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

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.
See Also
24 Traditional Amish Recipes You'll LOVE!! | Montana Happy
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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

How do you not waste egg yolks? ›

You can store egg yolks in both the fridge and freezer. They'll keep in the fridge for around two days, but they can dry out easily. Make sure you store them in small containers with little air in them or in food bags with the air squeezed out. Egg yolks can also be frozen and will keep for up to 12 months.

Show Me More ›

How long will egg yolks last in the fridge? ›

Eggs out of the shell

And in that case, know that stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, raw egg whites will keep for up to four days, while raw egg yolks will keep for up to two days.

Read On ›

Can I freeze egg yolks for later use? ›

You can freeze both egg whites and yolks for up to a year (scramble before freezing). I would suggest using an ice cube tray so you can freeze the yolk or whites of one egg per ice cube to have some sort of measurement for the next recipe. Thaw it over night in the fridge and use as normal.

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What can you use egg yolks for besides cooking? ›

8 Alternative Uses of Eggs

Anti-Aging Cleanser. Egg whites contain lots of proteins, and make a great facial cleanser. ...
Moisturizer. Egg yolks are rich in vitamin A, which is very good for skin. ...
Hair Conditioning Mask. ...
Plant Fertilizer. ...
First Aid. ...
Leather Cleaner. ...
Hangover Cure. ...
Homemade Craft Glue.

Get More Info Here ›

What does an extra egg yolk do in baking? ›

A cookie made with extra egg yolk (or, in this case, only egg yolk), will be lighter and chewier than a cookie made with whole eggs. The cookies will also have a richer flavor thanks to the added fat in egg yolk.

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Why do people avoid egg yolk? ›

Much of the confusion around eggs has stemmed from the fact that egg yolks contain cholesterol. While egg yolks are high in cholesterol and are a major source of dietary cholesterol, it is saturated fatty acids that have a greater effect on our blood cholesterol levels and, therefore, heart disease risk.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it bad to waste egg yolk? ›

In most cases egg yolks do not increase cholesterol levels much and if they do they usually increase HDL which is the 'good cholesterol”. So if you tolerate eggs you shouldn't be throwing out the yolk! Of Course if you do have high cholesterol it is important to have regular blood tests to ensure your diet aligns.

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Is it wasteful to throw away egg yolks? ›

The yolk has much more nutrients than the white and missing out on them means you are not getting sufficient nutrients required by the body to carry out its internal functions.

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How should leftover egg yolks and egg whites be stored? ›

**Separation:** If you've separated the egg whites and yolks, store them in separate airtight containers. This is especially relevant when using them for different recipes or if you plan to use them at different times. - If the eggs are still in their shells, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

How long can you keep egg yolks after opening? ›

Separation anxiety: After separating eggs, you can store any leftover egg whites or yolks and use them in other recipes. Place yolks in a bowl, add a little water, and then cover with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to four days. Whites in an airtight container will also keep in the fridge for four days.

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Why can't you freeze egg yolks? ›

Freezing yolks is less satisfactory; it causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy so it will not flow like an unfrozen yolk or blend very well with the white or other ingredients. To freeze yolks, mix four yolks with a pinch of salt and one and half teaspoons of sugar or corn syrup.

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What if I accidentally froze my eggs? ›

Now if you've ever accidentally frozen your eggs before, don't panic. You can still use them. Just put them in the fridge to thaw slowly.

How long do egg yolks last in the fridge USDA? ›

2 to 4 days

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What happens when you freeze egg yolks? ›

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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.