web analytics

Valentine’s Day Eggs in Toast

Valentine’s Day Toad in the Hole

Toad-in-the-hole is the name of a traditional British dish in which sausages are put into Yorkshire pudding batter and baked right into the popover-like pastry. Since it’s origination, the name has been expanded to include many other dishes, including the simple breakfast dish of eggs in toast. At least, I’ve always heard eggs-in-toast called toad-in-the-hole. It can also be called Eggs in a Basket, Eggs in the Hole, or Frog in a Hole.  The dish is very easy to make and doesn’t take much more prep time than any other style of breakfast eggs. All you need to do is fry an egg inside a piece of toast. It comes out in one piece, so it’s easy to serve. I’m opting with the most  generic name for this dish, although I will continue to call it “toad in the hole” for better or worse, since that is what I’ve always called it.

Usually, this dish is made by using a round biscuit cutter to remove a circle from the center of the toast. I gave this version a Valentine’s Day twist by cutting a big heart out. You can use a knife and cut the heart free-hand (which is what I did), or use a heart-shaped cookie cutter if you have one that is about 4-inches in diameter. The bread should be very lightly toasted before cracking the egg into it, and it helps the egg not to stick to the pan if you give your bread a very light coating of butter before putting it down to be toasted.

Get up a little bit early on Valentine’s Day and make this a cute breakfast for your valentine – or make it with them, if you both want to get up early.

Valentine’s Day Toad in the Hole

Valentine’s Day Toad in the Hole
(recipe is per serving)
1 large egg
1 slice of bread
butter
salt and pepper, to taste

Place a frying pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Lightly butter both sides of bread (this can be skipped if you really prefer yours w/o butter) and place in frying pan.
Very lightly toast one side of the bread; bread should be slightly crisp, but not colored. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or a butter knife to cut a large heart out from the center of the toast. Eat or discard removed heart.
Return bread to pan, untoasted side down. Crack egg directly into the heart-shaped hole, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes, until egg is beginning to set. Flip once to continue cooking until desired doneness is achieved (I like mine a bit soft to be soaked up by the toast, although you can keep cooking it until the yolk is totally firm, if you wish).
Serve immediately.

Makes 1. If you have a large frying pan or griddle, make 2 or 3 at a time.

Valentine’s Day Toad in the Hole

Share this article

24 Comments
  • varsha
    February 13, 2009

    I like this idea so much..they look so cute..:)
    Guess its ma first time at ur place..I see so soo many nice dishes here..:)

  • Stephanie
    February 13, 2009

    This used to be one of my favorite breakfasts! It looks so delicious. I like the idea of cutting out a heart shape – very cute.

  • Lauren
    February 13, 2009

    I love eggs in toast!! This is totally on my menu for tomorrow’s breakfast. Hopefully my bf enjoys it.

  • Lisa
    February 13, 2009

    What a cute idea…I’m doing something similar with french toast.

  • Bea
    February 13, 2009

    I love this breakfast! I toast the little heart and put it on the side… have a nice weekend 🙂

  • Linda
    February 13, 2009

    That looks SO good. I love eggs for breakfast. And toast just makes the eggs better. Perfect match and what a good idea for a Valentine’s Day occasion and theme!

  • Jill
    February 13, 2009

    My mom served these to all eight of us as we were growing up and called them “Hole in Ones”. (I know all about the issue with the plural on the ‘One’ and have dealt with it without therapy.)

    Mom would cut a circle out of center of a slice of bread (buttered on both sides), put the bread on the griddle or in the frying pan, and crack the egg inside. After both sides were cooked, she’d serve them to us and we’d slather them with syrup. She would also toast the circle of buttered bread she had cut out and serve those along with the rest of it. Delicious. One of my favorites.

    Thanks for the idea of using a cookie cutter! Why didn’t I think of that?

  • LilSis
    February 13, 2009

    Thanks for sharing this!! I’ve made my sons “Toad in the Hole” for many years. So easy, yet it shows that us moms make a little effort to make breakfast FUN!

  • nina
    February 14, 2009

    Oh, this brings back so many memories…we had this every Saturday morning as children!!! Happy Valentine’s

  • Jennifer
    February 14, 2009

    What a fun breakfast for Valentines!! 🙂

  • Chuck
    February 14, 2009

    You know, these simple breakfasts always bring a smile to my face and bring back wonderful memories. I remember making this for my mom when I was young. Love it!

  • Nicole Caverta
    February 14, 2009

    It’s a shame I don’t live closer.

  • Pork Bun
    February 14, 2009

    Absolutely Brilliant. TY for the great idea. We sometimes use a metal ring right on the grill to make perfect looking “over easies”. I guess the tricky part with “Toad in the Hole” is getting the right combination of light toasting prior to grilling and then getting a fully toasted product after grilling. Anyway I’m trying this straight away – tomorrow morning !! Cheers –

  • Divya
    February 15, 2009

    Lovely idea..though I missed reading this yday,I will make this soon;-)

  • Jenn's Baking Chamber
    February 15, 2009

    That’s adorable what a cute idea!

  • Sarena
    February 15, 2009

    That is so cute! What a great idea!

  • Nick
    February 15, 2009

    It seems like everyone has a different name for these- my wife and I always argue about what it should be called. We always had ‘Sunshine Toast’ and they had ‘Popeyes’.

    If you’re making more than one, we use the cut-out centers for mini-grilled cheese sandwiches and pack them for lunches. 🙂

  • LauraJ
    February 16, 2009

    When I was growing up, my mother used to call these “gashouse eggs.” I don’t know where she got the name. I still make them! I introduced my DH to them. We even described the process to a restaurant one morning (it was the first the grillman had ever heard of them!). I love the heart shape cut-out!
    I also grill my middles right along with the egg and serve them on the side. Also, instead of buttering the bread, I just place my toast in an oiled pan and then plop a small bit of butter in the hole, then crack the egg in. :)!

  • Tricia
    December 29, 2009

    We called these “One Eyed Jacks”. Whatever you call them, they are yummy.

  • Anonymous
    February 8, 2010

    we served this once as a meal and my son looked at and said this is it. He thought it was toast and nothing else.

  • Lisa B.
    February 11, 2010

    I like reading all the different names people have for these. My college roommate’s mom called them “one eyed jacks” too, Tricia. That’s where I learned to make them.

    Since the egg is not fully cooked, be careful about serving them to young children, pregnant women or anyone with a lowered immune system. I always use the in shell pasteurized eggs for this.

  • increase web traffic
    April 13, 2010

    Wow. This Blog is truly a gold mine. I will actually try these tips and let you know how they work out! Thanks again mate.

  • […] You Romantics! A few fun food ideas to share w/ your sweetheart! Valentine’s Day Eggs in Toast | Baking Bites Not So Humble Pie: Bitter Sweets Wine Imbiber » Happy V–Day! Cafe Johnsonia: Valentine’s […]

  • […] Valentine’s Day this year: Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Soft Sugar Cookies to Frost, and Valentine’s Day Eggs in Toast. For dinners this week, she’s planning Fish with Roasted Beets, Eggs with Banana Donuts, […]

What do you think?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *