My Recipe Calls for Eggs in Cup Amounts – How Many Eggs? (2024)

As any baker would know, eggs are often one of the most crucial ingredients in any baked good. You’d be struggling to find a recipe that doesn’t ask for one or two eggs. In fact, bakers almost instinctively take out an egg or two every time they start to bake.

However, what if the recipe doesn’t ask for an egg? What if it asks you for a cup of eggs instead?

Don’t panic! Simply read on to discover what to do when my recipe calls for eggs in cup amounts – how many eggs?

What Kind of Recipes Ask for Cups of Eggs?

You may be wondering what kind of recipes ask for cups of eggs in the first place. While it is true that most recipes only ever require one or two eggs, some do not.

These are usually recipes where eggs form the basis of the recipe. Two prime examples are French Meringues or the Australian (or New Zealand dish, depending on who you believe?), Pavlova.

Exactly What Kind of Egg are We Talking About?

Not all eggs are created equal. There are chicken eggs, duck eggs, quail eggs, and everything in between. All of these eggs vary greatly in size. So, when we talk about a cup of eggs, what kind of eggs do we mean? Surely, measuring out a cup of eggs will depend on how big the size of your egg is.

Well, you’d be right…

Most recipes these days use a standardized measurement whereby one egg means one large chicken egg.

Duck eggs are much larger, so be careful if you decide to use these instead. The standard measurements and conversions may not work in this case. But more on that later.

How Many Eggs Make Up One Cup?

As a basic rule, one cup equates to four standard eggs. Now, another important point here is that this measurement refers to the whole egg.

But my recipe asks for just egg whites. Help! What do I do?

This is a common question, so let us guide you through this…

Egg Whites and Egg Yolks

As a basic rule, you just need to double the number of eggs to egg whites. So, if four eggs make a cup of egg, eight egg whites will make a cup of egg white.

Alternatively, if your recipe requires only egg yolk, then you’re going to need a bit more. You will need twelve egg yolks for one cup.

What About Eggs in Different Sizes?

Of course, measuring was never meant to be that simple! Even chicken eggs come in different sizes. So, what do you do in this case?

Nowadays, it’s very common to find small or medium-sized eggs at the supermarket. Therefore, follow these basic measurements whenever you need a cup of eggs. You will need five small eggs to make up one cup. The same applies to medium-sized eggs. Five is all you’ll need when asked for a cup of eggs.

Let’s get back to the duck eggs…

As mentioned earlier, duck eggs are much larger and may require different measurements. So let’s look at this in more detail.

These are often considered extra-large or even jumbo eggs. If you’re using jumbo eggs like these, you will only need two or three eggs to make one cup. But you might need to use your best judgment here to decide how many is best.

I’m Vegan and Using Egg Replacer. What Should I Do?

Many recipes these days offer a vegan alternative. There are a number of egg-replacement products that are often used as a substitute for real eggs.

These products usually provide measurements based on the number of eggs and not in terms of cups. Here’s a helpful conversion tool if you’re using egg replacement for recipes that ask for a cup of eggs.

One to One

As a general rule, four tablespoons of egg replacement equals one standard egg. This makes things super simple. This equates to sixteen tablespoons of egg replacement, or in other words, one cup.

So, just follow the rule of one to one if you’re substituting a cup of egg replacement for real eggs.

Want to Know Even More about Eggs?

Then check out our informative features on How to Cook Eggs on a Griddle?, Do Hard Boiled Eggs Go Bad?, or Do Eggs Go Bad?

And if you’re looking for the perfect way to cook eggs, take a look at our reviews of the Best Skillets for Eggs, the Best Omelette Pans, the Best Breakfast Stations, or the Best Egg Cookers you can buy in 2024.

Final Thoughts

We can get so used to usual baking measurements that when unusual quantities appear, we start to panic. But, now you no longer have to worry. Simply follow the basic rule of four eggs to one cup, and you’ll be fine. Remember one cup, four eggs, and you’re off.

Now get out there and bake up a storm!