How to Make a Dippy Egg (aka Egg in a Basket)
food, Fun February 27th, 2011I participated in a Tribal Blogs chat last night and the subject of eggs came up. I explained how much I liked to make dippy eggs and only one other person knew what the hell I was talking about.
You may call them something else, like an egg in a basket or egg in a hole. If you’re sick of your eggs scrambled or in an omelette, here’s a funner way to make ‘em next time.
Kathy’s Dippy Egg
Step 1: Press out a hole in one slice of bread. I use a glass, some people use jar lids. Hold aside the bread you cut out, or if your pan’s big enough, throw it in to get toasted, too.
Step 2: Heat a frying pan to medium-high heat. Toss in a pat of butter (or more, the butterier, the better!)
Step 3: When the butter sizzles, toss in the bread to soak up the butter.
Step 4: Crack an egg and deposit it in the hole.
Step 5: Let it fry for a minute or two, until the egg white starts to solidify. Meanwhile, toast another slice of bread. I like extra buttered toast with my eggs.
Step 6: Carefully flip the bread/egg to “seal” the top side of your masterpiece. Allow it to fry for about a minute.
If the yolk breaks, you’re screwed and you should just start over. Feed your mistake to the dog.
Step 7: Butter the first slice of toast and place on a plate.
Step 8: Carefully scoop out the dippy egg without breaking the yolk, and flip over on top of the other slice of buttered toast bread.
I did a quick Google search on dippy eggs, and one woman said she wishes she knew what to do with the cutout. Well, duh. You dip it!
Step 9: Cut up pieces all around the egg, as well as the buttery toast underneath and dip into the egg for a savory, delicious breakfast. Bacon optional.
And there you have it. Kathy’s Dippy Egg!
Have you ever made these? What do you call them?
Stumble it!






February 27th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
I never had a name for them, because I’ve never made one, but I always want one when I watch ‘Moonstruck’ because at the end of the movie Olympia Dukakis is making breakfast and she makes these with a slice of italian bread (yum) and a couple of roasted red peppers (double yum) fried in a cast iron skillet (the best thing to ever happen to eggs since bacon).
As for that sad business you are calling ‘bread’, I only hope that was strictly for demonstrative purposes.
Shieldmaiden1196´s last [type] ..My Mixed Marriage
February 27th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
My grandmother used to make these for me. She used Italian bread too. She called them Eggs in a Nest!
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie´s last [type] ..Easy Like Sunday with Ellie
February 27th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
I used to make something similar from a cookbook my mother got when she was first married. Cut an egg-sized hole halfway through an English muffin or a whole hamburger bun, put in a bit of butter and then a raw egg. Bake in the toaster oven just long enough at just the right temperature (sorry — if you really need to know specifics email me and I’ll get the cookbook from my mom) and top with a slice of American or cheddar cheese. I can’t remember what it was called but I know it was something silly like Egg and Cheese Bunny.
feefifoto´s last [type] ..Guess What Its International Polar Bear Day
February 27th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I don’t do the “in a hole” egg but love sunny side up eggs and it’s the only way PP will eat them. I make the egg and put on top ob buttered toast with cheese. Yours looks more fun.
Rachele´s last [type] ..2008 Brancott South Island Pinot Noir
February 27th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Oh yes, it was in the movie, ‘Moonstruck’ when I first saw these made.
It’s my favourite way to have eggs – but I haven’t yet mastered ‘Step 6′ ! The bread keeps sticking to the pan.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Bacon is NEVER optional! Come on, Kathy.
P.S. I call it a “nester.”
J. Bear Savo´s last [type] ..Career Day
February 27th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
My Mommeh made that in Junior High Home Economics! Too bad she hasn’t made it since then. On account of you can’t make it in a microwave.
Daisy the Curly Cat´s last [type] ..Queen for a Day!
February 27th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Who are you and what have you don’t with Kathy?
Bacon optional, indeed!
flit´s last [type] ..Required Viewing
February 27th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Ack! why can’t I delete that mess …I demand a do-over, dammit!
Too freaking stressed to be functional today … God, if I can’t even write a blog comment without grammar mistakes how am I EVER going to pull 3 essays out of **** today
I think I shall go cry now.
flit´s last [type] ..Required Viewing
February 27th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Kathy, you are very brave, posting cooking photos. Even if what I’m cooking turns out perfectly, I always manage to make a huge mess in the process. Yours looks very neat and tidy.
absepa´s last [type] ..I think the Fat Fairy and Mr Snarkypants are in cahoots
February 27th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I’ve never had an egg cooked that way. Then I don’t often eat eggs. I can eat an egg one day and enjoy it, and the next time I eat one it can make me feel nauseous.
My favourite is a fried egg sandwich, when I can eat it!
Babs (beetle)´s last [type] ..Why are the British so reserved
February 27th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I have never seen this before. Why have I never seen this? I feel so ripped off now. Thank you sharing this. As soon as I’m eating bread again, this will be the first thing on my list of thing to eat to gain back all the weight I lost. Sorry I missed the slumber party last night.
Margaret (Nanny Goats)´s last [type] ..I’m Hosting a Live-Blog Oscar Party Chat Today
February 27th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
My dad used to make these for my brother and I on weekends.
We call them one-eyes but make them a little differently. we butter both sides of the bread, cute a hole out of the middle, crack the egg into the center of the bread, cook like you said but we toast the circle in the pan too. the middle was always my favorite part and i’d break the yolk once on the plate… yumm!!
February 27th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
I call them eggs in a basket, and don’t make them often, but I do make them.
Mostly for the kid and kid sister tho. And only when we don’t have enough cereal in the house for both of them to eat chocolate.
I make them different though. I butter the bread, cut the hole IN the pan (joys of cast iron), drop a pat of butter in the hole then cook the same way. Bread is grilled and more toasty that way.
SewDucky´s last [type] ..More Fabric!
February 27th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Never heard of this Dippy egg thing before. It’s way too much work for me to bother with. Why not just fry the egg without the bread and make toast?
Karen and Gerard´s last [type] ..Play Fighting Featuring Spunky and Manny
February 27th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Egg in a hole. But I don’t make them; my husband does!
They’re in Moonstruck, at the end.
And I’ve never heard “dippy eggs” before. Go figure.
February 27th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Shieldmaiden — I never saw that film, can you believe it? Now I want to see it just to see them make a dippy egg. About the bread, please don’t chastise me. It’s the best I can do, not being a master breadmaker like you. Say, if I ever get up your way again, you must promise me homemade bread, OK? I’ll even make a dippy egg for ya in return.
Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie — I like “Eggs in a Nest.” I didn’t know about “Eggs in a Basket” until I googled for it. I love that this “dish” has so many fun names. See? It is funner, isn’t it?
feefifoto — Oh. Dear. God. There is something about putting that bad boy in a toaster oven that has me salivating. And to don it with cheese, TOO? Listen, if it’s not too hard to get, I would love the recipe. I do need specifics, as I’m a terrible cook. Man, I needs me an Egg and Cheese Bunny, pronto!
Rachele — That sounds similar to feefifoto’s masterpiece. I like that I make a dippy egg in bread to hold the yolk together. If I tried to make a sunny side egg all alone, well, I would massacre it, just sayin’. I tip my hat to you.
Jaffer — That is undoubtedly the hardest part. I have broken some eggs doing the flip, and I suppose one could get away without having to do that, but I’m just not that into runny eggs. I need the “seal” on the other side.
J. Bear — I know. Don’t kill me, but i think I actually had some bacon in the fridge when I made this this morning, but I didn’t think of it. I haven’t ever had more than this dish when I make it, but I think bacon is invited to the next party, so no worries. I don’t have to see a doctor just yet.
Daisy the Curly Cat — I think I remember you telling me that your mommeh isn’t Julia Child in the kitchen. Do you know who that is? She’s a very good chef. I don’t think she ever used a microwave. Tell your mommeh to get brave! p.s. My kitty Lucky loves eggs. Do you love eggs too?
flit — You say why? Because I actually cooked something or because I didn’t have bacon? Hee. I didn’t notice a mistake. But I do have the ability to edit comments on the blog, so keep that in mind for next time if you have a brain fart.
absepa — I think I am brave! I was a wee bit afraid to post them, in case people would make fun of how my food came out. Whew! No insults (yet). I love how perfect my bread circle is. Some people I read about while Googling just cut out a form with a knife and it looks like hell. I like to be perfectly geometric with my eggs, you know.
Babs Beetle — Aw, that’s too bad. Eggs really are the perfect food. Maybe you just wouldn’t like it this way. How ’bout some hard-boiled in a salad? Then they’re not runny or anything.
Margaret — Girl, if you’re losing weight by cutting out carbs, don’t let me be your enabler. One of us should be dropping 5lbs a week and it ain’t me. [insert sad face here]
Sarah — One Eyes! Cute! I did see other people on the web who had videos of them making these and they did butter both sides of the bread, but this is how my mother made them. I might try your way because it means MORE BUTTER! And I should toast the circle bread too. But my tradition has been to have soft bread make the first dip.
SewDucky — Wait. Someone’s having chocolate for breakfast? So that’s what I’m doing wrong. Oh, man. Your description just made my mouth water. Damn, woman. I’m all about a whole pat of butter in the hole!
Karen — Because this is funner! And also I would destroy an egg if it didn’t have a “pouch” to sit in. Come on, Karen. You know how bad I am in a kitchen. You give me way too much credit.
magpie — This is funny about Moonstruck. I never saw the movie, but if I see it on TV, I’m recording it just so I can see them make an egg in a hole!
February 27th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Hey, all! I just realized I had a last picture I forgot to post before. Now you can see the oozy, gooey goodness of the egg yolk spilling out on the plate. I think I’m going to have another one today for dinner. This post is making me hungry.
February 27th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Oh my goodness. That looks so delicious, I think I might have that for dinner tonight.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Hi Kathy,
This is my first visit to your blog. I LOVE this idea. I’m going to try making it for breakfast tomorrow and I can’t wait!
Looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Aulie
February 27th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Love this breakfast for a cold winters day. We called it eggs in a basket and added a little honey to the edge of the bread.
February 28th, 2011 at 4:01 am
Hahaha this is great! I’m glad I’m not the only one making “Egghole” breakfast. Yep, that’s what I call it too. People who visit me think I’m nuts consuming this. But it’s sooooo good isn’t it?
A friend of mine does this with pancakes. I think she’s crazy! I mean, who in the heck makes an egghole in buttermilk pancakes and puts a freaking egg in it along with craploads of maple syrup?
February 28th, 2011 at 6:03 am
Eggs in a nest – or A Big mess – whichever, I can never get it right – I’ll have to follow you’re directions and see if it turns out.
February 28th, 2011 at 8:38 am
Yes…I’ve had them. My husband (deceased) had taught me
to make them. He called them a “Tote in the Hole”. Not sure where the name came from.
I like the glass idea to cut out the hole.
February 28th, 2011 at 9:16 am
My daughter makes these for herself. I think she calls it Eggs in a Basket. It looks good, but eating eggs is VERY BAD for me. Oh, the gas. Oh, yes. When I eat eggs, I become a weapon of mass destruction. It’s no wonder people around are safer now that I’m a vegan.
Kelly´s last [type] ..Origami
February 28th, 2011 at 9:37 am
I have always wondered how to do this! I’m so going to try it as soon as I can.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:31 am
These are a staple in my family. We call them egg-in-a-hole. Who knew there were so many names? Amazing. I cut the hole with a knife and it’s quite a bit smaller. No matter the size the cut-out is good to keep in reserve for sopping up excess egg yellow.
Liz´s last [type] ..New Real Estate Listings
February 28th, 2011 at 11:00 am
The publicist knows them as “Toad in a Hole.” She has no idea why. She toasts the middle part on the griddle while the egg is cooking…
Pricilla´s last [type] ..Guess What I Saw Today!
February 28th, 2011 at 11:51 am
I totally forgot about these. I used to make these all though high school. Thanks for the reminder of these. I know whats for breakfast tomorrow morning..
Tanya´s last [type] ..Finally a Customer Reviews & Testimonials Plugin for WordPress
February 28th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Kelly@http://www.mooving2minimalism.wordpress.com says: I call these- Egg in a heart, because I always use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter. An aluminium one makes a better edge, and the bread part inside I cook along w/ the egg in the pan. When it’s ready 2 turn, the egg is ALSO ready to turn. Love it, especially with some cheese on top!
February 28th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I call these Egg 4 my heart. I make them with a heart-shaped cookie cutter, and cook that little breadheart right along side my egg 4 my heart. When it is toasted on one side it’s also time to turn the egg over and cook the other side. Love it with cheese on top!
Kelly´s last [type] ..Give Me Back My Dryer Sheets!
February 28th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Kathy, I know you’re not famous for your cooking skillz, but this post made me SO HONGRAY! I’ve never had a dippy egg, but I definitely want to try this after viewing your succulent photos accompanied by so-easy-even-dumbass-JD-can-do-it instructions.
Also? “the butterier, the better” is my new life motto. Thank you.
JD at I Do Things´s last [type] ..I AM 50 so you don’t have to be
February 28th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
We always called this Hobo Toast. No idea why, that’s just what my parents called it. I also make mine slightly differently. I don’t cut out a hole, I just use my fingers to smush the bread out of the center, but it still stays together, just with a hole in the middle. I butter both sides of the bread before placing it in the pan of melted butter.
And I also put syrup on mine. I love the combination of salty and sweet. I imagine some people may be grossed out by now, but it’s yummy this way! Try it! Mmmm… It’s even better with bacon, because I also like to dip my bacon in syrup too.
Surfie´s last [type] ..If at First You Dont Succeed
February 28th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Crap. Chocolate cereal. Not actual chocolate.
SewDucky!´s last [type] ..More Fabric!
February 28th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Kathy, you have no idea how happy I am that you posted this!
OMG, I was watching the movie ‘Moonstruck’ a couple of weeks ago, and there is a scene where the mother (Olympia Dukakis) is making these for breakfast and I kept thinking to myself, OMG…the look so delicious!
Thank you, girl….I’m going to try these this week!
X
Ron´s last [type] ..I can look out- I just can’t look down
February 28th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Great post! love it!
February 28th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
EVERYONE: Holy crap, you guys made me hungry today! Guess what I’m making for dinner?
meleah rebeccah — Do it! You must!
Aulie — Welcome aboard The Junk Drawer! I’m having it for dinner tonight because I’ve been reading these comments all day. I guess it’s my fault for bringing it up. Sigh.
daughterbonnie — Honey?! What a great idea. Sweet AND savory. I love all these variations people have suggested. Do you ever put maple syrup all over your breakfast? I even put it over bacon and sausage. Honey sounds great too.
Kerry Kobashi — Craploads of maple syrup sounds about right to me (see above). You know, I just saw a blog post the other day where someone put cooked bacon on a griddle, then poured pancake batter all over it. I’d eat that!
Sheila — It’s the flip you have to worry about. I’ve gotten much better at it over the years, but I have plenty of broken eggs in my past.
Linda — Tote in the Hole is cute! I don’t know where half these names come from, but it’s hysterical to me there are so many different ones.
Kelly — All kinds of cooked eggs, or just hard-boiled? Because I could see the latter being a gassy problem. I’m sorry for your egg problem.
Grace — According to some commenters, I’m not using good enough bread. So go get yourself some good Italian bread and get crackin’. Literally.
Liz — “Sopping.” Is that not just the most mouth-watering word EVER?!
Pricilla — I’m going to toast my center piece too, just to have a little variation on the classic. I love all the different names too.
Tanya — I think this was the first “kid meal” I ever tried making myself. And I know what’s for dinner tonight.
Kelly — I love this idea about throwing cheese on top. I have some shredded cheddar in the fridge. Might have to mix it up next time. And your heart cookie-cutter idea is cute!
JD at I Do Things – Succulent! Mouth watering again. Geez. I can’t wait to finish these comments, you know, because there’s a dippy egg with my name on it. BUTTERIER!
Surfie — I love Hobo Toast! I think that’s the new winner. You and I are similar in so many ways. You’re the first person to say syrup is good on something other than pancakes. I love drowning my ENTIRE breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon, all of it) in syrup. I can’t get enough of the sweet/savory combo. We are Sisters of the Syrup!
SewDucky — Aw, now I’m totally disappointed.
Ron — Dude! I tried looking up video of that scene in Moonstruck, but couldn’t find one. You’re not the first person to mention it. I need to see it now. They are delicious. Trust me and trust me good.
February 28th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Ron, that’s funny. Moonstruck was just on one of the local UHF channels here the other night. That was early Nicholas Cage before things went downhill for him.
Eggs got a bad rap for awhile. I don’t think there’s another breakfast food I enjoy more.
Scott´s last [type] ..Keys to Leasing a Honda or Any Vehicle
March 1st, 2011 at 9:50 am
Okay, here’s the recipe:
Use a cookie cutter to cut a hole halfway through a hamburger bun (but we used English muffins). Butter the inside of the hole. Crack an egg into the hole. Salt and pepper. Bake at 325 (in the toaster oven, of course!) for 25 minutes. Place a slice of American or Cheddar cheese on top and bake five more minutes.
I am absolutely certain Mamie used to prepare these for Ike when they ate from TV trays on I Love Lucy nights.
Not really, but doesn’t it seem inevitable?
feefifoto´s last [type] ..March 1 Is
March 1st, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I love Dippy Eggs! Though I don’t usually bother cutting the hole in the bread. To me that’s just aesthetics and not really necessary to make great eggs. Kinda like Micky Mouse Pancakes, they look cute but generally are a lot of work when you can just make a pancake. Obviously I am not about presentation. Next time you try sprinkling some bacon bits in the egg white before it cooks.
Jen´s last [type] ..Charlie Sheen on Mission to Bring Back Favorite Catchwords from the 80s
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:02 pm
i first read this at 11:45 at night. and i wanted to make this RIGHT THEN. so, yeah. thanks for that.
next. my new favorite words: funner and butterier
Ali´s last [type] ..I think Im probably on a Watch List
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Like Pricilla, I know these as Toad-in-the-Holes. Don’t know why, that’s just what my mom called them. We grew up eating these, grilled cheese sandwiches, and TV dinners until my mom decided *I* should be the one to cook, then we had things like hockey puck roast beef with canned peas on the side. (My cooking skills have improved greatly over the years, thank goodness.)
You must, must, must watch “Moonstruck” as quickly as possible. Don’t wait for it to show up on cable, which would edit it anyway, rent it now! It’s a classic. My husband and I quote it all the time. Our kids even quote it from hearing it from us. (They’re still a little too young to watch it just yet.) It is one of the all time best movies ever made; there are so many gems in both the lines and performances.
Kim, Rambling Family Manager´s last [type] ..Word of the Day- Astroturfing
March 2nd, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Scott — Nicholas Cage, who? (Hee.) You’re right. All that bad news about cholesterol really screwed with chickens’ heads. Imagine how upset they were. “I’m laying the perfect food here!”
feefifoto — Sweet! Thank you so much! I’m loving the cheese idea as well as the slow cook method. Appreciate you coming back with that. Aw, “I Love Lucy nights.” I’m glad you have that memory. Eggs and Lucy. Awesome.
Jen — I’d love Mickey Mouse pancakes. But yeah, I’d want someone to make them for me. Mmmm, bacon bits! This thing just keeps getting better and better.
Ali — Sorry! This post forced me into a dippy egg dinner Monday night. I might just have to have another tonight. Funner!
Kim — I don’t quite get the “Toad” thing either. As in frog? Makes no sense, but I love all the cute names people call this. I don’t have Netflix, so I don’t know how I’ll get my hands on a copy of the film. I know I’ll find it eventually.
March 3rd, 2011 at 1:56 am
This is my favorite way to eat eggs (I like ‘em even runnier) and you’re the only other person I know who eats them like this.
We are now best friends.
March 4th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Bacon OPTIONAL?????
Um, I don’t THINK so.
Now I’m hungry.
Maureen´s last [type] ..Ahhhh Technology
March 5th, 2011 at 9:11 am
You have just published my childhood!!! I loved these… haven’t made them in forever. Except I never did a runny yolk, as much as I want to like them…so mine were cooked a little more. Yum!
March 5th, 2011 at 11:28 am
I love dippy eggs. I used to call them bull’s-eyes. Haven’t had one in years. They’re also really good with cheese. I think Martha Stewart should have a dippy egg cooking segment on her show. You should YouTube it. Really ham it up. : ) Sorry, bacon.
Lauren´s last [type] ..The Refrigerator Chronicles- Shelf Wars
March 5th, 2011 at 11:31 am
Yummy….what a grand idea.
This is an excellent way to get kids to eat eggs. They can even have fun making this delicious brekky meal~
D´s last [type] ..A Valentines thought
March 5th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
I have to admit that it does look good, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat it, because I have issues with textures.
The runny part is what kills it for me. Even when I eat yogurt, I have to have something in it that crunches.
However, using Eggs for art projects is all good!
March 6th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I don’t think I have ever seen these, but since I love runny eggs, it seems much easier than making poached eggs. I’ll have to try one tomorrow morning.
Lanita´s last [type] ..Poo-Poo Gumballs
March 10th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Are you from Western PA? My family is, even though we’ve been away from there most of my life… I don’t think I’ve heard anyone else use the term “dippy.”
March 11th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
this is awesome, always wondered how to do this! breakfast activity with my toddler tomorrow morning =) thank you!
Kristin Neudorfer´s last [type] ..MOMmy Hour!
March 11th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
O M G that is brilliant!!! Thank you. can’t wait to make it for breakfast on Sunday!
Madge´s last [type] ..I dont go Looking for it- But Drama Finds Me
March 16th, 2011 at 11:17 am
Thanks for posting this. I have been trying to remember how they were made in my childhood and my wife never read this page of the cookbook. Back in my younger days, these were always referred to as a ‘Frog In A Pond’.
Bruce´s last [type] ..The Teach-Able Moment
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I so had to include this in my Sunday Social! Can’t wait to try it and to call home to the farm to find out why my childhood was incomplete.
Junebug´s last [type] ..B is for Balderdash!!! A to Z Challenge
April 4th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
My mother made them all the time–we called them “hole in the bread.” She friedf the bread good and crisp before she added the egg.
mary taitt´s last [type] ..A-Z Challenge- C is for Cheshire Cat
July 10th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
the great idea i never found to make a hole on the bread. I should try this. tHANKS
andre´s last [type] ..Enjoy fast food (Fast Food) with more Healthy
August 20th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
[...] Hobo Toast? Frog in the Pond? No! No! NO! I have no clue. Kathy at The Junk Drawer kindly demonstrates and explains this wonderful concoction. I can’t wait to try it [...]
September 17th, 2011 at 9:41 am
we call these eggs in a frame
crosby´s last [type] ..International Bacon Day