Got some extra egg yolks and looking for a way to put them to good use? Make these egg yolk recipes from leftover yolks and have fun cooking!

Egg yolks are an excellent focus for a recipe, offering a unique texture, a binding agent, or an easy way to deepen the flavor.

From desserts to savory dishes, egg yolks are at home across the entire spectrum of recipes. Let’s dive into thirty-one ways you can use egg yolk to up your meal game.

1. Greek Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup

Source: cuisineandtravel.com

This authentic Greek recipe uses a lot of egg yolks to make an extra creamy soup base. It’s a wonderfully warm and hearty soup recipe packed with vegetables and chicken.

The lemon in the orzo soup makes it light enough to enjoy year-round.

2. Blood Orange Upside Down Cake

Source: theforkedspoon.com

Blood oranges are stunning, with a deep orange color that soaks into the upside-down cake.

Combined with light citrus notes and deep, dark sweetness, the look and taste of this cake are out of this world. Plus, it only takes ten minutes to prepare.

3. Maple Custard with Strawberry Compote

Source: mapleandmango.com

Custard’s main ingredient is egg, which gives it a rich and luxurious taste with the heated cream. As the egg cooks slowly, the sweet custard thickens naturally.

This delicious recipe uses maple syrup to sweeten the custard rather than standard white sugar.

4. Salted Egg Yolk Popcorn

Source: greedygirlgourmet.com

This Asian-inspired salted egg yolk popcorn is bursting with umami. The punchy, in-your-face flavor is not for the faint of heart!

Making your own salted eggs is super simple, especially if you get your hands on some duck eggs.

5. Black Garlic Aioli

Source: taoofspice.com

Making your own aioli is a lot simpler than people think. The core ingredients are egg yolks and oil, whipped into a frenzy until enough air is incorporated.

This version will use black garlic and salt to add a deep, earthy flavor to the light aioli.

6. Keto Caesar Salad Dressing

Source: ketofocus.com

The key to getting this dressing right is slowly adding the oil into the beaten eggs yolks and mixing it thoroughly. If you half mix or pour too fast, the yolks can split, and you might need to start again.

A delicious addition to any keto salad!

7. Zucchini and Mascarpone Fritters

Source: throughthefibrofog.com

A good vegetable fritter is a perfect recipe to have in your arsenal.

In this case, the large egg yolk acts as a binding agent to keep all the vegetable shavings and better together. This also helps the fritter become lovely and crispy in the pan.

8. Greek Yogurt Healthy Deviled Eggs

Source: ifoodreal.com

Deviled eggs typically use mayonnaise or aioli to mix with the removed egg yolk, but this recipe is different. It uses the lighter option of Greek yogurt to mix with the egg yolks.

9. Cardamom Apple Fritters

Source: throughthefibrofog.com

These cardamom apple fritters are the perfect thing to put you in the Fall spirit.

Egg yolks make a rich batter combined with flour, sugar, and a healthy dose of delicious cardamom. These are like bite-sized apple pies, bursting with warmth and comfort in every mouthful.

10. Butternut Squash Spaghetti Carbonara

Source: thehealthyepicurean.com

Carbonara is typically a fresh and light pasta dish that uses egg yolks as a final sauce, but this time we’re adding roasted butternut squash to mellow the dish.

The egg yolks combine with the butternut squash to form a rich yellow sauce, perfect for adorning a plate of pasta.

11. Brioche French Toast

Source: ihearteating.com

Brioche is an enriched bread that contains more fats and dairy than other bread types.

Pair that with a rich mixture of egg yolk and sugar, then fry it to perfection, and you’ve got a winner on your hands. The egg yolk softens the bread and adds even more flavor than a whole egg.

12. Kimchi Mayo

Source: inthekitch.net

With the rich, slightly tangy taste of kimchi accenting the creamy mayo, there’s almost nothing better.

This mayonnaise is excellent in anything, from sandwiches to deviled eggs, and adds a lovely unexpected twist to your meals. Plus, it’s super simple to make in large batches and keep on hand in your fridge.

13. Healthy Hollandaise Sauce

Source: foodmeanderings.com

Traditional hollandaise sauce is full of oil and fat, but this take uses a blender to incorporate air into the egg yolk mixture. Using a blender also means this sauce is super simple to make in a hurry.

14. Raw Kefir Smoothie

Source: thepeasantsdaughter.net

Kefir is a fermented type of raw milk known for being rich in probiotics and nutrients. This smoothie builds on that nutrient density, adding egg yolks, collagen, and berries for a massive morning kick starter.

The egg yolks add much-needed protein, while the berries help the smoothie taste sweet and fresh.

15. Cannoli Ice Cream

Source: joyfilledeats.com

If you’ve never made homemade ice cream before, you might not know that egg yolks are a vital ingredient! They help form the custard, whipped and frozen to create the ice cream.

This incredible cannoli ice cream incorporates ricotta, cinnamon, and the slightest hint of vanilla.

16. Eggs Benedict

Source: spendwithpennies.com

Eggs benedict uses egg yolks in two ways: the sauce and the egg itself.

Combined with a perfectly poached egg (just slightly runny), this is a simple breakfast that will impress. Serve the dish with bacon, or put a twist on a classic with some smoked salmon instead.

17. Portuguese Custard Tarts

Source: herbsandflour.com

When baked, the egg yolks in custard harden to a silky smooth texture, making it the ideal tart filling.

These tarts are bite-sized and delicious when eaten either warm or cold. Serve them up for your next brunch gathering with a pot of coffee and a side of cream.

18. Cured Egg Yolks

Source: carolynscooking.com

Rather than hiding the egg yolk away in something, make it the star of the show!

This recipe demonstrates a method for curing egg yolks. They transform into little balls of delicious yellow flavor, ready to be grated or crumbled over your next dish to add a healthy dose of umami.

19. Egg Yolk Lemon Cake

Source: anitalianinmykitchen.com

If you’re baking and only have to use egg whites, don’t toss the egg yolks out!

This cake has a tight, dense crumb ideal for soaking in sugar syrup. The flavor is sweet and rich, so it’s the perfect way to cap off a dinner or birthday party!

20. Sables Bretons Cookies

Source: abakingjourney.com

These buttery and delicious French specialties are to die for.

What makes them even better is how simple they are to make! You only need five ingredients to make these cookies happen. The beautiful golden-brown result will have your cookie recipients drooling.

Check out more low-calorie cookies!

21. Butterscotch Pudding

Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com

Using egg yolks as a custard base, you can easily create this creamy, smooth, decadent butterscotch pudding.

A dollop of fresh cream perfectly offsets the dark sweetness hiding within each pudding cup.

22. Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Source: healthyrecipes101.com

Sweet potato gnocchi is sweet and earthy, and they look stunning on the plate.

Once again, the egg acts as a binding agent in these little gems, adding to their spongy and light texture. Pair this with a burnt butter sauce or serve it alone as an appetizer.

23. Duchess Potatoes

Source: mrsjoneskitchen.com

Duchess potatoes are little parcels enriched with egg yolk, and baked to a crisp.

All you need is a piping tip and a sheet tray to create the swirled shapes.

Check out more foods that start with D here.

24. Margarita Cookies

Source: marleysmenu.com

Shortbread cookies don’t typically incorporate eggs, but this recipe uses a dough enriched with egg yolk. The result is a delightfully crispy and golden brown cookie that proudly carries that tequila lime glaze.

Love this dessert? Check out these banana desserts!

25. Passionfruit Curd

Source: abakingjourney.com

Passionfruit is deliciously light, sweet, and tangy, perfect for accenting your next batch of pancakes!

This curd is also a fantastic way to sweeten Greek yogurt at breakfast, or you can even substitute it for a lemon meringue pie. The possibilities are endless.

26. Aglio e Olio with Cured Egg Yolk

Source: carolynscooking.com

Aglio e Olio is a traditional Italian egg yolk pasta dish perfect for making on a weeknight.

But we’re going to put a little spin on it. Using the cured egg yolks mentioned earlier in this list, you can boost the umami in this dish ten-fold with barely any effort.

27. Berry Buttermilk Shortcake

Source: boulderlocavore.com

A good shortcake is crumbly and layered with fresh fruit and heavy cream, making it the perfect summer dessert.

Using egg yolks in the shortcake dough creates an enriched dough that’s perfect for contrasting against the light cream. Experiment with your favorite fruits to create your signature combination.

28. Lemon Soup with Chicken and Israeli Couscous

Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com

Delicious poached chicken, light yet hearty soup, and chewy pearl couscous combine into the perfect summertime soup. This quick and easy crowd-pleaser is ideal for weeknight cooking.

This is one of the leftover egg yolk recipes you’ll love. Check out more low calorie chicken recipes here!

29. Blueberry Crème Brûlée

Source: raspberriesandkohlrabi.com

Crème Brulee is a French dessert with an unrivaled richness and luxury reputation.

This blueberry crème Brulee has a refreshing bite to counteract all that richness.

Use those extra yolks to make this dessert for special occasions. This is one of the decadent desserts everyone loves!

30. Lime Meringue Mini Eclairs

Source: babaganosh.org

These eclairs are filled with delicious lime custard and topped with a citrusy meringue.

These are elegant and delicious, so they’re great as a gift or a nice addition to the menu of a sophisticated dinner party.

31. Blood Orange Curd

Source: itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com

Blood orange has a unique flavor and color, so this curd is super distinctive and vibrant.

Each bite rings with a tangy sweetness. You don’t need any special equipment or a whole lot of time, which makes this super simple to create.