Egg in a Bagel Hole Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Ali Slagle

November4,2015

5

6 Ratings

  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 5 minutes
  • Makes 2

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Better than the sum of its parts because 1. the bagel gets griddled 2. one bagel feeds two people 3. it's a toad in a hole. —Ali Slagle

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 bagel
  • 1 tablespoonbutter
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
  1. Cut the bagel in half. If the hole isn't very big—ie, you can't imagine a yolk fitting in it—tear out some of the bagel around it. You could also use a biscuit cutter or cup to cut out a perfectly round center.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Place the bagel, inside down, on the skillet.
  3. Crack one egg into a little bowl (or a container with a spout) and gently transfer the egg to the middle of the bagel. It might run out a bit; that's okay. Season the egg with salt and pepper.
  4. Cover the skillet and let the toad cook for about 3 minutes, or until the egg is done to your liking. Using a spatula, transfer it to a plate and repeat with the other bagel half.

Tags:

  • Bread
  • American
  • Egg
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Summer
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Fall
  • Vegetarian
  • Breakfast

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Christine Carlson Whittington

  • Lisa Johnson

  • Annette Lowrie

  • Steve Traba

  • Kimberly Baxter

Popular on Food52

37 Reviews

Christine C. February 27, 2023

We had half bagel left this morning (Killer Dave's Epic Seeded Bagel) so I tried this. The egg was to big for the hole, but it really doesn't matter. I topped it with 1/2 and avocado and baby greens, California style. A California Toad in a Hole!

m.e.h.music___ March 10, 2022

So delicious!!! Fluffy bagel on inside and crisp on underneath. Will be making this so often!!

Lisa J. February 23, 2021

This was so simple and so insanely good. I might cut back on the butter just a tad next time.

Lisa J. February 23, 2021

This was simple and insanely good. I might cut back on the butter just a tad next time.

Annette L. February 21, 2017

That was delicious. Thank you very much!

Steve T. January 29, 2017

Definitely gonna try this tomorrow morning

Kimberly B. March 8, 2016

Does anyone proof anymore????!!!!

Jane February 15, 2016

Do you cut it in half through the width (cutting the hole in half and making two halves) or lengthwise (how you would cut it if you were making a sandwich)? Please make that more clear in the recipe. Overall, a great recipe and a lovely breakfast!

susan G. February 15, 2016

Make a horizontal cut so there's a hole for the egg. The photo is worth a thousand words.

Hayley January 24, 2016

You definitely have to flip the bagel with the egg inside half way through the 3 minutes, or the egg will not cook thoroughly.

Phishstyx March 6, 2016

Maybe your stove and/or pan is unusually efficient: If the bagel is burning before the egg is done, please try a lower heat. Covering the pan as instructed, is sufficient to cook the top of the egg, even if you like the yolk cooked to powder.

Judeth January 3, 2016

This is so yummy!

Liz C. December 31, 2015

I see this recipe is on your 2015 Razzies. This is a really great recipe, I'm sorry I didn't comment! I did have to flip it to cook it properly and I cracked the egg right into the pan to reduce dirty dishes. This works particularly well with Montreal bagels because they have big holes.

Judeth December 1, 2015

Oh yeah!!
Definitely need more bagels and eggs!
I think hitting it under the
broiler next time
But oh, so good!

Katie S. December 1, 2015

One of my breakfast favorites with one minor change: I cut thebagel into three slices instead of in half, like this http://www.momskitchenhandbook.com/uncategorized/egg-in-a-bagel-breakfast/ I prefer the bread-to-bagel ratio a bit better. Either way, though delicious!

Lori S. November 30, 2015

I tried it this morning and after about 5 minutes the top was not even close to being set. I ended up having to flip it to cook the top, which worked OK except that the point was to not have to flip it. Maybe I just underestimated the volume of the egg and should have cut out a bigger hole for it. It tasted great so I'll definitely try it again!

Ali S. November 30, 2015

Hi Lori: Another solution is to stick the pan under the broiler. I've had to do that from time to time when volume is a problem. Hope next time fares better!

Lori S. December 1, 2015

I probably would have thought of the broiler if I hadn't been trying it so early in the morning! Next time I'll finish my coffee before I start cooking :)

Andrew December 7, 2015

I agree, it just doesn't work. The top ends up being raw egg whites, gross. I had to flip it and allow it to cook another minute or so. I also tried expanding the hole, etc.

William D. November 30, 2015

Thanks Ali. I miss Oakland.

Dinah November 29, 2015

My mom always likes the middle completely taken out of the bagel. Perhaps a different take on it to try...

Gerard K. November 29, 2015

How do you eat it?

Ali S. November 30, 2015

You'll need a fork and knife for this one.

Steve P. November 29, 2015

This is a great idea. I do basically the same thing with hash browns and call it "egg in a nest."

Craig H. November 22, 2015

I made this recipe this morning and you are right. Egg & bagel is better than eggs with a bagel. Very tasty.

Ali S. November 30, 2015

Glad you liked it!

Daniel M. November 17, 2015

I did this exact recipe like a year ago on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnNcYug6EQ4

Egg in a Bagel Hole Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Egg in a Bagel Hole Recipe on Food52? ›

The final recipe uses 3 egg yolks and 3 whole eggs.

The fat from the 6 egg yolks gives the bagels their tenderness and yellow color. Including the 3 egg whites (which are 90% water) help keep the water content in the recipe balanced.

How much egg is in an egg bagel? ›

The final recipe uses 3 egg yolks and 3 whole eggs.

The fat from the 6 egg yolks gives the bagels their tenderness and yellow color. Including the 3 egg whites (which are 90% water) help keep the water content in the recipe balanced.

What's the difference between an egg bagel and a regular bagel? ›

Egg bagels are softer and puffier, replacing some of the chewiness of traditional bagels with an easier bite. This slightly finer crumb structure (a fancy way of saying the inside part of the bagel) does wonders for the flavor of the bagel. The boost in color that eggs bring to bagels is appreciated, too!

Why is it so hard to find egg bagels? ›

Because this bagel alternative is less popular than traditional bagels, they aren't always easy to find. There isn't much of a regional preference for egg bagels, though New York City bakeries tend to favor their own New York style, and the egg version can be tough to find.

What is a bagel hole? ›

The hole in the middle of the bagel allows it to have a larger surface area, making it easier to consistently cook the bagel all the way through. This is important because bagel dough can be incredibly thick, which would make it difficult to know if the center was cooked completely if the hole was not there.

What is the hole in the middle of a bagel? ›

Ever wondered why bagels have holes in the middle? The basic shape is hundreds of years old and serves lots of practical advantages besides an even cooking and baking of the dough. The hole also allowed them to be threaded or piled high on a dowel which made them easier to transport and display.

Does bagel have egg in it? ›

In their most basic form, bagels are vegan, made from just flour, water, yeast, and salt. But other non-vegan ingredients—including dairy, honey, and eggs, along with less easily identifiable animal products—commonly appear in commercially produced bagels.

Do bagel bites have egg? ›

INGREDIENTS: BAGEL HALVES: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, ENZYME, ASCORBIC ACID, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, YEAST, SALT, SOYBEAN OIL, TOPPING: COOKED SAUSAGE (PORK, WATER, SALT, SPICES, SUGAR, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, ...

What is the healthiest bagel to order? ›

Bagels can be healthy if made with whole grains, contain minimal fat and sugar, and are an appropriate portion size for your health goals. For a healthier choice, look for whole wheat, whole grain, or rye bagels. While bagels with cream cheese are delicious, traditional cream cheese is not necessarily healthy.

What is the healthiest way to order a bagel? ›

Opt for savory instead of sweet.

Skip cinnamon-sugar bagels and choose something savory like an everything bagel, which is covered with spices and seeds. Fun fact: Many seeds contain fiber, protein and healthy fats. Sugary bagels add more carbohydrates to the meal, which can spike blood sugar even more.

Are bagels healthier than donuts? ›

Donuts are usually made with a white flour, while bagels can be made using whole grain flours, which would provide even more protein and fiber. Because of this, bagels are the healthier choice between the two.

Why does McDonald's not do bagels anymore? ›

Both bagels and the wraps were removed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as McDonald's ran a limited menu when they first re-opened stores after lockdown. Even as other menu items returned when the chain began offering its full menu again, the bagels and wraps were kept off.

Why have McDonald's stopped bagels? ›

McDonald's launched a new type of bagel with egg and meat in 2018 but, as the covid-19 pandemic gripped the world in 2020, discontinued it due to both low demand and to minimize staff needed in the stores. Many of McDonald's breakfast items were discontinued during the pandemic.

Why are egg bagels yellow? ›

The egg bagel is a bagel that is made with egg yolks or whole eggs in addition to the standard dough that contains water, salt, flour, and yeast. The egg gives the bagels a yellow tint that distinguishes them from other bagels.

Is A bagel still a bagel if it doesn t have a hole? ›

A bagel with no hole is two pieces of bread put together. No, it's not a bagel," said one bagel lover. Another bagel aficionado disagreed: "Oh, it's fine. It's the same good flavour and you get a little bit more [bagel], too," she told CTV News.

Does a bagel need a hole to be a bagel? ›

The hole is an essential part of the bagel. Without it, a bagel is just a doughy frisbee. But what if bagels didn't have holes, a new campaign from cream cheese maker Philadelphia bravely and/or cravenly asks?

Is it a bagel if it doesn't have a hole? ›

A bagel is a sort of roll, sure, but this term rightly claims it as a truly singular food, and identifies its hole as essential to that distinctiveness.

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