Substitutions

What can I use instead of meringue?

Egg whites beaten with sugar into a stable foam, then baked dry, folded into batters, or piled onto a pie and browned.

What it does in a recipe: A sweetened protein foam that holds its shape and sets crisp or marshmallowy depending on how it is treated. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.

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Eggscategory

Quick answer

Aquafaba meringue

3 egg whites = 1/2 cup aquafaba, whipped with the same weight of sugar the recipe calls for

All substitutes, best first

2 ways to replace meringue

Aquafaba meringue

Reliable
3 egg whites = 1/2 cup aquafaba, whipped with the same weight of sugar the recipe calls for

Chickpea liquid is the only reliable vegan meringue base, foaming and setting through a comparable protein network.

MethodWhip 10 minutes with 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, add the sugar a spoonful at a time, and bake at a lower temperature for longer than an egg meringue — it colours faster.

Trade-offMore prone to weeping and softening in humidity, and it will not hold overnight the way an egg meringue can.

BakingVeganVegetarianGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeNut-freeSoy-free

Whipped cream (as a topping only)

In a pinch
Meringue topping for 1 pie = 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, whipped with 2 tbsp sugar

Where the meringue is simply the crown of a pie rather than a structural component, sweetened whipped cream fills the same role.

Trade-offCannot be browned or baked, and it must stay refrigerated. This changes the dessert rather than substituting within it.

BakingRaw / no-cookVegetarianGluten-freeNut-freeEgg-freeSoy-free

Worth knowing

Meringue is one of the few places where the egg is not really replaceable — it is the entire dish. Aquafaba comes surprisingly close, but expect to accept a softer set.

At a glance

Meringue in summary

CategoryEggs
Job in a recipeA sweetened protein foam that holds its shape and sets crisp or marshmallowy depending on how it is treated
SuitsVegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Soy-free
Swaps available forDairy-freeEgg-freeGluten-freeNut-freeSoy-freeVeganVegetarian
Number of substitutes2

Related

More eggs

Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.