These Bread Basket Baked Eggs transform ordinary dinner rolls into elegant, edible vessels filled with perfectly baked eggs. This charming breakfast creation combines the comfort of warm bread with the simple luxury of a runny yolk, creating an impressive yet surprisingly easy dish. Each bread basket delivers a delightful contrast of textures—crispy buttered edges with a soft interior that soaks up the rich, creamy egg.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect for entertaining—elegant presentation with minimal effort
• Customizable with different herbs and seasonings to suit your taste
• Creates almost no dirty dishes, making cleanup a breeze
• Can be prepped ahead, ideal for busy mornings
• Provides a complete, satisfying meal in one adorable package
• Interactive dining experience with detachable bread tops that serve as dippers

Ingredients

• Dinner Rolls: Use whole grain dinner rolls for a nutritional boost. Look for rolls that are sturdy enough to hold an egg but soft enough to eat easily.
• Eggs: Fresh eggs will give you the best flavor and vibrant yolks. The exact size needed will depend on your rolls.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter if you want to control the salt content more precisely, or salted butter for added flavor.
• Heavy Cream: This creates a silky, rich texture for the eggs. For a lighter option, half-and-half can work too.
• Kosher Salt: The flaky texture of kosher salt makes it perfect for seasoning the tops of the eggs.
• Fresh Ground Black Pepper: Grinding pepper fresh provides more aromatic flavor than pre-ground.
• Fresh Herbs: Choose herbs that complement eggs like dill, thyme, chives, or parsley for a pop of color and flavor.

Variations

Mediterranean Style

Transform these bread basket eggs with Mediterranean flavors by adding crumbled feta cheese, a sprinkle of za’atar, and garnishing with fresh oregano. Consider adding a few sun-dried tomato pieces to the bottom of each basket before adding the egg.

Southwestern Kick

Add a southwestern twist by sprinkling shredded pepper jack cheese and a touch of taco seasoning around the rim before baking. After baking, top with diced avocado, a spoonful of salsa, and cilantro leaves.

Bacon and Cheese Lover’s

Line the hollowed bread baskets with small pieces of cooked bacon before adding the egg. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar or Gruyère cheese before baking, adding extra cheese in the last few minutes for a perfectly melted top.

How to Make the Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Bread Baskets

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with foil or parchment paper. Cut off the top quarter of each dinner roll and set aside for later. Using a small, sharp knife, cut around the inside of each roll, leaving a ¼-inch rim. Cut almost to the bottom without piercing through, then carefully remove the center bread to create a hollow basket.

Step 2: Fortify and Butter the Baskets

Check each basket for holes by holding it up to the light. If you spot any, plug them with small pieces of the removed bread to prevent egg leakage. Brush the rims and outsides of each bread basket generously with melted butter, which will create a deliciously crispy exterior during baking.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Bake

Break an egg into a small bowl first to check for shell fragments, then carefully pour it into a bread basket. Drizzle a teaspoon of heavy cream over each egg and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 18-22 minutes until the egg whites are set but yolks remain slightly runny (adjust time based on your preferred doneness). During the last 5 minutes, add the reserved bread tops to toast them lightly.

Tips for Making the Recipe

• Choose rolls that are proportional to the size of your eggs—larger eggs require larger rolls
• Test-fit an egg in one hollow bread basket before preparing all of them to ensure proper sizing
• If preparing for a crowd, set up an assembly line: cut all tops, hollow all rolls, then add eggs for efficiency
• For perfectly runny yolks, watch closely during the last few minutes of baking—they can set quickly
• Create an indentation in the bottom of each basket to help center the yolk
• For extra flavor, rub the inside of each basket with a cut garlic clove before adding the egg

How to Serve

Serve these bread basket eggs immediately while still warm, garnished with freshly chopped herbs of your choice. Place the toasted tops alongside as edible dippers for the runny yolks. For a complete brunch experience, accompany with fresh seasonal fruit and a small bowl of jam for the bread tops. These individual servings work beautifully on a brunch buffet or for a special family breakfast, allowing each person to season their egg basket according to personal preference.

Make Ahead

These bread basket eggs can be partially prepped in advance to make morning cooking effortless. The night before, hollow out all the bread baskets, brush with butter, place on the baking sheet, and cover with plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, simply remove from the refrigerator while preheating the oven, add the eggs and cream, then bake as directed. The bread baskets may need an extra minute or two of baking time if coming straight from the refrigerator.

FAQs

Can I use different types of bread for this recipe?

Yes! While whole grain dinner rolls provide a hearty base, you can experiment with sourdough rolls, brioche, or even large crusty rolls. Just ensure they’re sturdy enough to hold an egg without leaking.

How do I know when the eggs are perfectly cooked?

For runny yolks, look for set egg whites with a slight jiggle in the center when you gently shake the pan. If you prefer firmer yolks, add 2-3 minutes to the baking time. Remember that eggs continue cooking slightly after removal from the oven.

Can I add cheese to this recipe?

Absolutely! Sprinkle shredded cheese inside the bread basket before adding the egg, or add it on top during the last few minutes of baking for a delicious cheesy crust.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

These are best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be gently reheated in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes. Note that the yolks will continue to set when reheated, so they won’t maintain their runny consistency.

Conclusion

Bread Basket Baked Eggs offer the perfect blend of simplicity and elegance for your next breakfast or brunch. With minimal ingredients and prep time, you can create a dish that looks and tastes like it came from a gourmet café. The versatility of these edible egg cups means you can customize them endlessly to suit any taste preference or occasion. Whether serving them for a special holiday breakfast or an ordinary weekend brunch, these charming bread basket eggs are sure to become a requested favorite in your household.

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