50 Egg Yolk Recipes for Leftover Egg Yolks

ByCourtney March 20, 2014February 28, 2023

29 Comments

Save this collection of 50 Egg Yolk Recipes for the next time you have leftover egg yolks to use up!

Table of Contents

Using Up Leftover Egg Yolks

In the Stuff I’ve Googled series, we find ways to use up all those pesky leftover ingredients that tend to sit in our fridge until that dreadful moment when we uncover their moldy remains from behind the yogurt and strawberry jam containers.

Here’s what we’ve covered so far:

Leftover Buttermilk Recipes
Coconut Milk Recipes
Canned Chipotles in Adobo Sauce Recipes
Leftover Egg White Recipes

Today, we’re tackling Leftover Egg Yolk Recipes!

If you’ve spent any amount of time baking or cooking, I’m sure you’ve experienced this conundrum. You made Peanut Butter Meringue Pie or an Egg White Mushroom Omelet or Almond Joy Cookies, and now you’re left with a bowl full of sunny leftover egg yolks.

In this post we’ll cover how to store and use egg yolks in a variety of recipes, so whether you have one or six egg yolks, you can be certain they’ll be put to good use!

What are egg yolks used for?

Egg yolks are great for adding richness to everything from pasta to ice cream to breads. An extra egg yolk is also the secret ingredient to irresistibly chewy cookies.

Don’t feel like turning on the oven? Use those extra egg yolks to make your own mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce.

I’ve even included a recipe for hair superfood, because, let’s face it, who couldn’t use a little extra shine after these brutal winter days?

Can you refrigerate egg yolks? How long do egg yolks last?

Absolutely. Leftover raw egg yolks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you can avoid breaking the yolk, it’s always nice to store them whole so you can see how many you have. (Pssst- an egg separator can help with this).

Otherwise, be sure to mark how many yolks are in the container before refrigerating.

Unfortunately, egg yolks do not freeze well, so I recommend storing them in the fridge and using them within a few days!

Recipes with Egg Yolks

Recipes Using 1 Egg Yolk

The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake from NeighborFood

Giant Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies from NeighborFood
Lemon Sandwich Cookies from NeighborFood
Cajun Burgers from NeighborFood
Cheesecake for Two from Homemade in the Kitchen
Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars fromHandle the Heat
Cake Batter Sugar Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream from Baked Bree
Three Cheese Mac and Cheese from Cook Like a Champion
Macaroon Kisses from Chef in Training
Peanut Butter Snickers Brownie Skillet from Picky Palate
Spa In the Kitchen- Hair Superfood from Our Best Bites
Red Velvet Crepes from Tidy Mom

Recipes Using 2 Egg Yolks

Lemon Rosemary Butter Cookies from NeighborFood
Homemade Mayonnaise from The Perfect Pantry
Hollandaise Sauce from Earth Food and Fire
Eggnog cookies from Recipe Girl
Triple Chocolate Mousse from Kitchen Confidante
S’mores Ice Cream from Homemade in the Kitchen
Creamy Angel Hair Carbonara from The Noshery

Recipes Using 3 Egg Yolks

Homemade Egg Noodles from NeighborFood

Crepe Suzette Crepe Cakefrom Pineapple and Coconut
Tiramisu from The Comfort of Cooking
Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce from Just a Pinch
Bearnaise Sauce from The Novice Chef
Country Eggs Benedict from Lana’s Cooking
Double Chocolate Almond Macaroons from Love and Olive Oil
Strawberry Paczkifrom NeighborFood

Recipes Using 4 Egg Yolks

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict from Or Whatever You Do

Tiramisu Brownies
Linguine Alla Carbonara from Simply Scratch
Peanut Butter Pudding from I Wash You Dry
Easy No Bake Creme Brulee from Completely Delicious
Banana Pudding from Eat 2 Gather
Italian Cream Puffs with Custard Filling from Eats Well With Others
Olive Garden Copy Cat Alfredo Sauce from The Slow Roasted Italian
Key Lime Pie from I Wash You Dry
Julia Child’s Chocolate Mousse from Bran Appetit
Prosciutto and Asparagus Eggs Benedict from bell’alimento
Peaches and Cream Ice Pops from The Slow Roasted Italian

Recipes Using 5 Egg Yolks

Chocolate Tart on Shortbread Crust from Umami Girl

Coconut Cream Pie from Add a Pinch
Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream from Country Cleaver
Classic Homemade Eggnog from Simple Bites
Crab Eggs Benedict from Country Cleaver
Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream from Foodie Misadventures
White Chocolate Lemon Mousse from Baked Bree
Homemade Lemon Curd from Daring Gourmet
Salted Caramel Ice Cream from The Novice Chef

Recipes Using 6 Egg Yolks

Margarita Pie from Baking Sense

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream from Lauren’s Latest
Cappuccino Creme Brulee from A Farm Girl’s Dabbles
Bread Pudding with Vanilla Custard Sauce from Two Peas and their Pod
The Best Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream from Cooking LSL
Greek Lemon Soup with Chicken and Orzo fromLove and Olive Oil

I recently baked and I have 2 eggs and 8 yolks to use and since they are mixed I’m wanting to use them but don’t know how exact some of the recipes are since they call for just yolk and mine are mixed together. Any that would be okay with a little bit of whites?
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1. Cookies would be a great recipe to try that in! They can definitely use whites, but benefit from the richness of egg yolks.
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You mentioned using them to make sweet potato fries crispier but I didn’t see the recipe?
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1. Here is an example of a recipe that uses egg whites for sweet potato fries! https://www.wellplated.com/sweet-potato-fries/
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Oh my! This сrepe Suzette сrepe сake was delicious and so easy to make! Will have to try this for my family. Thanks so much!
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Thanks for this compilation, I found my recipe… Just one thing: I’d perhaps leave out the ones where you need both yolk and white, even if used separated.
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That would be great, HSH. I do recall hearing about a cake that is made along with angel food but have never come across it.
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1. I just read another website and it’s a 12 yolk pound cake that you make with an angle food cake.
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Thanks a lot for sharing list of cool recipes Courtney! First of all i’ll try Challah Bread, Crepe Suzette Crepe Cake and Greek Lemon Soup with Chicken and Orzo! I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it.
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1. Great! I hope you enjoy and thank you for sharing!
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It’s remarkable designed for me to have a site, which is beneficial designed for my experience.
thanks admin
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I seriously love this round up and have shared it with so many people! Egg yolks rock.
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1. I’m so glad it’s been helpful to you Christina! I was hoping I wasn’t the only one who always needed new ideas for egg yolks. 🙂
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Courtney, so fun to see that this post of yours brought quite a few people to my blog yesterday! It was great to spend the last couple days with you! You are truly a sweet sweet person! thanks again for the share! Sheila
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1. That’s awesome Sheila! I’m so glad. It was so lovely to meet you. I wish I had more time to chat with you! I was hoping to talk to you more about your experience with adoption. It’s something my husband and I are both passionate about. We’ll have to stay connected online!
  Reply
Came by for Chocolate and PB Day and this caught my eye – EVERY morning my 12 year son wants 2 eggs – straight up or on a sandwich of some sort – minus the yolks (doesn’t like them) – I feel guilty that I usually throw them away – THIS IS AWESOME! I kept meaning to make a list of uses, in addition to the ones off the top of my head…and you did it for me! Smaaa-oooch!
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I always seem to have egg yolks hanging around! This is such a great roundup! Thanks so much for including my cream puffs!
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1. No problem girl! They look wonderful!
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2. You are a life saver! Just made a white wedding cake and have 18 egg yolks. Yes, 18 as in one and a half dozen.
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You’ve totally got our back, girl. I’m always wondering what to do with extra yolks! I’ve got to pin this post so that I always have this list handy. I just read your reply to Danielle’s question – I’m notorious for putting eggs yolks in the fridge and seeing them a week later, all flaky ‘n dried ‘n gross. No more wasted yolks for me!
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1. Yeah! i just discovered that trick and it’s going to save me from a lot of nasty yolks!
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Thank you for sharing this! I soooo need it 🙂 Out of curiosity – how long can you keep an egg yolk in the fridge before it goes bad – not that I have one waiting to be used or anything 😉
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1. The standard I’ve heard is 4 days. You can put a little water over the yolks to keep then from drying out then just drain before using.
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2. I was trying to make a baked alaska with meringue but I messed up horribly and I was crying and feeling really bad because I cant make anything this really helped me thankyou.
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  1. Wait you cooked Alaska is that what global warming really is? It’s ok mistakes are ok at least that’s what my mom told me!
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3. I think you can keep them in there until they spoil not that you needed to know because you don’t have any 😉
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I have 5 eggs yolks sitting in my fridge as we speak. You’re a GENIUS Courtney!
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LOVE this roundup! Such a great idea (because I always seem to have leftover egg yolks).
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1. Thanks girl! I actually have some leftover yolks in my fridge right now. Oh, the irony. 🙂
  Reply

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50 Egg Yolk Recipes for Leftover Egg Yolks | NeighborFood (2024)

FAQs

What to do with extra egg yolks? ›

Other ways to use leftover egg yolks

Bulk up your casseroles and breakfast bakes by tossing in a few extra yolks. Swap some of the whole eggs in your quiche for yolks only. Use up extra yolks in your brunch strata for an even more custardy bite. Make homemade pasta!

Learn More ›

What can I do with leftover egg yolks from the garden? ›

6 Surprising Ways to Use Old Eggs In Your Garden

Create Your Own Compost. After frying up some eggs for breakfast, don't just throw away the shells. ...
Use the Shells as Deterrents. ...
Feed the Soil. ...
Feed the Birds. ...
Get Started. ...
Help Out Struggling Plants.

Learn More ›

Can I freeze egg yolks for later use? ›

To freeze yolks, mix four yolks with a pinch of salt and one and half teaspoons of sugar or corn syrup. Store frozen blended eggs, whites or yolks up to 12 months for best quality. You can freeze cooked eggs but the quality is not the best.

Find Out More ›

What does an extra egg yolk do in baking? ›

The fat gives baked goods extra-rich flavor and a velvety texture. The yolk also has the unique ability to bind liquids and fats together, creating an emulsion that prevents them from separating.

Keep Reading ›

How do you dispose of unused egg yolks? ›

Sending it down the drain is fine. Just use enough water to make sure you don't leave traces in your sink. A bit of soap or cleanser wouldn't hurt either, to make completely sure you don't contaminate whatever goes into your sink next.

Find Out More ›

Can I put egg yolks in plants? ›

They are especially convenient for potted plants because the smaller root space requires repeated applications of mild, longacting fertilizer. The ingredients of egg yolk are in about the right balance for growing plants.

Read On ›

Should you compost egg yolk? ›

Egg shells are an excellent addition to a compost pile, as they provide calcium and other key nutrients. Whole eggs, egg whites, and egg yolks do not belong in the compost pile, though. Raw eggs have the potential to carry the bacteria Salmonella.

Show Me More ›

Do wild birds eat egg yolks? ›

It might seem strange to feed them eggs, but cooked eggs are a highly nutritious and wholesome meal for many wild birds. They also love crushed eggshells, so you could even cook and crush up your boiled egg leftovers to feed to the garden birds!

See Details ›

Can you eat old egg yolk? ›

An old egg isn't necessarily unsafe to eat, but it might not taste as good as a fresh egg. A rotten egg is one contaminated by common bacteria; it'll give off a putrid, sulfurous smell. In most cases, consuming a rotten egg will cause mild digestive issues, at most, compounded by a few days of cramping.

Know More ›

Can you eat eggs 2 months out of date? ›

On those egg cartons, if an expiration date appears, it can be no more than 30 days after the pack date. "As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.

Tell Me More ›

Can you freeze egg yolks in a carton? ›

Unfortunately, you can't just toss a carton of raw eggs into the freezer. If you do, the shells will crack when the whites and yolks freeze and naturally expand, leaving you with a mess to clean up. Instead, to freeze whole eggs, crack them into a bowl and gently whisk until the whites and yolks are just combined.

View Details ›

Why can't you sell double yolk eggs? ›

Also, some commercial egg producers don't want doubles. The shells can be more fragile, stretched as they are around two yolks. Combined with their bigger size, that can be a problem.

What are double yolk eggs good for? ›

The good news is that yes, they are safe to consume. If you ever spot an egg with twin yolks floating in it, never throw them away. However, they have a different white-yolk ratio than the egg with just one yolk! Also, a double-yolk egg means, double the protein, cholesterol and other such nutrients than a regular egg.

View Details ›

Can I add extra egg yolks to scrambled eggs? ›

I came across it while paging through the new Serious Eats book - the idea is to use whole eggs plus egg yolks to make your eggs extra rich, creamy, and flavorful. A bonus, I might add, is the color the extra yolks bring to the finished preparation (particularly if you're using good, well-sourced eggs).

Discover More Details ›

What to do with double yolk in baking? ›

Double yolked eggs can in most cases be used on a one-for-one basis for regular eggs in baking. You will find that the cakes will be richer as the yolks contain more fats but, as in using duck eggs for baking, this would be considered a positive by most people.

Learn More Now ›

50 Egg Yolk Recipes for Leftover Egg Yolks | NeighborFood (2024)