Dippy eggs and soldiers, or soft-boiled eggs with toast sticks, are a British child’s classic breakfast. Brits hold this near to our heart as comfort food, long into our adult years. I’ll show you how to easily make perfect soft boiled eggs and serve them with “soldiers”.
Originally published June 22, 2012
Dippy eggs with soldiers continue to be popular in our household.
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What are Dippy Eggs?
Dippy eggs is simply a name given to a soft-boiled egg in an egg cup, for children. Dippy eggs, so called because one dips toast into them, originated in the UK and is still popular today as a children’s breakfast, but adults love them, too! Everyone asks me about the egg cup, but I bought it in England. The closest I’ve found are these soldier egg cups.
Are Dippy Eggs and Soldiers healthy?
For one thing, we have wonderful friends who give us fresh eggs from their own chickens, from time to time, which I even allow my son to eat completely raw (I would never allow this with an egg from the store).
You’ll have to use your own judgment whether you feel certain range free, organic eggs from a store like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods are also safe to use for “dippy eggs” or soft boiled eggs. However, if you have any doubts, or a weakened immune system, then it’s best not to venture into “soft boiled egg country” at all. *I am not responsible for any illness from eating a soft-boiled egg.
Eggs are incredibly nutritious! One large egg has varying amounts of 13 essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, all for 70 calories.
Have you ever had Scotch eggs?
Why is it called Dippy Eggs and Soldiers?
Now as far as the “soldiers” go–if you’re from the UK, there’s no explanation needed, but for everyone else: when soft boiled eggs are served to little ones in Britain, the toast is cut into long strips which everyone calls “soldiers,” apparently because they’re so straight.
These are used to “dip-dip” in the yolk! So they’re called “dippy eggs!” Soft boiled eggs with soldiers holds a special place in a Brit’s food memories. If you don’t believe me, ask any Brit, (especially ex-pats) you know.
Another delicious recipe to go with that runny egg: Fried Bread.
How do you eat Soft Boiled Eggs?
It’s simple, but you will need an egg cup. No worries if you don’t own one as most of us have a shot glass or small measuring glass in our kitchen and these will work, also.
Use a knife to break into the top part of the egg (you can see how much I cut in the photos) then take the top off by hand. Don’t bother with the fancy egg cutters, as they really don’t work. I like a little salt sprinkled onto the egg, but others like it plain. Now, just use your soldier to dip into the soft yolk and eat them!
Use a little spoon to eat the white part of the egg in the top part of the egg and to finish eating the egg once you’ve “dipped” the yolk.
Check out my how to make coddled eggs, too! This is a beautiful egg coddler that’s a Scandinavian design and made in Poland, however the one in the photo is a classic British Royal Worcester egg coddler.
You’ll see my blue Butter Bell crock in the photo below. I love it as I never have to “fight” spreading my toast or bread with cold butter!
How do you Cook Dippy Eggs?
Here’s how I make perfect soft boiled eggs, or dippy eggs (or hard boiled, so they aren’t rubbery.)
Dippy Eggs Recipe
(Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs)
a typical British recipe serves 1 (2 eggs)
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- eggs
- buttered toast, cut into thin fingers
Special equipment: egg cups
Place the eggs in a pot and cover with 1″ of cold water. As you can see in the photo, the eggs are IN water.
How Long do you Cook Dippy Eggs?
Bring to a boil over medium high heat, and as soon as the water comes to a boil, remove from the heat, cover the pot and let stand: 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for soft boiled (I did two minutes for large eggs) less time for smaller eggs, more for larger ones, or 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs.
For soft boiled, remove and serve immediately in an egg cup (note: these aren’t the same as the ones shown in my photo).
Cut the top off with a knife and serve with salt, and toast soldiers.
Use a small spoon to eat the remaining egg that your soldiers can’t scoop out.
Yummy dippy eggs and soldiers! I still love them!
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Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs with Soldiers!
A typical British breakfast for children that we all seem to enjoy far into adulthood.
Ingredients
- 2 fresh, organic eggs, preferably from a local farm or home
- 1 slice, buttered toast, cut into "soldiers"
- salt
- (pepper)
Instructions
- Place the eggs in a pot and cover with 1" of cold water (meaning, the eggs should be covered with an inch of water.)
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat, and as soon as the water comes to a boil, remove from the heat, cover the pot and let stand: 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for soft boiled (I did two minutes for large eggs) less time for smaller eggs, more for larger or 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs.
- For soft boiled, remove and serve immediately in an egg cup with soldiers and hot tea.
Notes
- Be sure to use the freshest, best quality eggs you can find, and if you do not trust the source, do not use them for this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 2 eggsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 382mgSodium: 896mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 15g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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I know this is an older post, but I’m hoping against hope you can let me know where you purchased those adorable egg cups.
Hi there, I bought the soldier egg cup in The Cotswolds. I believe a little shop in Bourton on the Water. The other is from my childhood! :)
The company that makes them are called KitchenCraft. They also do adults espresso mugs which are perfect for children’s hot chocolate.
Thank you!
That little egg cup that your parents bought for you? I was given exactly the same one for Easter when I was little! 😊😊😊
Wow! Isn’t that amazing?! I take it you still have it, too? We have something special in common, Clair! :)
I just pinned this recipe but I would really like to know where I could get the ceramic soldier egg cups that you have pictured. I just love these!
Hi Marie, I know how you feel! I only bought one at a little shop in the Cotswolds in England last year as it was the only one they had left! I have looked online, but never found them. :( So sorry! CC
I visited the Cotswolds in October for the first time. Every shop I visited I searched for egg cups. Came back to Oxford and found them at Boswells! My daughter lives in Oxford and introduced me to eggs and soldiers, love them!
Did you not find any in the Cotswolds, Susan? That’s great that your daughter introduced you to eggs and soldiers and glad you finally found some egg cups! I could have a storage problem if I bought all the egg cups I wanted! I love them!
I haven’t had a soft boiled egg since my mother died 30 years ago. It was one of her favorite foods, and one of the last things I was able to make for her. I wish I had your soldier egg cup – I would make them for us! Oddly, the only egg cups I have are for goose eggs, which aren’t easy to find! (They are also Limoges goose egg cups…!!)
Awww, I’m sure they must always remind you of her. In a pinch, you can always use a shot glass as an egg cup (hopefully you have a few of those around)! ;) Limoges goose egg cups aren’t a bad thing to have either!
you can use a shot glass.
i would like to know how you peel a soft boiled egg
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=egg+cups I just did this search and found a few places to get the egg cups
It’s the simple things in life that often give us the most joy, don’t they? My maternal grandfather loved soft-boiled eggs, and these pictures bring back fond memories for me. To this day, I love runny yolks, the rich taste and the velvety texture are unbeatable.
Absolutely agree, Frank. Yep, you can’t beat a really good runny yolk! In fact, I think I’m going to make one for breakfast right now! :)
Perhaps I just missed it but, do you start with cold eggs from the fridge or room temperature eggs?
I put them in from the fridge as they go into cold water, Jeanne. I’ll add that to the directions. Thank you!
We weren’t British but I remember my mom making these eggs and toast for me when I was little. It’s a wonderful breakfast.
Lovely breakfast, indeed! I made myself two eggs this morning because my pictures made me crave them! Haha!
As always, your posts are entertaining and recipes are so enticing! Thank you for sharing this post, again.
You are SO sweet to say so, Keita!! Thank you so much! 💜