Alpine Eggs
If you’re looking for a delicious egg recipe for breakfast or brunch, try these Alpine Eggs! This an old European recipe with eggs baked in a mix of Swiss and Cheddar cheeses and served over toasted pumpernickel bread.
For most of my life, my idea of a really enjoyable breakfast always included eggs. They might be scrambled, fried, poached, or boiled…it didn’t matter as long as there were eggs on the plate. But, somewhere along the way, my tastes changed.
I started to really notice a difference in the taste of eggs years ago when I purchased a dozen free-range, local eggs from a little butcher shop near me. Those eggs were from chickens that had been allowed to roam the barnyard and feed on what chickens naturally like to eat. The yolks were bright orange and the taste! There was just no comparison.
Because we can’t always get free-range, local eggs, I’ve been looking for egg dishes that I can enjoy with the more readily available grocery store eggs. This Alpine Eggs recipe precisely fits that bill. And talk about easy! It’s only eggs, cheese, and a little butter, but my word is it good!
This is an old recipe with European origins. It’s known to have appeared in Mrs. Beeton’s which was first published in 1861 and is thought to be called “Alpine” because she used Swiss cheese in the recipe.
We always enjoy this for a weekend breakfast but it would also be perfect for brunch or dinner.
❤️ Why We Love This Recipe
- It’s Easy and Quick! This recipe is so simple to put together, making it ideal for a no-fuss meal.
- It’s Customizable. Change the recipe to customize it with your favorite cheeses, herbs, or even add vegetables like spinach or tomatoes for extra flavor and variety.
- It’s Great for Any Time of Day. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely weekend breakfast, hosting a brunch with friends, or looking for a satisfying dinner option, this recipe fits the bill.
🛒 Ingredient Notes
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- Butter – The butter prevents the cheese from sticking to the baking dish and adds a little flavor to the finished recipe.
- White Cheddar and Swiss Cheeses – These are my personal choices. Choose any semi-hard cheese that grates easily.
- Eggs – As fresh as possible.
- Salt and Pepper – Use both to taste. A light sprinkle is all that’s needed. The cheese itself will be salty.
- Chives – They’re optional but highly recommended. Not only do they add some much needed color to the presentation, they also impart a light onion-y flavor.
- Bread of Choice – Use any bread you like. Plain white, whole wheat, pumpernickel, and rye are all good choices.
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Make Alpine Eggs
Preheat the oven to 350.
Generously butter an ovenproof baking dish or gratin dish.
Mix the two grated cheeses together and evenly distribute half in the bottom of the baking dish.
Crack the eggs one at a time, evenly spaced, over the cheese. Sprinkle each egg with salt and pepper.
Top with remaining cheese making sure each egg is completely covered.
Bake 14-15 minutes for a runny yolk or 16-17 minutes for a more firm yolk.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with chives. Serve warm over toast.
❗ Recipe Tips
- For variety, add a cup of cooked, drained spinach around the eggs in the second layer.
- For an Italian flair, add cooked tomato and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning to the egg layer with a sprinkle of Parmesan added to the top.
- Use all Swiss or all Cheddar cheese.
- Both Emmental and Gruyere cheese are delicious in this recipe.
🍚 Storage
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh and hot from the oven. However, leftovers can be carefully stored tightly covered in the refrigerator for a day. Reheat in a very low oven.
❓ Questions About Alpine Eggs
Absolutely! While the classic recipe features Swiss and Cheddar cheeses, you can experiment with your favorites. Gruyère, Emmental, and Parmesan are all good choices.
Cooking time determines the yolk’s consistency. For a runny yolk, bake for 14-15 minutes; 16-17 minutes for a firmer yolk.
While toast is a classic choice, you can pair the eggs with a salad, roasted vegetables, or even a bed of quinoa for a heartier meal.
Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
📖 Recipe
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Alpine Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese grated
- 6 ounces Swiss cheese grated
- 6 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chives finely chopped
- 6 slices whole wheat toast (or your choice of bread)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Generously butter an ovenproof baking dish.
- Mix the two grated cheeses together and evenly distribute half in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Crack the eggs one at a time, evenly spaced, over the cheese. Sprinkle each egg with salt and pepper.
- Top with remaining cheese making sure each egg is completely covered.
- Bake 14-15 minutes for a runny yolk or 16-17 minutes for a more firm yolk.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with chives.
- Serve warm over toast.
Notes
- This recipe is best enjoyed fresh and hot from the oven. However, leftovers can be carefully stored tightly covered in the refrigerator for a day. Reheat in a very low oven.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was first published on September 26, 2014. It has been updated with additional information.
I have some questions please!
You are using sharp white cheddar cheese along with Swiss cheese.
the recipe says to sprinkle cheese in bottom of dish, does that mean both cheese? Does not say one way or another.
also the recipe says to Crack the eggs one at a time, evenly spaced, over the eggs. Sprinkle each egg with salt and pepper.
Should that be crack the eggs one at a time, evenly spaced, over the cheese???
Thank you in advance.
Mix the grated cheeses together and sprinkle half over the bottom. The other half of the mixed cheeses goes over the top. Obviously, it should read to crack the eggs over the cheese. I’ll correct the typo.
Fresh eggs do taste different—as in better. What a simple dish that is simply wonderful. I love love love eggs. I eat a lot of them., without any health issues too. I think they are one of the perfect foods.
I have chickens so my eggs are tasty, but always looking for a new way to prepare and serve them. This looks like a winner winner chicken egg dinner!
A total classic. This looks like the perfect weekend breakfast to me. Love the photos.
All that cheese is calling to me! This is the perfect weekend breakfast.
Oh my word!! Where have Alpine Eggs been all my life. These are happening tomorrow!
My brother started raising chickens a few years ago and we’ve been lucky enough to get fresh eggs when we visit him. The difference really is amazing compared to the grocery store eggs! This looks delicious!
There’s just no comparison, is there, Martha? I enjoy getting the farm raised, free range ones when I can but it’s not very often.
I always have to start my day with some deliciously cooked eggs so this recipe is perfect for me. Thanks for sharing it, you can definitely consider that I will be making these alpine style eggs.
Good to know, Thalia. I hope you enjoy this deliciously different egg recipe.
Now that’s an egg dish that I could eat! I’m with you, I don’t care for scrambled eggs but I love fried!
It’s funny, Angie, because I used to really enjoy scrambled eggs. Now they just taste like nothing to me.
Every year on Christmas morning we host some family for breakfast and I think this would be amazing to serve this year. I love that it’s easy to make and can bake away while we are doing other things.
Very quick prep time, too, Christine. It would be a great recipe to serve to guests.
This dish makes me willing to give eggs another try. Maybe that’s why I don’t like them – lack of taste! I’m going to pin this so I can try it soon!
Hope you enjoy it, Ashley.
Such an easy recipe…but so delish. Pinning to try soon!
Very easy. Perfect for days or nights when you’re just too tired to invest much time in the kitchen.
yum!