This easy egg wash recipe is used to create an irresistible golden brown shine on baked goods. It’s simple to make but you’ll need to know the perfect egg-to-water ratio.
Use egg wash for a pie crust, pastries, even biscuits or soft pretzel bites!
Table of Contents
Basic Egg Wash
I don’t know about you, but for the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why my pies, croissants, and biscuits didn’t look the same as the ones I see in cookbooks or bakeries. They looked so sad and pale by comparison!
Then one day someone told me about using an easy egg wash recipe and it’s the best culinary secret to getting a golden shine! I now use this light egg wash not only on pies, but also Irish scones, pigs in a blanket and even homemade stromboli.
What is Egg Wash?
It’s a mixture of egg and water or sometimes milk. When brushed onto the surface of the pastry dough, it helps to create a beautiful golden-brown sheen on baked goods. Using a basic egg wash recipe to achieve this look couldn’t be easier.
It’s a way to make every home cook feel like their all-butter pie crust or lattice pie crust looks like it was made by a professional pastry chef!
Egg Wash Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Egg: You will need 1 whole egg.
- Liquid: I usually use heavy cream, whole milk or water.
Substitutions
Here are some good substitutes for this easy egg wash recipe that encourage either browning and shine even if you are all out of eggs!
- Heavy cream or milk: If you want to skip the egg, you can just brush over some heavy cream or milk. This wash works well for biscuit and scone recipes. The sugar in the cream or milk encourages browning which will give your bakes a nice finish. There will be less shine this way.
- Almond milk: This is a good dairy-free substitute. It helps to give your bakes a golden color and adds a slight nuttiness to the top.
- Honey or maple syrup: These sweeteners will give your bakes a nice shiny look and also help them to brown. Because they’re high in sugars, they will burn quicker than other options, so these washes are best used on things that don’t spend a long time in the oven. Keep an eye on it as it bakes.
- Oil: Choose a flavorless oil like canola or vegetable oils to create shine on your bakes. There will be less color than if you use one of the other options. This makes another good option if you’re avoiding eggs and dairy.
How to Make Egg Wash
The basic ingredients typically follow a 1:1 ratio. So that means 1 whole egg to 1 tablespoon of liquid.
- Crack the egg in a small bowl, add in the cream or water and whisk together.
- That’s it! You are now ready to use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash on your baked good before baking.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips that will help you get the best results when using it.
- Whisk completely. Use a fork or a small whisk to combine the egg and cream or water until the yolk and whites are fully mixed. If you rush and try to brush on a wash that isn’t fully mixed, you can end up with egg yolk on one part of your pastry and white on another which will create an uneven look when baked.
- Type of pastry brush to use. I prefer to use silicone pastry brushes because they are so easy to clean and most of them can even be put into the dishwasher.
- Brush before you cut slits in a pie crust. If you brush it on after cutting the slits, the egg may seal the cut closed and the steam will have nowhere to escape when baking.
- Use a light touch. A little goes a long way! Take your time to paint on a thin even layer and avoid puddles of wash on top of your bakes. A light layer will help you achieve that beautiful golden color.
More Ways to Use Egg Wash
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Egg Wash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon heavy cream , or water
Instructions
- Whisk egg and liquid. In a medium bowl, whisk one large egg and 1 Tablespoon cream (or water) until fully combined.
- Brush on dough. Brush on top of raw dough before baking.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
No, it’s not necessary, but without it, your pastry or bread can look dull and pale. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t use one, but a nice brown color with a bit of shine always looks more appetizing!
It improves both the color and shine of your finished bakes, and it can also help to seal up pastry edges.
The best time to apply it is right before your pastry goes in the oven. If you brush it on too far in advance, it could make it soggy. And the easy egg wash recipe should only be applied before baking and not after.
Once you make it, I would try to use it as soon as possible. If you have some leftover, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I typically will just toss the leftovers into scrambled eggs.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Desserts, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Toppings, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Such an easy recipe! This will be my new go to egg wash!
Egg wash is a must-do for perfect pies, croissants…. It enhances so much the color and makes food so much appetizing. Thanks for the tips.
I really learned a lot from you today. Never knew that much about egg wash, and obviously didn’t make it the right way, lol. Thanks!
Glad we could help! :)
Thanks. This is so informative and will definitely help in my Baking.
I learned so much about egg wash from this post. I will never make a pie crust or tart without adding an egg wash again! You are right! It adds that perfect finish touch!
So glad you found it helpful! Thanks for your comment!
Using this egg wash made all the difference in the pies I made this weekend. They look beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I agree! Makes all the difference!
Wow! This egg wash is great and will add more effect to our baking process. Such a great addition! Loved it!
I love how easy, and simple this egg-wash recipe is.
I am going to make this, and I will use this on my pie crusts.
It makes them perfectly golden and shiny! Enjoy :)