Egg wash

Beaten egg, sometimes mixed with water, milk or cream, brushed on dough before baking for shine and color.

Egg wash: A pastry brush brushing a glossy egg wash over an unbaked braided bread, a small bowl of beaten egg beside it
  • Techniques and preparation methods

Whole egg gives a golden shine; yolk with cream gives deep color and gloss; egg white with water gives shine with less color. A pinch of salt thins the egg so it brushes evenly.

Brush lightly and avoid pooling, which can glue layers together on laminated pastry. Egg wash also helps seal pastry edges and makes seeds or sugar stick.

Bake it at VanillaGoods

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Egg wash (Q5347861), Wikidata