Perfect Popovers

Whip up these golden, airy popovers in just 15 minutes with only 5 ingredients! Perfect for holiday feasts or to elevate a simple weeknight dinner, the batter can be made ahead and is gluten-free adaptable. Includes a step-by-step video!

this recipe!

A flower does not have to do anything of service; it only has to be a flower. That is enough. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

There's something so magical about how a few humble ingredients-eggs, flour, milk, and butter-transform into golden, lofty rolls with crispy edges and soft, airy centers. As a chef, I love mastering and sharing recipes like this that feel impressive but are secretly very simple. This popover recipe has become a reader favorite, earning many five-star reviews from home cooks who say they're "crowd pleasing, always!"

What are Popovers?

Popovers are the American cousin of the classic British Yorkshire pudding. Delightfully light and airy rolls that puff dramatically in the oven - crisp and golden on the outside, tender and hollow within. Made from a simple batter, they rely on steam (not yeast or baking powder) for their rise. As the batter hits a hot pan, moisture quickly turns to steam, inflating the pastry into a tall, delicate shell that "pops over" the edge of the pan - hence the name.

WATCH: How to Make Foolproof Popovers

Why You’ll Love this Recipe for Popovers

As a chef, I love it when simple, easy recipes turn out to be truly stunning! This popover recipe is made with 5 ingredeints, takes just 15 minutes of hands-on time -just place everything in a blender and bake!

There are a few common challenges when it comes to popovers, most commonly popovers that don’t fully rise, or popovers that collapse after baking. I’ll share my chef’s tips and foolproof method for preventing this!

I’ll also share my basic, 5-ingredient recipe, plus some fun ways to adapt this if you are feeling creative.

Easy Popover Ingredients

•  Extra-large eggs– this is what gives the popovers structure and loft.
•  All-purpose flour- or a gluten-free flour blend.
• Whole milk- (or use half & half and water) or a plant-based milk ( fuller fat is best here)
• Butter (divided) adds richness -don’t skip it!
• Salt- for flavor!
• Optional additions: Fresh thyme or other savory herbs, such as rosemary or sage, parmesan, pecorino, or gruyère

Equipment

A popover pan will elevate your popovers!  Yes, you can use a non-stick muffin tin, but a popover pan makes a taller, narrower popover. And trust me, once you make this recipe, you’ll probably make it often.

How to Make Popovers

Preheat the oven to 450°F, with the popover pan inside. Preheating the popover pan will help create the airy loft, so don’t skip this.

Step one: Blend the Batter. Place the popover ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the optional thyme.  Let the batter come to room temperature -cold batter will slow steam formation, leading to less lift and more collapse. I leave the batter in the blender for easy pouring.

Step 2: Prep the pan. Butter the preheated popover pan – this is what gives the popover its crispy golden exterior. You can use melted butter or little pats of butter. You’ll need to add 1-2 teaspoons of melted butter to each one, brushing it on the sides too. The crispy exterior is what supports the airy interior, so this is imperative to creating a popover that doesn’t collapse.

Step 3: Pour in the popover batter over the butter.

Step 4: Top with optional parmesan or pecorino, if you like. Adding grated cheese adds a ton of flavor and aroma!

Step 5: Bake. Place them in a hot oven for 20-25 minutes until fully puffed and golden brown. Getting them golden brown will help them hold their shape. Lower the heat to 325°F and bake for 5-10 more minutes to help crisp the sides, so they don’t collapse.

Step 6: Cut a small 1/2-inch slit in the side of the popover using a pairing knife, letting the steam escape. This will help prevent popovers from shrinking down.

Chef’s Tips for making the BEST popovers

• Use a popover pan for taller, loftier, narrower popovers! The BEST.
• Preheat the oven and popover pan, and make sure the batter is at room temperature before baking, to ensure a tall, lofty rise. Do not open the oven door for the first 20 minutes.
• Prevent collapse by baking them long enough (they need the sides to be golden brown and crispy to be strong enough to hold the airy center). Once golden, slit the side with a paring knife to allow steam to escape, so they hold their shape and don’t sink down.
• Add herbs and cheese for elevated flavor.

How to make Popovers Ahead

If making Popover batter ahead, store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 48 hours. *Bring the batter to room temperature before baking- you can place the jar of batter in a bowl of warm water to hasten this. Mix well.

How to Reheat Popovers

Popovers are best right out of the oven, but yes, they can be baked ahead, reheated in the oven, and will even get crispy again! Bake directly on the oven rack (or toaster oven)  for 12-15 minutes at 375°F or until crispy.

Popover Variations (see notes)

• Cheddar Jalapeno –  add a couple of tablespoons of grated cheddar to each popover. Stir in finely chopped jalapeno and chopped scallions into the batter.
• Rosemary Garlic – Blend 1-2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder into the batter, sub rosemary for thyme and add parmesan or pecorino
• Gorgonzola and Sage– Add 1-2 tablespoons crumbled gorgonzola to the middle of each popover and 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage into the batter.
• Curry Spiced– add 1 1/2 teaspoons of yellow curry powder to the batter. Use parmesan, gruyere. Sprinkle the tops with whole cumin and fennel seeds.

What to Serve with Popovers

Popovers are delcious on the holiday table! I love them better than rolls because they are lighter (less filling) and easier to make.

• Enjoy with butter, honey,  or whipped honey butter (my favorite).  Enjoy with Pumpkin Butter, or Wild Rose Petal Jam for breakfast with a cup of coffee!
• Serve them on your Thanksgiving table alongside our Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes, Thanksgiving Sides, and Roasted Turkey!
• Enjoy them throughout the week as dinner rolls-they're perfect for dipping into soups and stews, like Beef Stew, Vegetable Stew, Tomato Soup, Lentil Turkey Sausage Soup, or any of our cozy vegetarian soups

More Recipes You May Enjoy

• Cherry Clafoutis
• Dutch Baby with Blueberries
• Baked Apple Pancake (Pannekoeken)
• Sourdough Biscuits
• Butternut Squash Dinner Rolls

 

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