Shirred Eggs (Baked Eggs)

January 9, 2014Katie

Shirred baked eggs Christmas break just ended, my chicklets were home from college and we cooked together often.    Kids coming, kids going, kids messing up every room in the house!  Dishes in the sink constantly!  The other day, there were 9 or 10 cups in the sink and only 3 of us in the house!  If anyone has suggestions for how to make kids use one cup all day, I’d love to hear it!   We buy those giant boxes of styrofoam cups at Sam’s but still…a sink full of cups! Grrr!

Anyway, Ms. Kayla wanted to make Shirred Eggs this morning so we broke out all the high fat content foods in our house and got started.  Kayla likes to cook, but sometimes she doesn’t hang around for all of the work because she gets easily distracted by her guitar, the dogs, or her cell phone.  But today she actually STUCK around! So I took advantage of time in the kitchen with her.  Love my kitchen time with my favorite redhead!


Shirted eggs, or baked eggs, are originally of French origin, and may also be referred to as “oeufs en cocotte”.The “shirred egg” name comes from the flat bottomed baking dish they were made in originally. The English adaptation, used milk or cream and add cheese as well, whereas the French typically use a pat of butter.

This recipe came courtesy of a bed and breakfast we visited a long time ago, where we helped bail out the owners who were also hosting a wedding at their place as well. We gave a hand in the kitchen and in return they gave us this recipe. They have long since closed up shop, but this recipe remains one of our favorites!

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.  You will need some ramekins (small dishes that are oven safe) or you can actually do a big pan of these also.   Ramekins are really fun tho!  I think ours are 6 oz. ramekins.

Spray the ramekin with cooking spray.  To begin, grate a block of swiss cheese. If you have extra, just pop it into a freezer bag and save it for next time.

Take your ramekin and add 1/3 cup of the shredded swiss cheese to the bottom of the bowl.

Cube up some ham or canadian bacon and add it to the cheese. Again, about 1/3 cup.

You can also use bacon.  We tried that once when we were out of ham and it was great!  ”Fluff” the two together so they’re evenly distributed.  With your fingers make a well (an indention) in the center of this mixture  and crack one or two eggs into the hollowed out well.  Big guys sometimes like bigger portions, ya know.

If you have a picky eater who doesn’t like whole egg yolks like we do, you can also scramble the eggs first before you pour them in.

Now, this is important.  You must use the heavy whipping cream in this dish or it just won’t be right!

Repeat after me.  ”I must use the heavy whipping cream.  I can run 5 miles later to wear it off. ”

Gently pour the 1/3-1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream over the egg/cheese/ham mixture until it just covers all.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

And also sprinkle the top with some parmesan cheese.This will give it a nice brown crust over the top.

Place them all on a cookie sheet and pop the into the oven.  Bake these at 350º for 20-25 minutes.  If you get them just right, the yolks are still a little runny.  Remove and let cool for a few minutes and then dig in.  Sprinkle some chopped chives or parsley over the top for some color and punch. Try experimenting with your favorite herbs as well like fresh chopped thyme, rosemary or basil. It’s delicious!!

We like to serve these up with some fresh fruit to cut the richness of the creamy eggs.  My mom always serves it with split english muffins, toasted, rubbed with butter and sprinkled with powdered sugar and a little cinnamon.

Try these shirred eggs some morning for a special breakfast.  They’re creamy and rich and cheesy and wonderful.  They’d also make a special breakfast for company staying over and make a pretty presentation.

What a way to wake up in the morning!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Recipe Redo - Shirred Eggs (Baked Eggs)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1⅓ c. Swiss cheese, shredded
  • 1⅓ c. Chopped Canadian bacon, ham, or bacon
  • 1⅓-1½ c. heavy whipping cream
  • 4 T grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ t. salt
  • ¼ t. pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375º.
  2. Spray ramekins with cooking spray.
  3. Shred swiss cheese and place ⅓ c. in ramekin.
  4. Cube up canadian bacon, ham or bacon and place in dish.
  5. Mix together evenly and make a well in center of each bowl.
  6. Crack egg(s) into well or scramble and pour into well.
  7. Pour cream gently over top of all.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes until whites are set but yolk is still soft.
  9. Optional, can scramble egg(s) for those who don't like yolks and pour in center of well.
  10. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Want to try some owner comfort food breakfast recipes? I am participating in Food network’s Lets pull Up A Chair: Comfort Food Fest each Thursday over the next few months. Look what these other fabulous food bloggers made!

Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Broccoli and Goat Cheese Omelet
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins
Feed Me Phoebe: Amaranth Breakfast Porridge with Blueberry Compote
Weelicious: Crispy Orange Stuffed French Toast Sticks
Devour: Bobby’s Breakfast for Dinner Recipes
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Egg Bruschetta with Pesto
Red or Green: Huevos Rancheros
Dishing With Divya: Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Sweet Toast
Virtually Homemade: Crescent Dough Breakfast Skillet
Taste With The Eyes: Kimchi & Cheddar Omelette
Blue Apron Blog: 7 Breakfast for Dinner Ideas from Around the World
Dishin & Dishes: Shirred Eggs (Baked Eggs)
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Peasant Omelette
Domesticate Me: “Shakshuka” Egg White Frittata with Turkey Sausage
The Sensitive Epicure: “Egg In The Hole” with Sauteed Spinach
The Heritage Cook: Southwest Breakfast Hash
FN Dish: Wake Up to Breakfast

15 Comments

  • Sharon

    July 16, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Parmesan cheese from the green can? Oh, Katie, tell me it isn't so. I hope that was one of the old pictures and you now use freshly grated parmesan. It's a gazillion times better!
    1. dishinanddishes

      July 17, 2010 at 1:51 pm

      Sharon - hahaha you caught me! Sometimes I just don't have the other in the house. Keepin' it real! Katie
  • Vivette

    July 16, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    This recipe sounds really yummy! BTW when I get this by subcription the 1st article and all pictures repeat no matter what the next heading says. You are probably aware of it already but thought I'd mention it. So, for example, how to freeze hamburger meat was the shirred eggs article and pictures again.
    1. dishinanddishes

      July 17, 2010 at 1:51 pm

      Vivette - hmm...wasn't aware of that! I'll have to subscribe myself and see what's going on! thanks for the heads up!
    2. Sharon

      July 18, 2010 at 11:40 am

      That happened to me too, but not as a subscriber. When I clicked on the Shirred Egg story, it kept opening to the Indian Spice Story. I needed to double check the cooking time and temperature. It wasn't on the printed recipe version. It's something you might want to look into. I don't know how you 'techie' folk do all this stuff. I thoroughly enjoy your site. Why do all the great cooks hail from Okalahoma?
      1. dishinanddishes

        July 18, 2010 at 12:43 pm

        Sharon - I'm so glad you tell me about these things so I can fix them! The temp should be 375º and I've added it to the printable. This is the hardest thing for me - getting recipes down on paper! I just cook and never pay attention so I so appreciate the alert! Oklahoma cooks? Maybe it's just southern down-home goodness?
  • nanny

    July 16, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    We hadn't had them for awhile so when I fixed them last week they were oh so good! Still one of my favorites! Love you!!
  • Sharon

    July 25, 2010 at 11:33 am

    These are wonderful. I made these yesterday morning and will definately be making them when our family comes visiting in a couple of weeks. This recipe is a 'keeper'.
    1. dishinanddishes

      July 25, 2010 at 11:38 am

      Sharon -so glad you enjoyed them! We love them too! :)
  • Sharon

    August 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Well Katie, the family is here and we had these eggs this morning before heading off to do some serious shopping and a movie. Everyone loved the eggs and my sister in law wants the recipe. These are so yummy. Next time we're trying bacon.
  • Tracy Anderson

    June 1, 2011 at 8:55 am

    This dish looks absolutely wonderful!!! My kids and husband love breakfast for dinner and it is always the same old eggs, now I have something different to make. Thank you so much for your recipe. Tracy Anderson
  • Jane, The Heritage Cook

    January 24, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Shirred eggs was my dad's favorite breakfast - I haven't made it since he passed away, but your beautiful photos and delicious recipe are making me crave them again. Thanks for reminding me about these wonderful breakfast treats!

    1. Katie

      January 25, 2014 at 9:26 am

      Jane - thank you! They are one of our favorites as well!
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    January 29, 2018 at 11:25 am

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