Description
Cloud Eggs are a visually stunning and fluffy egg dish made by whipping egg whites to stiff peaks and baking them with the yolks nestled in the center. This light and airy breakfast can be customized with savory toppings like ham and Swiss, garlic and Parmesan, bacon and cheddar, or Gruyere and chives. Ready in just 15 minutes, cloud eggs make an elegant and delicious start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Basic Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- â…› teaspoon black pepper
Ham & Swiss Variation
- ¼ cup diced deli ham
- ½ cup grated Swiss cheese
Garlic & Parmesan Variation
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Bacon & Cheddar Variation
- ¼ cup crumbled cooked bacon
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
Gruyere & Chives Variation
- ½ cup grated Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare the Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to ease cleanup.
- Separate the Eggs: Carefully separate the egg whites from the yolks. Place the whites in a large mixing bowl and keep each yolk in separate small bowls or one bowl if you can handle the transfer gently later.
- Whip the Egg Whites: Using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, which means the whites stand up firmly when you lift the beaters. This creates the fluffy ‘cloud’ texture.
- Fold in Seasonings and Toppings: Gently fold in the sea salt, black pepper, and selected flavor variation ingredients without deflating the whipped whites.
- Create Cloud Mounds: Spoon the egg white mixture onto the lined baking sheet, forming 4 distinct mounds. Make a small well in the center of each mound to hold the yolk.
- Bake Initial Whites: Bake the mounds for 3 minutes to start setting the whites.
- Add Yolks and Finish Baking: Carefully place one egg yolk into the well of each baked white mound. Return the tray to the oven and bake for another 2-3 minutes, or until the yolks reach your preferred level of doneness.
Notes
- Be careful when adding the yolks to avoid breaking them before the final bake.
- Try different topping combinations to keep the dish exciting and suited to your taste.
- Whipping the egg whites to stiff peaks is key for the right texture; avoid over or under whipping.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and presentation.
- Parchment paper ensures easy removal of baked egg clouds without sticking.
