75+ Dessert recipes to use up extra eggs (2024)

FAQs

What can I make that uses lots of eggs? ›

What to do with a bunch of eggs about to expire? Freeze them, use them in recipes, hard boil them for quick snacks or lunches, pickle them. Just use them up before they go bad.

When eggs are balanced with liquids and fats like water, oil, and butter, they ensure that your cake doesn't turn into a soupy mess, but adding too many of them adds too much structure, leaving you with a cake that's rubbery and dense.

Even though refrigerated eggs stay fresh for several weeks beyond their sell-by or expiration date, they don't last forever. So use the surplus eggs for something practical, like whipping up a drool-worthy frittata for your next breakfast or baking a cake for your upcoming neighborhood potluck.

Yes, you can freeze eggs. Eggs can be frozen for up to a year, although it is recommended to use them within 4 months for freshness. Many people find themselves being left with spare egg whites or yolks after a recipe requiring just one or the other, or even throwing out unused eggs when the box hits its expiry date.

If you're baking, older eggs are fine to use, unless you're whipping egg whites for volume for meringues, macarons, or soufflés; that's when a fresher egg—and “tight” vs. runny whites—are key, Makuch says. Older eggs are also good for scrambling, hard-boiling, or deviling, Makuch says.

"Those expiration dates are on some egg cartons to make sure that retailers don't keep eggs on shelves past a certain date," Maloberti says. "However, eggs can be safely eaten two to three weeks past that date. Depending on where [you live], the expiration date may be labeled as Sell By, Use By, Exp.

Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.

A cookie made with extra egg yolk (or, in this case, only egg yolk), will be lighter and chewier than a cookie made with whole eggs. The cookies will also have a richer flavor thanks to the added fat in egg yolk.

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What happens if you add an extra egg to cheesecake? ›

Adding richness and a smooth texture, the proteins in the eggs set up during the gentle baking process, solidifying the dense network of dairy and sugar into a sliceable whole. Too many eggs will create a cracked and sunken cheesecake with an overly firm texture. Too few eggs and the cheesecake won't set well.

Freezing Egg Yolks

Like egg whites, they can be frozen individually in ice cube trays, then moved to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for storage. They'll also need to be thawed overnight in the refrigerator before using. Use them right after they are thawed in any recipe that calls for them.

Eggs should be kept in their original container and in the refrigerator. In cooking and baking there are five main functions of an egg. They bind, thicken, coat, serve as a leavening agent, and emulsify. Egg whites can be whipped to create an egg white foam.

Information. Eggs may be refrigerated three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the refrigerator. The "Sell-By" date will usually expire during that length of time, but the eggs will be perfectly safe to use. Always purchase eggs before the "Sell-By" or EXP (expiration) date on the carton.

If you do a lot of baking, then freezing, dehydrating, or water glassing the eggs are all good routes. If you want to preserve fresh eggs for eating, then oiling, pickling, or salting may be your best options.