Today, we’re diving into the world of homemade perfect popovers, presenting you with the ultimate recipe to create these airy, golden-brown delights in the comfort of your own kitchen. Get ready to elevate your baking game with our foolproof method that guarantees the best popovers every time.
We’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of crafting these delectable treats, from preparing the simple batter to baking them to perfection in a special pan. You’ll be whipping up impressive popovers in no time.
Make this using a large bowl and whisk or a blender.
What are Popovers?
Popovers are light, hollow rolls made from a thin egg batter similar to that of Yorkshire pudding. They’re characterized by their tall, puffy shape with a crisp exterior and a tender, custardy interior. Popovers are typically baked in special popover pans, which have deep, narrow cups that encourage maximum “pop” during baking. They’re a versatile and delicious addition to any meal, often served hot with butter or other spreads as a delightful accompaniment.
Popovers are often considered the American version of Yorkshire pudding and are a delicious addition to any meal. They’re light, airy, and made with simple ingredients. This great recipe ensures perfect popovers every time, satisfying your cravings without breaking your daily calorie values.
Make these rolls at home
They are magic. Those puffy, hollow rolls with a crispy exterior and a tender, custardy interior. They’re versatile enough to complement any meal, whether served alongside a hearty brunch or as a delightful accompaniment to a festive dinner. And with our recipe, you’ll be equipped to impress your family and friends with your newfound baking prowess.
Why settle for store-bought when you can indulge in the irresistible charm of homemade popovers? Not only do they surpass their commercial counterparts in flavor and texture, but they also allow you to control the quality of ingredients, aligning with your daily values for wholesome, homemade goodness.
Best Recipe Tips for Success
Here are our best tips to help you make the perfect popover at home.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients. Make sure your eggs and milk are at room temperature before incorporating them into the batter. This helps create a smoother batter and allows for better incorporation of ingredients.
Measure Accurately. Spoon and level the flour. This ensures you measure the proper amount.
Rest the Batter. Let the batter rest while the oven preheats before baking. Rest for about 15 minutes. This allows the gluten in the flour to relax, resulting in lighter and airier popovers.
Use a Hot Oven. Preheat your oven to a high temperature (450°F/230°C) before baking the popovers. A hot oven is crucial for achieving that dramatic rise and golden exterior.
Lower Temperature. After the initial baking period (about 20 minutes), reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to ensure the popovers cook through without burning.
No Peeking. For me, this is the hardest tip! Avoid opening the oven door while the popovers are baking. The sudden temperature drop can cause them to collapse. Trust the process and wait until they’re done baking before checking on them.
Grease the Pan. Make sure to generously grease the area between the cups as well as the cups themselves. The sides and bottom of each cup. Ideally, use a popover tin or custard cups with cooking spray. This prevents the popovers from sticking and helps them achieve their signature shape. King Arthur Baking Company recommends a standard 12-cup popover pan, one whose cups are close to 2 1/2″ wide x 1 1/2″ deep.
Don’t Overfill Cups. Fill each cup of the popover tin about two-thirds full with batter. Overfilling can cause the popovers to spill over the sides, while underfilling may result in flat popovers.
When Done Baking
Pierce with Knife. Once baked, immediately pierce the sides of each popover with a sharp knife to let the steam escape. This helps prevent them from becoming soggy.
Serve Immediately. Popovers are best fresh out of the oven while they’re still warm and crispy. Serve them immediately with melted butter or beef drippings from roast beef for added flavor.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making perfect popovers every time.
Ultimate Homemade Perfect Popovers Easy Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 Cups milk lukewarm, 125 degrees F
- 4 Large Eggs at room temperature or warmed in warm water before cracking
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt adjust as needed
- 3 Tablespoons Butter melted
- Cooking spray for greasing the popover tin
Instructions
Prepare the Popover Batter
Using a Bowl and Whisk
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the milk and eggs until they are well combined. There should not be any streaks of yolk showing.1 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour, 1 1/2 Cups milk, 4 Large Eggs, 1/2 Teaspoon Salt, 3 Tablespoons Butter
- Add the flour and salt and continue whisking till frothy; there shouldn’t be any large lumps in the batter. Smaller lumps are okay, but the batter should be relatively smooth.
- Finally, add the melted butter and whisk again until fully incorporated.
Using a Blender
- Using a blender add the milk, eggs, and salt. Blend until smooth. Then add the flour and blend in 20 second increments until smooth. Then add the melted butter at the end, blending until frothy.
- Let the batter rest at room temperature while the oven preheats. Ideally about 15 minutes. This resting period allows the batter to develop and ensures light and airy popovers.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Position a rack on a lower shelf. By placing your oven rack in the lower third of the oven, you have room for the popovers to rise to the middle of the oven. It’s crucial to have a hot oven for perfect popovers.
- While the batter is resting and the oven is preheating, generously coat a popover tin or custard cups with cooking spray. Place the greased tin or cups on a baking sheet to catch any drips.Cooking spray
- Use a standard 12-cup muffin pan, one whose cups are close to 2 1/2″ wide x 1 1/2″ deep. Make sure to generously grease the area between the cups as well as the cups themselves. The sides and bottom of each cup. Ideally, use a popover tin or custard cups with cooking spray. This prevents the popovers from sticking and helps them achieve their signature shape.
- After the batter has rested, give it a quick stir. Fill each cup of the popover tin about two-thirds full with the batter. Be careful not to overfill, as the popovers will rise dramatically during baking.
- High Heat Bake. Place the filled popover tin in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes at 450°F (230°C). Do not open the oven door during baking, as this can cause the popovers to deflate.
- Lower Heat Bake. After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the popovers are golden brown and puffed up.
- Once baked, remove the popovers from the oven and immediately transfer them to a wire rack. Pierce the sides of each popover with a sharp knife to release steam and help prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Serve the popovers hot, with melted butter or beef drippings if desired. They’re best enjoyed fresh out of the oven.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Butter Pairings: Elevate Your Popovers with Delicious Spreads
When it comes to serving popovers, there are several delicious options for accompanying butter. Ultimately, the choice of butter depends on your personal preference and the flavor profile you want to achieve. Whether you prefer savory or sweet, there’s a buttery accompaniment that will perfectly complement the light and fluffy texture of homemade popovers. Here are a few suggestions:Plain Butter
Classic unsalted or salted butter is always a popular choice. Allow the butter to soften slightly at room temperature before serving, making it easier to spread onto the warm popovers.Herb Butter
Elevate the flavor of your popovers by serving them with herb butter. Simply mix softened butter with finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, thyme, or rosemary. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of garlic powder for extra flavor.Honey Butter
For a sweet and indulgent twist, whip up a batch of honey butter. Combine softened butter with honey to taste, adjusting the sweetness according to your preference. This creamy spread adds a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the light, airy texture of popovers.• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste)
Cinnamon Sugar Butter
Indulge your sweet tooth with cinnamon sugar butter. Mix softened butter with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar until well combined. Spread this decadent mixture onto warm popovers for a delightful treat reminiscent of cinnamon rolls.• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
Compound Flavored Butter
Experiment with different flavor combinations to find your favorite pairing for popovers. Take your butter game to the next level by mixing softened butter with a variety of savory or sweet ingredients such as cheese, bacon, nuts, or fruits. Or make flavored butters by adding roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or citrus zest. Roll the mixture into a log, chill until firm, and slice into rounds to serve alongside popovers. • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened Choose your desired flavorings from the following options (you can use one or a combination of ingredients): • 2-3 cloves roasted garlic, mashed• 2-3 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, or chives)
• 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts)
• 1-2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• Zest of one lemon or lime Enjoy experimenting with different flavors to find your favorite combination.
Nutrition
Butter Pairings: Elevate Your Popovers with Delicious Spreads
When it comes to serving popovers, there are several delicious options for accompanying butter. Ultimately, the choice of butter depends on your personal preference and the flavor profile you want to achieve. Whether you prefer savory or sweet, there’s a buttery accompaniment that will perfectly complement the light and fluffy texture of homemade popovers. Here are a few suggestions:
Plain Butter
Classic unsalted or salted butter is always a popular choice. Allow the butter to soften slightly at room temperature before serving, making it easier to spread onto the warm popovers.
Herb Butter
Elevate the flavor of your popovers by serving them with herb butter. Simply mix softened butter with finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, chives, thyme, or rosemary. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of garlic powder for extra flavor.
Honey Butter
For a sweet and indulgent twist, whip up a batch of honey butter. Combine softened butter with honey to taste, adjusting the sweetness according to your preference. This creamy spread adds a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the light, airy texture of popovers.
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon honey (adjust to taste)
Cinnamon Sugar Butter
Indulge your sweet tooth with cinnamon sugar butter. Mix softened butter with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar until well combined. Spread this decadent mixture onto warm popovers for a delightful treat reminiscent of cinnamon rolls.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (adjust to taste)
Compound Flavored Butter
Experiment with different flavor combinations to find your favorite pairing for popovers. Take your butter game to the next level by mixing softened butter with a variety of savory or sweet ingredients such as cheese, bacon, nuts, or fruits. Or make flavored butters by adding roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or citrus zest. Roll the mixture into a log, chill until firm, and slice into rounds to serve alongside popovers.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
Choose your desired flavorings from the following options (you can use one or a combination of ingredients):
- 2-3 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
- 2-3 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, or chives)
- 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts)
- 1-2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Zest of one lemon or lime
Enjoy experimenting with different flavors to find your favorite combination.
Storage Tips
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Popovers are best eaten the same day they are made, but you can reheat them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for a few minutes to refresh them.
What can you use if you don’t have a special pan?
If you don’t have a special popover pan, don’t worry. You can still make delicious popovers using alternative kitchen tools. Anything that is oven safe and has deep wells will work. Here are a few ideas.
Muffin Tin. A standard regular muffin tin can work as a substitute for a popover pan. Simply grease the muffin cups generously with cooking spray or melted butter before filling them with the popover batter. Keep in mind that the shape and size of the popovers may differ slightly from traditional popovers baked in a popover pan.
Custard Cups or Ramekins. Individual custard cups or ramekins can also be used to bake popovers. Grease each cup thoroughly and place them on a baking sheet before filling them with the batter. These vessels will produce taller and narrower popovers compared to those baked in a popover pan.
Ovenproof Glassware. If you have ovenproof glassware, such as Pyrex measuring cups or small ovenproof bowls, you can use them to bake popovers. Grease the glassware well and place them on a baking sheet before adding the batter.
Mini Loaf Pans. Mini loaf pans can be another alternative for baking popovers. Grease the pans generously and divide the batter evenly among the wells. The resulting popovers will have a longer, rectangular shape.
Yorkshire Pudding Tray. If you have a Yorkshire pudding tray, it can also be used to make popovers. Grease the wells generously and follow the same baking instructions as you would for a popover pan.
Regardless of the alternative pan you choose, be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly and keep an eye on the popovers as they bake. With a bit of creativity and flexibility, you can still enjoy homemade popovers even without a special popover pan.
How to Store Leftover Popovers?
Popovers can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day. When ready to enjoy, reheat them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for a few minutes until warmed through. Avoid storing them in the refrigerator, as this can cause them to become dry.
To store leftover popovers, transfer them to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Keep them in a single layer. If you stack them on top of each other, they can become soggy.
