You know those glossy, golden pastries you see at the bakery with a shiny, beautiful finish? Or those glistening brown loaves of bread? Egg wash, baby! Egg wash is a baker's secret, and it helps you make beautiful, glossy baked goods.
Simple and Easy Egg Wash Recipe
An egg wash ratio is incredibly easy to remember: one egg to one tablespoon of liquid. Yeah, it's that easy. If dairy doesn't agree with you, feel free to use unflavored nondairy milk or heavy cream.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water, milk, or heavy cream
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, add egg and liquid.
- Whisk until blended.
You can also use only egg white, but make sure you use enough to equate to a full egg, approximately two egg whites. The resulting egg wash will be a lighter color.
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How and When to Use Egg Wash
You'll want to apply the eggwash before baking because the heat of the oven will add extra pop, crunch, and crisp to the egg wash.
To apply the egg wash, use a pastry brush (although a spoon will work in a pinch) to evenly coat the raw surface of your pastry or dough with the egg wash. Don't add too much, or else the wash will cause the dish to be a bit soggy.
While it adds a ton of shine, golden color, and a little texture to the outside of baked goods, egg washing can also help toppings stick before baking. Egg washing a loaf of bread or rolls, for instance, can help flakes of sea salt or sprinkled herbs stick to the surface better, or egg washing a pie crust can help sugar stick to the surface for some extra sweetness.
Related: 15 Leftover Pie Crust Recipes to Take Your Seconds From Flaky to Fabulous
Vegan Egg Wash Substitutes
There are plenty of avenues to making an egg wash happen without eggs and dairy, believe it or not. Here's how you can do that. For any of these, a small pinch of turmeric can add a golden color to the vegan egg wash.
- Three tablespoons of aquafaba, or the liquid in a can of chickpeas, with a tablespoon of water or vegan milk or cream makes for a quick and easy egg wash. Whisk together until thoroughly mixed.
- Whisk together two tablespoons of plant-based milk with one tablespoon of agave syrup or maple syrup.
Taking a Crack at Egg Wash
Don't be intimidated by an egg wash recipe anymore! Using egg wash will add a delicious, crispy, and rich level to your baked goods that will rock your next recipe. So, what'll it be? Adding a little extra something to your buttery croissants or tackling a homemade pie crust by taking it to the next level? Don't forget to invite us!
