Baked Eggs in Toast is made 4 different ways for an easy substantial oven ready breakfast or brunch in under 20 minutes. Feed your entire crew with a complete hearty breakfast made with cut out crispy buttery toasts and a dippy egg nestled inside. The best part is you can have loads of fun adding all of your favorite toppings and cleanup is a snap!
Table of contents
Baked Eggs in Toast
Have you ever had eggs in toast growing up? If you have, you know how comforting this breakfast is. The bread is crunchy and buttery on the outside and chewy on the inside just like our Panettone Air Fryer French Toast Sticks. When you dip the bread into the soft egg it is silky and creamy. Its simplicity is what makes this a dynamic dish to make on the busy work or school mornings. This healthy egg breakfast will give you the energy needed to tackle your day.
Remember our time growing up, Mom would make eggs in toast the traditional way in a frying pan on top of the cooktop. She could only fit two toasts in a pan at the same time. Either the eggs would get cold, or she could only feed a couple of us at a time. And… There was the clean up! Uggh!
Baking hands down is so much easier than frying and much less clean up. When you BAKE your eggs in a HOLE, you can feed the WHOLE family at once. Everyone can eat together and enjoy this healthy sheet pan breakfast. If you are looking for more delicious ways to feed the crew for breakfast or brunch, be sure to try our DIY Ultimate Bagel Bar Brunch, Stove Top Parmesan Leek Frittata or our Blackberry Lemon Drop Biscuits.
What other egg in a hole names are there?
When we were growing up, grandpa used to call these a “birdie in the nest”. What do you call this recipe? We had way too much fun asking around to find out what people call this iconic breakfast. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments and we will be sure to add it to the list.
| Egg-in-a-hole | Egg-in-a-blanket | Frog-in-the-pond | Mary Jane |
| Egg-with-a-hat | Egg-on-an-island | Gashouse egg | Moon Over Miami eggs |
| Egg-in-a-trashcan | Baby in a buggy | Gaslight egg | One-eyed Susie |
| Egg-in-the-basket | Bird's nest | Goldmine egg | One-eyed Jack |
| Egg-in-a-nest | Birdie in a nest | Hobo toast | One-eyed Pete |
| Egg-in-the-middle | Birdie-in-a-basket | Hocus Pocus egg | One-eye pirate |
| Egg-in-a-cage | Bull's eye | Hole-in-one | Peek-a-boo eggs |
| Egg-in-a-window | Cowboy eggs | Knot-hole eggs | Pirate eye toast |
| Egg-in-a-pocket | Doughnut egg | Lazy-eyed pirate | Toad-in-a-hole |
| Egg-in-a-boat | Fireman's toast | Man in a raft | Toad-in-the-road |
History of Toad in a Hole
Did you know that our American Baked Egg in toast is actually an updated simplified version of the United Kingdom’s (UK) toad in a hole? The UK version has sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding mixture. According to Wikipedia, this dish first appeared in the 1700’s as a peasant dish using inexpensive cuts of meats and mostly the batter as a way of stretching out the groceries and feeding a crew on a budget.
American Version
The American version of Toad in a hole is the iconic egg in the basket or any of the other names listed above. With only 3 ingredients, this magical breakfast is also budget-friendly and even easier to make.
Eggs
Bread
Butter
Served Up 4 Different Ways
Egg, bread and butter are the delicious foundation ingredients for baked eggs in toast. However, we wanted to kick it up a few notches and created four different toppings to make all of your family and friends happy. By all means, these are just topping suggestions.
Get creative! Open up your refrigerator and pantry and see what you have on hand. Recruit the family to put on their own toppings. Pssst! This way they can’t complain. The only restriction is keeping your toppings dry, so your toast does not get soggy. (ie, tomatoes are not the best option)
- Ham and cheese – Little diced up leftover Spiced Cranberry Glazed Ham and some grated cheddar cheese is sublime.
- Feta, Salami and Spinach – is like tasting a bite of the Mediterranean.
- Parmesan Cheese, Tri-colored peppers and Green Onions or other garden-fresh ingredients.
- Parmesan Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers and Italian Spice Seasoning. Make sure you dry your roasted red peppers well before placing them on your baked eggs and toast. This measure prevents your toast from getting soggy.
Main Ingredient Substitutions
The main ingredients are eggs, bread and butter. We have listed a few substitutions in case of allergies or food sensitivities.
Eggs
Organic free range large eggs are fantastic in this sheet pan egg-in-the-hole recipe. If you have any leftover eggs, you may want to want to try our Sauteed Greens Breakfast Salad or our Sautéed Asparagus and Mushrooms with Poached Eggs.
Sunnyside up eggs are difficult to substitute. However, if you are looking for a vegan option, you can try one of the several liquid egg substitutes meant for making a vegan scrambled egg. Add in chopped quick cooking veggies of choice in the beaten egg substitute and pour into the hole in the bread. Then, bake your vegan baked scrambled egg in toast until set. If you looking for more vegan breakfasts be sure to try our Spicy Tofu Scramble, Healthy Vegan Matcha Pancakes or our Spicy Chocolate Chai Pu-erh Chia Pudding.
Butter
If you do not tolerate dairy or are vegan, you can substitute butter with extra virgin olive oil.
Bread
Do you have a gluten sensitivity? No worries, just substitute with your gluten-free bread of choice. We made ours with a plain white bread but very delicious with hearty wheat, rye, thick Texas toast, rustic Italian or even a challah bread. Use what you have on hand. We are all about that.
How to Make Egg in a Hole?
While the oven is preheating, butter one side of your bread with butter or brush on a little olive oil. Place buttered side down on a lined baking sheet. We used parchment paper to line our baking sheet. If you are using aluminum foil to line your pan, be sure to also use a little spray oil as well to prevent sticking.
Cut a hole in the breads. We used a heart shaped cookie cutter. However, you can also use a biscuit cutter or just cut out a square with a knife. Keep those delicious cut out pieces of bread and lay those on the baking sheet with the cutout bread.
Break your eggs one by one in a separate container and pour into the hole of the bread. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add on your fun toppings!
Try our Ham and Cheese, Feta, Salami and Spinach, Parmesan Cheese, Tri-colored peppers and Green Onions, Parmesan Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers and Italian Spice Seasoning or whatever your little heart desires. Spray with a little olive oil spray to facilitate the toasting of the bread.
Bake 6 - 8 minutes depending on how well done you like your eggs. 6 minutes for a nice drippy egg and 8 minutes for a semi-soft egg.
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
At 400 degrees F (204 degrees C), bake eggs in bread for 6 minutes for a nice drippy egg and 8 minutes for a semi -soft egg. The whites of the egg should be set, and the bread should be toasted. Remember that the eggs will continue to cook even after they are removed from the oven.
Eggs in a hole are best served hot out of the oven on the day prepared. However, they can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days. The eggs will no longer be drippy but can be reheated in the oven at 350 degrees F (176 C) for about 10 minutes or on the stove top for a couple minutes on each side, just enough to reheat.
Coffee, Tranquil Lemon Ginger Tea, Quinoa Fruit Salad or even our Ginger Citrus Dragon Fruit Smoothie are a delicious accompaniment to baked eggs in a basket.
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas
Healthy Tex Mex Breakfast Bowls
Top Breakfast and Brunch Ideas
Toasted Almond and Date Lara Bars
Blackberry Lemon Drop Biscuits
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Baked Eggs in Toast
Equipment
- sheet pan or baking pan
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread
- 4 whole eggs
- 2 tablespoon butter
- spray oil as needed
Topping Ideas
Option 1 (Ham & Cheese)
- ham chopped
- cheese grated
Option 2 (Feta, Salami & Spinach)
- feta crumbled
- salami chopped finely
- spinach sliced thin
Option 3 (Parmesan, Roasted Peppers & Italian Seasoning)
- parmesan cheese grated
- roasted red peppers chopped and make sure you dry these well with paper towel.
- Italian seasoning dried or fresh herbs
Option 4 (Parmesan, fresh chopped peppers & Green Onions)
- peppers fresh chopped finely
- parmesan cheese grated
- green onions sliced thinly
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C)
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper. If using aluminum foil, spray with oil to prevent sticking.
- Butter one side of the sliced bread and place on baking sheet butter side down. Repeat with all slices.
- Cut out each bread slice using either a cookie cutter, biscuit cutter or just use a knife to cut out a square. Place your cut out bread (circles, hearts, squares, etc.) and put these on the baking sheet too with the butter side down on the sheet pan. These make delicious dipping toasts.
- One at a time, Gently crack the eggs and place the whole egg ( unbroken) into a separate small bowl. Then, gently pour the egg into the hole of each of the breads. (You never know if there are problems with your eggs so we like to first check them in a bowl before placing them into the bread holes.)
- Add your favorite toppings. Here are some suggestions but have fun with your own ideas. 1) ham and cheese2) Feta, Salami & Spinach3) Parmesan, Roasted Peppers & Italian Seasoning4) Parmesan, fresh chopped peppers & Green Onions
- Light spray or spritz with olive oil spray to facilitate browning. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake eggs in toast uncovered. If you like drippy eggs, cook for about 6 minutes or until the egg whites start to get less wiggly. Then, they are ready to come out of the oven. . If you like soft eggs, bake for 8 minutes. Please note that your eggs will continue to cook, EVEN after you remove them from the oven. If you like you eggs well done then cook 10 minutes or more to your desired level. Personally, we love when you cut into the egg and the yolk is ready to be dipped into.
- Serve baked eggs in toast on a plate with the extra bread toast for dipping and enjoy!
Janet says
Our family in Kansas always called this “egg in a frame”. Very tasty and satisfying.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Janet. Will have to add "egg in a frame" to the list. Stay well and take care
mjskitchen says
Well obviously my egg-in-a-basket is BORING! Sometimes I dust it with red chile (of course), but never dress it up like you do. Well, that's about to change. We usually eat these once a week, so changing things up with some of your variations will be fun. I love all of them! BTW - a friend of mine calls them Winkies. I had never heard that one.
HWC Magazine says
Winkies? We must add this one to the list. We make eggs-in-a-basket very often too. The boys love them. Of course of good kick of red chili is always welcome. Stay well and take care
Ian says
INteresting to see this made this way. Sometimes we make it a bit different with thicker hand cut slices of older bread.
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Ian. If you can get your hands on some thicker heartier bread, that is a great idea. We just used what we had on hand. Maybe you do not have this in the UK, but we have a thicker bread called "Texas toast" and that is perfect for this recipe.
Raul says
I guess from this I can get really creative on what to add. I like the way you used the heart shaped cutout -- pretty cool.
HWC Magazine says
Most certainly, Raul! Add whatever your little heart desires to baked eggs in toast. The options are endless. Stay well and take care
Jake says
Mom used to make this. She called it American toast.
HWC Magazine says
Those childhood memories are always the best. Will have to add American Toast to the list.
Aubry says
So cute. I love the heart. This is an old and easy favorite for the kids. Next time I will get out the cookie cutters and make it a little more creative. Just love this.
Dana says
I love this and make it all the time but it never occurred to me to make it these different ways -- so creative. Thanks for the post
Balvinder says
I love bread and eggs and also (eggs in toast, that's what we call when pan fry). Your birdies in the nest looks adorable and so yummy.
How have I never thought of baking them?
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Balvinder. Baking instead of frying is so much easier, especially if you are making baked eggs in toast for more than one person at a time. Stay well and take care
Ron says
Hi Bobbi, I think we called them eggs in toast and we always had them when camping. But, they never looked (or tasted) as yours look to be. With that said, it's been many years since having them, but I'm liking the Parmesan, Roasted Peppers & Italian Seasoning option.
However, given the choice, I'd go for your DIY Ultimate Bagel Bar Brunch over toast and eggs any day.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Ron. Camp side eggs in toast sounds sublime with some good campfire coffee. Maybe a little of your homemade lox and bagels for brunch next week. Stay well and take care
Michelle | Sift & Simmer says
These are absolutely adorable and such clever ways to serve eggs and toast! Such a fun idea!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Michelle! It's fun too letting everyone create it just the way they like their eggs in a basket, before we pop it in the oven. Take Care
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I haven't made these in forever! Such a fun dish, too. I never knew there were so many different names for this dish -- great job putting that list together. That must have been fun. 🙂 Neat post -- thanks.
HWC Magazine says
Glad we could bring back an oldie but goodie for you John. I am sure we missed a few names that people call this recipe. We still refer to it as a birdie in the nest but there are literally hundreds of different ways to name this iconic classic. Hope you are staying well and wishing you a super weekend.
Hannah Kaminsky says
Oh these are SO cute! I've seen this concept a number of times before, but never done in such a compelling way. I bet I could get the same results from the liquid vegan "egg" products on the market now. I'm just dying to try it, even if I'm only making myself breakfast in bed.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Hannah. You bet, you can make these vegan with one of your favorite vegan egg options. Just mix in the topping of choice and place the egg mixture in the hole. It is more like an omelet in the hole, but it is really good. Have a super weekend.
Ken says
This is a old family favorite -- grandma made these for the kids.
HWC Magazine says
We make these for the kids all the time too. It is one cozy easy breakfast that cooks in less than 5 minutes. Take Care
PAM says
I've been making this for lunch after seeing your post. It works great for an well fried egg too--I can cook the egg well done without overbrowning the edges or becoming rubbery in the microwave.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Glad to hear its a nice snack for the kids. I know that some kids do not like dippy eggs so making them well done works too. Just to jazz it up now and again you can use a cookie cutter shape in the bread to make the hole. Maybe a shamrock or an easter bunny cutout to celebrate some of the holidays around the corner... Take Care, BAM
Yi says
Such a heart-warming dish! I'm going to make it for hubby tomorrow.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Xie Xie Yi! I hope your hubby loves it. Have a great weekend. BAM