If you bake or cook often, chances are you’ve been in this situation before: you’re whipping up a recipe for angel food cake, meringue cookies, or an egg-white omelet which leaves you with a bowl of extra egg yolks in the fridge. Tossing them feels wrong (and honestly, wasteful), but what do you do with them? With just a little creativity, you can use them to create rich, creamy, and flavorful dishes while cutting down on food waste.
Here are some of my favorite ways to give leftover egg yolks a second life and even some ideas to pair with your favorite Dutch Apron® Bakery Cake Rolls for a next-level dessert spread.
5 Ways You Can Use Your Leftover Egg Yolks
1. Chocolate Desserts
Egg yolks add incredible richness to chocolate-based recipes. They’re the not-so-secret ingredient that brings the luscious texture you love to chocolate mousse and those irresistible molten lava cakes. Want to really go over the top? Plate your chocolate creation with a slice of Dutch Apron® Bakery’s Chocolate Crème Cake Roll for a full-on cocoa explosion.
2. Fruit Curds
Lemon curd is a classic, but you can also whip up orange or lime curd with those leftover yolks. Spread it on scones, spoon it on between layers of cakes, or drizzle it over fresh berries. Better yet? Add a dollop on top of a Pumpkin Cake Roll for a bright, citrusy twist.
3. Homemade Ice Cream
Many ice cream recipes call for several yolks (sometimes as many as eight!). They give all your favorite homemade ice creams their rich, custard-like base. Try a scoop of homemade vanilla bean or peppermint alongside a slice of Dutch Apron® Bakery’s Carrot Cake Cake Roll, and you’ve got yourself a next-level dessert plate.
4. Creamy Pies
Key lime, coconut cream, banana cream…these pies owe their creamy fillings to egg yolks. If you’re hosting, set up a dessert table with mini pies, a variety of cake roll slices, and chewy cookies. It’s the kind of buffet that makes people hover around the dessert table instead of the grill.
5. Pudding Perfection
Can You Freeze Egg Yolks?
Yes! To save them for later, beat the yolks with a pinch of salt or sugar (depending on if you’ll use them for savory or sweet recipes). Freeze in an airtight container or even in an ice cube tray for easy portioning. They’ll keep for up to a year. Just thaw fully before using.
How Long Do Egg Yolks Last in the Refrigerator?
If stored properly in an airtight container, leftover yolks will keep for up to four days in the refrigerator. So, whether you’re baking, cooking, or experimenting, you’ve got a little time to put them to good use.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Don’t let leftover egg yolks go to waste. They’re the secret ingredient to some of the richest, creamiest, and most flavorful recipes out there. Better yet, use them to inspire new creations that pair beautifully with your favorite Dutch Apron® Bakery Cake Rolls. From puddings layered with cake slices to curds spooned over a Pumpkin Cake Roll, the possibilities are endless.
Want more baking tips and tricks? Follow Dutch Apron® Bakery for all the latest recipe trends and kitchen techniques that are guaranteed to add a little extra sweetness to your life.
About the Author:
Brand Wind is a graphic designer at Dutch Apron® Bakery where he creates a wide variety of materials pertaining to a variety of delicious desserts; his portfolio includes social media promotions, motion graphics, and, occasionally, lending an (actual) hand to make sure each recipe turns out just right. Brandon lives in Iowa with his wife and three children and enjoys creating his own comic books, playing guitar with his band, and going on whatever adventure his wife has planned for the weekend. He strives to be a constant reminder to his kids that, no matter how old you get, you can still be young at heart!
