Isn’t it amazing how an easy technique can make all the difference? An egg-wash recipe is a great illustration, requiring less than 30 seconds. The egg wash is an egg yolk, egg, or egg white mixed with a tiny amount of milk, water, or cream. In most cases, a single egg can also be used, though it can be challenging to apply evenly; however, it gives a lovely dark sheen. The liquid-egg mixture is applied to baked goods such as cakes and pastries before baking them in the oven to create a stunning golden color and shine after baking.

Egg wash can assist in sealing the edges of pastry items or hand pies and help sprinkle sugar to stick to the dough. This is a simple technique that can elevate both sweet and sweet-baked products.

How to Make an Egg Wash

You may have realized that the procedure for making an egg wash is easy and only requires two steps.

Beat a large egg and the liquid equivalent to one teaspoon (water, milk, water, or even cream) in a small bowl using a fork until they are well combined. (Alternatively, mix one egg’s white with a large bowl or an egg yolk using one tablespoon of liquid.)

Apply a uniform paint coating on the dough’s surface using the pastry brush. Bake by the recipe.

It’s crucial to remember that since this method involves raw egg brushes, they must be thoroughly cleaned after each use to prevent cross-contamination, and this method should not be employed if it’s not followed by the baking time specified in the recipe. The desired effect of gloss and browning is directly attributed to the heat.

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How to Use an Egg Wash

How to make an egg wash could not be more simple. All you need to do is uniformly brush the mixture with a pastry over the baked product. The word for this is “evenly,” as it’s crucial to prevent any pools on the bottom or the surface. This could cause an uneven appearance when baking. It can also be an unpleasant taste. A silicone brush is ideal to make cleaning more accessible, and there is less worry about bristles that are loose from a standard pastry brush that has the potential of shedding.

What liquid you choose to employ in your egg wash will depend on the amount of gloss and browning you’re looking for. Imagine adding more protein and fats to the mix, resulting in more front and browning. A whole egg dissolved in water will yield golden-brown results with some shine. However, a whole egg and cream will kick it up a few steps and produce deeply golden-brown results with more polish.

Also, you might be considering whether it’s better to use just an egg white or a yolk. A white egg combined with water can be ideal for baking goods that benefit from a gloss and a light golden hue, like this recipe for shorter palmiers below. Mixing an egg yolk with water will produce an intense golden hue (much like a thoroughly beating egg with no liquid). Cream or milk can add shine and color.

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However, you can utilize what you already have available. The advantage of using eggs whole eggs instead of just an egg’s white or egg yolk is that it reduces food waste. Make sure to utilize the rest of your egg in the scramble, even if you’re using eggs with yolks or egg whites to wash the eggs.

Now is the time to let your baked items shine! Check out this list of recipes that will show you how to use this easy egg-wash technique to bake.

Shortcut Palmiers

Crispy, flaky pastries are coated with an egg wash, giving the final product a golden streak.

Antipasto Stromboli

An egg beater is a double-duty ingredient in this pizza-like calzone dough.

Puff Pastry S’mores Pop Tarts

When baked in the oven, sheets of frozen puff pastry become flaky and buttery—making them the perfect envelope for marshmallows and chocolate. A chocolate drizzle on top makes these reminiscent of the childhood breakfast favorite. Get the recipe: Puff Pastry S’mores Poptarts.

A complete egg and water mixture creates these delicious pop tarts at home. An attractive golden brown sheen.

Honey-Apple Galette With Pistachio Sugar

The sides of this pastry with egg wash will help the pistachio sugar to stick to the bread dough.

Red Pepper Walnut Knots

An egg wash aids these delicious and flaky knots to transform into perfect golden.