Happy World Egg Day! Yes, you read that right — according to the International Egg Commission (which is a real organization), egg fans around the world have been celebrating the food on the second Friday in October every year since 1996.
According to a press release from the International Egg Commission, eggs are nutritional powerhouses. A good source of protein, iron and vitamins D, A and B12, they can help address nutrient deficiencies, support the immune system and build muscle.
Eggs play a quiet yet prominent role in our society, from Humpty Dumpty to @world_record_egg, which unseated Kylie Jenner’s record for the most-liked Instagram post in 2019. This World Egg Day, celebrate the humble egg with these delicious treats.
Eggs-quisite recipes
1. The Monday Baker: Flan de queso
There are a wide variety of flan recipes out there. Some call for condensed and evaporated milk, while others use only heavy cream. Spanish flan is slightly different from Mexican flan, and there are also versions of flan found in Cuba and the Philippines that add their own spin to the dish. For an autumnal twist, try this pumpkin flan recipe.
I prefer flan de queso, which is an easy, simple recipe that includes cream cheese, evaporated milk, condensed milk and, of course, eggs. You literally stick all the ingredients in a blender and let it do the work for you.
The only part that might pose some difficulty is melting the caramel for the top, but Erica of The Monday Baker does a great job of explaining the method.
2. Omnivore’s Cookbook: Hong Kong egg tarts
The only problem with these tarts is that it’s really, really easy to eat the entire batch at once. The tarts have a crisp pastry crust and are filled with a creamy custard that’s not overly sweet.
Another delicious variation of egg tart is the Portuguese pastéis de nata, which uses puff pastry for the crust and has a caramelized top.
3. Claire Saffitz: Crème brûlée and crème caramel
These two dishes consist of the same custard base but differ in the way sugar is melted to create its topping. These recipes are similar to Spanish flan, but crème brûlée includes a delightful layer of hardened caramelized sugar, so get your blowtorch ready to make it. The best part of eating this dish is getting to crack open that layer with a spoon.
4. smellylunchbox: Mooncakes with salted egg yolk and lotus paste
These beautiful cakes are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Chinese holiday celebrating the harvest season. If you’ve never tried them, you’re seriously missing out.
They come in a variety of flavors (red bean is my favorite), but lotus paste with salted egg yolk is one of the most popular. Lotus paste isn’t used often in Western recipes, but the flavor reminds me of marzipan — sweet and a little nutty. The salted egg yolk may seem out of place in a sweet recipe, but it perfectly balances the sweetness of the lotus paste.
While they may seem daunting to make, this recipe from Susanna of smellylunchbox is complete with step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting for common mistakes.
5. Crazy for Crust: Lemon curd
Any fruit curd will use either whole eggs or egg yolks to create a sweet spread with a soft, jammy consistency. I love making a big batch of this lemon curd in the summer and using it as a filling for cakes or pastries or even this delicious lemon tiramisu.
There’s also a lime variation from the same website that I’m obsessed with.
6. Preppy Kitchen: Meringue cookies
A lot of egg-heavy desserts use only the yolks, but don’t throw out those egg whites! Make meringue, which whips egg whites with sugar until they’re fluffy and stiff. These meringue cookies are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside and make a perfect addition to a cookie tray.
If you want to put a spooky spin on things, pipe your cookies in the shape of ghosts and add mini chocolate chips for eyes and a mouth!
7. Style My Plate: Pavlova
Pavlova is essentially a giant meringue. Its large size means it bakes differently than meringue cookies, giving it a gooey interior. It is traditionally topped with whipped cream and fresh berries, but this recipe mixes things up with a lemon curd cream.
Apart from meringue cookies and pavlova, there are a whole host of meringue-based recipes you can make, such as île flottante, in which the meringue is poached and served in a crème anglaise sauce.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all eggy baked goods — when it comes to eggs, the world is your oyster. Enjoy these recipes and have a happy World Egg Day!