Chocolate-Dipped Sugar Cubes for Valentine’s Day

If your usual breakfast is toast eaten while answering emails, this is a rather lovely excuse to slow down. Cheesy baked eggs combine a few familiar ingredients in a little ovenproof dish, with something crunchy alongside for dipping.

Search for King Charles’ favourite breakfast recipe and you’ll often find this comforting dish. Clarence House shared cheesy baked eggs in 2020, when Charles was still Prince of Wales, as one of his favourite recipes during the British Cheese Weekender.

That doesn’t mean we know what he eats every morning, but it does give us a royal favourite we can bring into an ordinary home kitchen. No silver breakfast tray required.

For an accessible version with local flavours, Australian Eggs’ King Charles cheesy baked eggs recipe adds an Australian twist. It’s a separate adaptation of the dish, rather than the original Clarence House recipe.

What Are Cheesy Baked Eggs?

Think eggs baked with cream, cheese and vegetables, served straight from their dish.

It’s a good idea for a leisurely breakfast or brunch because you assemble individual portions and let the oven do the cooking. The important part is watching the eggs rather than assuming every dish will be ready at precisely the same minute.

A shallow dish and a deep ramekin can cook quite differently.

Cheesy Baked Eggs With an Australian Twist

This condensed guide follows the Australian Eggs version.

Serves: One

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup blanched English spinach
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 50 g soft, creamy cheese, such as washed-rind brie
• ¼ teaspoon pepperberry or pepper
• ¼ teaspoon lemon myrtle or basil
• ? cup cream
• 50 g crumbly cheddar

Method

1. Heat the oven to 180°C.
2. Brush a small ovenproof dish with the oil and arrange the wilted spinach inside.
3. Add the tomatoes, soft cheese and seasonings.
4. Crack in the eggs. Pour the cream around them, leaving the yolks exposed.
5. Scatter over the cheddar.
6. Start checking after 8 to 10 minutes and continue cooking as needed until the whites are set and the eggs reach your preferred doneness.
7. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Practical Tips Before You Start

Drain the Spinach Well

Wilted spinach can carry quite a bit of water. Drain it thoroughly before adding it to the dish so that extra moisture doesn’t dilute the creamy mixture.

If you use frozen spinach, thaw it and squeeze out the excess liquid first.

Choose a Suitable Ovenproof Dish

Use a dish intended for oven cooking, with enough room for the ingredients and a little space above them.

A relatively shallow dish makes it easier to see how the eggs are cooking. Place individual dishes on a baking tray so they’re easier to move together.

Watch the Egg Whites

Cheese can melt before the eggs are ready.

Check the whites around the yolks, not just the bubbling edges. If they remain translucent, continue baking and check again shortly.

Cold ingredients, dish depth and oven performance all affect the timing.

Prepare the Toast Last

Get the bread ready while the eggs finish cooking so you can serve everything together.

A sturdy slice of sourdough or whole-grain toast works well. Cut it into strips if you want something easy to dip into the dish.

Which Cheese Can You Use?

For the Australian adaptation above, use the specified soft cheese and cheddar as your starting point.

If you’re experimenting, choose a soft cheese you enjoy and a firmer cheese that melts well. Stronger cheeses bring more flavour, so taste your ingredients before adding extra salt.

Keep substitutions modest for your first attempt. Changing the cheese, cream and vegetables all at once makes it harder to judge what worked.

What to Serve With Cheesy Baked Eggs

The dish is rich, so you don’t need a complicated spread alongside it.

Try:

• Toasted sourdough or crusty bread
• A small tomato salad
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Fresh fruit
• Tea or coffee

For a brunch gathering, set out the fruit and bread first, then bring the hot egg dishes to the table when they’re ready.

If you enjoy eggs with mushrooms, our portobello mushroom breakfast feature offers another baked-egg idea to explore.

Can You Make This for More Than One Person?

Yes. Prepare a separate dish for each person and arrange them on a baking tray.

Keep the portions and dish sizes consistent, but check each serving before taking it out of the oven. Several dishes may take longer than one.

For a larger gathering, you could serve these as the hot breakfast option and put out a separate platter of deviled eggs for guests who prefer something prepared ahead.

Can You Prepare It Ahead?

Prepare the vegetables and grate the cheese ahead, then refrigerate them until needed.

For the simplest timing, assemble with the eggs and cream shortly before baking. Remember that chilled ingredients may need longer in the oven.

This is a dish best enjoyed freshly cooked, especially if you want a softer yolk.

More Comforting Egg Recipes

There’s plenty to be said for keeping a few reliable egg dishes in your cooking rotation.

If you prefer familiar Australian comfort food, our classic curried eggs with Keen’s Curry Powder are another option for lunch or a simple dinner.

The flavours are quite different, but both dishes turn everyday eggs into something more substantial than a quick scramble.

A Breakfast Worth Sitting Down For

What appeals to me about cheesy baked eggs is the small amount of preparation. A little spinach, some tomatoes, cheese and eggs become a breakfast that feels thoughtfully put together.

You can make one portion for yourself without arranging an entire brunch, or prepare matching dishes when someone comes over.

Bring out the toast, make a proper cup of tea and enjoy breakfast while it’s hot. Royal connection or otherwise, that sounds like a very agreeable way to start the day.