it has been marked as the best substitute for meringue powder in frosting.
Conclusion
Remember that meringue powder is a great substitute for meringue, and it doesn’t pose the same risks as a recipe with raw eggs.
All of these meringue powder substitutes will give you that thick, whipped topping that you’re looking for, usually with a similar flavor.
Also, keep in mind that you should use the correct ratios so that you don’t compromise the texture or the flavor of the dish.
