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Toad in a hole is toasted bread with an egg cooked into the middle. It’s a simple breakfast classic, perfect for any morning.
Egg and toast is a classic combination, and Toad in the Hole is a quick and easy breakfast. For more quick egg dishes, try Healthy Egg Muffins, Avocado Eggs, or Scrambled Eggs.
Toad in the Hole
There are two breakfast dishes that share the same name. Toad in Hole, that bakes sausages in a Yorkshire pudding batter, is a British favorite. Toad in a Hole, using toast and eggs, is an American dish.
Other popular names for this recipe are Egg in a Basket, Egg in a Hole, Egg in a Hat—you get the idea. The dish has been around for a long time, but the first official recipe was published in the 1890’s.
Toad in the Hole is a super fun and different breakfast recipe that my kids LOVE. Not only is it super delicious but it’s really fun to make! The ingredients are simple – eggs, slices of bread, butter, and a little salt and pepper.
It’s also a great “breakfast in bed” dish. Just add some fruit or oatmeal on the side and a big glass of orange juice smoothie!
How to Make Toad in the Hole
The best part about Toad in the Hole? It’s the easiest breakfast you’ll ever make – after cold cereal.
BREAD. Grab a circle cookie cutter or biscuit cutter that’s about 3 inches around. Cut out the holes in your slices of bread – I like to use white bread. (Save those holes to toast in the pan!)
EGG. Melt one teaspoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. After the butter has melted, place your bread in the pan. Crack an egg and pour it into the hole.
COOK. Cook the egg/bread in the pan for about 2 minutes until the bread is lightly toasted. Flip the toast over and cook on the other side until the egg yolk is almost set and the bread is toasted.
ENJOY! Season with a little salt and pepper and eat the toast warm. You can vary the cooking times based on how you like your eggs – longer if you like your eggs more cooked or less if you like them runny.
Tips for this Recipe
Hole cutter. Instead of a cookie cutter, use a glass cup to cut the round part of the bread. This works the same although it isn’t as easy to pop the hole out of.
Add cheese. Toast the bread, add the egg and start cooking it. Add a slice of cheese on top of the egg followed by the round cut out of the bread. Toast until the cheese is melted to add even more flavor and cheesy-ness to this dish.
Bread options. Any slice of bread will work in this recipe, but some great options include Texas Toast, whole grain, or sourdough.
Hole size. Try to aim for a hole with a diameter of 2-2 ½ inches. This gives ample room for large eggs to fry right in the center. If you wish, a larger hole also allows for you to add shredded cheese, bacon bits, green onions, spinach or crumbled pork sausages to the egg.
Skillet. Cook in a non-stick skillet, a well oiled cast iron skillet, or a large electric griddle if you’re making several. To help keep it from sticking to the pan, set the heat to a medium-low so that the toast browns gently and the egg fries evenly.
Spice it up. Easily season the dish with salt, black pepper, paprika, or even add some heat with sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes. You could even top with sausage or onion gravy!
storing + Healthy Pairings
STORE leftovers in a container in the fridge for 1-2 days. The best way to reheat them is in a toaster oven, broil in the oven, or heat in a frying pan. If you’re in a hurry you can also use the microwave.
I love a good healthy breakfast that will keep me full and energized until lunch time.
Serve this Toad in the Hole with healthy sides – fresh fruit, a bowl of hot oatmeal, a parfait, a green smoothie, or a couple slices of turkey bacon.
Try these other healthy breakfast options:
- Healthy Egg Muffins
- Flatbread Breakfast Pizza
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- Homemade Granola
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
Toad in the Hole
Ingredients
- 1 slice bread
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 large egg
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small skillet, melt butter. In the middle of your bread, cut a 3-inch hole and place in the skillet.
- Crack egg and pour in the hole. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned. Turn and cook the other side until egg yolk is almost set. Season as desired with salt and pepper. Enjoy warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Don’t forget to fry and serve the cut-out too. Serve this with onion gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas. UK traditional and delicious! It’s more often lunch or dinner fare than breakfast, BTW.
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing that!
I will try this tomorrow morning ❣️😃
Hope you enjoy!
Nice and fast.
Hi Kristyn: I love your site. Can you tell me what temperature to cook the egg on. L-M, M, MH? I hope my question doesn’t sound too dumb.
Sincerely,
Nathan Pos
WAS ALWAYS A TOAD IN HOLE IN MY HOUSE GROWING UP! IM IN ONTARIO
I hate to tell you, that is not a toad in a hole. That is and egg in a basket.
I thought this was Toad in the Hole. From a descriptive perspective it make makes more sense – there is a hole.
British toad in the hole is not a breakfast dish at all. It’s a lunch or evening meal.
Thanks for sharing! That version is different than this one… both very delicious though! 🙂
Grew up with these, called them bird’s nests
Toad in the hole is made with sausages and pancake batter. This is not toad in the hole.
Nice recipe but it’s not toad in the hole.
Thanks for the feedback!
This is NOT Toad in the Hole and never had been Toad in the hole is sausage in a Yorkshire pudding batter.
Have never heard this called toad in the hole. Only ever sausage in batter. This is called egg in the window and sometimes the cut out circle is cut in half and fried and the put over yolk to be the curtains. I believe the American troops taught it to the British during manoeuvres in WW2.
In the UK toad in the hole would be universally be taken to be sausages (normally simple pork British sausages) baked in a pool of batter in a hot oven. The result is like a large (traditional) Yorkshire pudding with sausages embedded in it. In Yorkshire sliced apples replacing the sausages with a sweeter batter can be served as a dessert.
That is not toad in the hole. No idea why the American chef that came up with this idea called it that. We certainly don’t eat it in the UK. Toad in the hole is sausages roasted then covered in Yorkshire pudding batter and cooked until the batter has risen and is golden.
This is toad in the hole https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sams-toad-hole/amp
Absolutely NOT toad in the hole. TITH is sausage cooked in a Yorkshire pudding batter. You yanks are mad!
Thanks for your feedback.
We have had this for many years. My uncle brought it back from Germany but he called German Toast.
This is a ‘One Eyed Nelson” not “Toad in the Hole”
Toad in the Hole is sausages baked in a Yorkshire Pudding.
Oh my goodness Kristyn! Thank you so much for sending “The Egg In A Hole” aka “Toad In A Hole” (among other names) Recipe today! I have been looking for a different take on eggs…and you just reminded me of this one. I am a senior now, but I used to make these for my son (when he was little) and I had totally forgotten about them and you really brightened my day today, by posting this easy and yummy recipe, which I will definitely start making again! Your site is wonderful, although I don’t post comments on any sites, I just had to thank you for bringing back so many great recipes, as well as so very many awesome new ones…and this surely did make my day! A million thanks for your wonderful site!
Oh this comment made my whole day! Thank you for the kind words. I’m so glad this recipe could bring back good memories! Hope you enjoy!
One of our favorite things to make for breakfast! So fun and delicious!!
Theres not too many recipes that are easy to make for only 1 person, but this can be used to easily make for myself or if my kids want some. It’s easy and delicious.
5 star all the way! We have this on the regular at our house, a true favorite!
I made a batch of these to save and have for breakfast and they worked great, they were super easy to eat and were something new and different as well.
Fun to make and the kids just love them!
You have a complete meal all in one! This is such a tasty breakfast! Love the combination of textures with the crunchy toast & runny egg!
A great way to serve up breakfast. Your family will love this idea of egg and toast together.
I’ve made this before but I never knew it was called that! It is really good though!
So glad you enjoy it!
The number of people uptight about this naming makes me laugh. 😂 Ya’ll know that sometimes different cultures choose the same names for dishes but they can mean wildly different things? It’s almost as though we, as Americans, grew up speaking English but in a totally different environment from people in the UK… How strange that we might adopt the same name for a different dish. MYSTERIOUS.
I’ve always heard it cakes Toad in the Hole here in the US and of you Google it it’s about 50/50 this recipe or the UK one.
Anyways it’s a great recipe and I love making it! I stopped by to get some timing and temperature tips because my last batch came out super messy. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! So glad you enjoy the recipe!
Hello. I just want to clarify that toad in a hole is sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding batter. This is called egg in a nest.
As children living and growing up in N.H. and Maine during the late fifties and sixties, we had this many times. The recipe came from an old Betty Crocker’s cookbook and it was called Eggs in a frame. Never heard it called Toads in a hole until just now.
Oh how fun!! Hopefully it brought back some good memories. 🙂
This is not ‘Toad in the Hole’. This is what is known as ‘Egg in a Hole’ as well as various other names such as ‘Eggs in a Basket’, ‘Eggs in a Window’, ‘Eggs in a Frame’, ‘Egg in a Hat’…
Actual Toad in the Hole was invented in England hundreds of years ago during the 18th century. It is a dish of sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding. It holds a special place in the hearts of Englishmen.
Thanks for the feedback.
That is absolutely not what toad in the hole is. As a Yorkshire man, I am deeply offended.
Sorry didn’t remember I had commented on this already.
Kristen:
This is a great breakfast! I had it growing up and loved it. However, it is called an egg in the hole.
The original toad came from England. It is Yorkshire pudding with whole sausages. The sausages are put into the pan with the batter.
It is then put into the oven and baked. So, so delicious.
That does sound delicious! Thanks for sharing.
This is not toad in the hole. This is egg in a window.
Toad in the hole is a dish with British sausages in batter.
This is a classic, but if you want the real thing, the original recipe is made with Yorkshire pudding and sausages. Give it a try you will love it.
That does sound yummy! Thanks for sharing.
This is not toad in the hole, please research toad in the hole. It is an English dish that comes from Yorkshire, it has been around since at least the late end of the 1700’s
just because you give a name to something doesn’t mean the dish is now known by that name.
Please read this in a pleasant tone as that is how I mean it to come across……oh and read it with a scottish accent aswell.
I do like a good slice of toast with an egg in the middle.
Hope you are staying safe with “covid” floating about
My mom made this all the time whEn I was a kid, and called it egg in a frame. Toad in the hole is an actual british dish that is nothing like this.
You idiot that’s a whole in the wall a road In the hole is an English dish with sausage and putting batter
My DEAREST Anon-
“Putting batter”? Putting batter where? In the (w)hole? On the toad? Im confused! Why did the batter cross the road? Who cares! You must be talking about “pudding batter”, something they put in several English treats… I’m so glad I’m not English… on the other hand, what in tarnation is a “road in a hole”? I saw one once while driving thru Texas, it was dark! Much like the comment you used by calling these amazing ladies idiots! Why all the anger? There’s a cure for that – it’s called “Toad in the Hole” I’ve tasted this very RECIPE, and just thinking about it makes me hungry!!! No, really… I’m hungry! Let’s do lunch… meet me at HANK’S, it’s just a little whole in the wall cafe. Wink wink, chow, Anon!
Anonymous:
There is no need to call anyone an idiot.
Just because someone doesn’t know of something, doesn’t mean they are an idiot. They are just uninformed.
We don’t call you an idiot because you can’t spell, we just assumed you weren’t taught properly.
Last week I made perfect Toads In The Hole., using 2 slices of bread, Ham and cheese.
Today, I did everything the same
WAy. But today, the butter started to smoke, and the eggs just didn’t want to get to the “over Medium” state. DISAPPOINted to say the least.
Wonder what had everything all katterwompus? WX?
I wish I knew?? It’s hard to know, since you did everything the same.
Love this recipe. It has been a special treat since childhood. Thanks for sharing. By the way you might want to look at your post, at the very end it mentions that cooking time can be adjusted according to how you like your “kids” cooked. That auto correct feature can be a pain at times. Lol
LOL..thank you for catching that!! Yeah, I don’t think anyone wants to cook their kids!! Thanks again!
this is such a cute recipe to make with my granddaughter she just loves it! you should consider going to justapinch.com and add their recipe box to your site so home cooks can access your recipes with ease!
Thank you for sharing that!! 🙂 Glad she loves it!
This recipe was so fun to make and the entire family LOVED it!
My daughter would be thrilled if I would make these for breakfast every day. So easy, so tasty!
This was my favorite breakfast as a kid! We used a cup to cut the hole and we called it “camel’s eye” – still a family favorite.
what a fun favorite, haven’t seen this in years, yay and thank you!
You are welcome! And, I agree 🙂