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    Home » Breakfast

    Popovers

    February 5, 2024 By Sam 25 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    collage of homemade popovers, top image close up of single popper in pan, bottom image of multiple cooling on rack

    Light and airy popovers made with just 5 basic ingredients! These can be made in a popover pan or a regular muffin tin. This family-favorite recipe finishes in less than 40 minutes (which is much faster than most!) and includes a video tutorial.

    Close-up view of a popover in its pan.

    (Relatively) Fast & Easy Popovers

    There are few recipes on this blog of mine that I can take as little credit for as this popover recipe. This is really my mom’s recipe, adapted from half a dozen others, cobbled together from pages of family-favorite cookbooks and from simple recipes printed on the backs of her popover tin labels.

    Over the years she has perfected this to be the best and easiest (and possibly the quickest) path to sky-high popovers, and I actually had her make the ones that you see in the photos here. I think you’re going to love how simple and reliable this recipe is.

    Popovers on a cooling rack with a fuchsia towel underneath.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Shorter bake time: This popover recipe has a relatively short baking time of only 35 minutes compared with the hour-plus that many recipes usually require.
    • No fancy popover pan required! I link to my popover pan that I love (in the recipe card), but also include instructions for using a muffin tin in case that’s all you have on hand (it’s all I used for years).
    • Can be served sweet or savory. Pair your popovers with savory beef stew (they are great for sopping up the broth) or gravy, or serve them with butter and cinnamon sugar for a sweet snack (one that reminds me so much of French toast!).
    • Incredibly simple: just 5 basic ingredients and no fancy equipment needed. Anyone can make these popovers!

    Ingredients

    These popovers are incredibly simple with just five ingredients. And the great thing is, they should all already be in your pantry!

    Overhead view of labelled ingredients including eggs, milk, flour, butter, and salt.
    • Eggs. We’ll need six whole eggs. Some popover recipes will have you use room temperature eggs and milk, but I don’t find that necessary here. In fact, colder batter tends to create popovers with a cup shape–perfect for adding butter and other toppings!
    • Milk. Whole milk is my preference and what I recommend for best results.
    • Butter. I use unsalted butter and add salt myself. If you plan to use salted butter, simply reduce the salt to a scant teaspoon.
    • Flour. All-purpose or “plain” flour works just fine in this popover recipe.

    SAM’S TIP: You’ll notice we use two temperatures when baking our popovers. We’ll start with a higher temperature and then drop the temperature without opening the oven door. This initial period of baking on high heat is what helps give the popovers a nice rise and really makes them, well, pop over. This trick is also helpful for giving us nice tall muffin tops when making banana muffins and chocolate chip muffins

    You may notice the ingredients are quite similar to what we use for the choux pastry base we use for cream puffs or even gougeres (minus the cheese, of course). Truly, they taste quite similar, too!

    How to Make Popovers

    Collage of four photos showing batter being prepared with a hand mixer.
    1. Beat the eggs until frothy and pale. I do this with an electric mixer, but you could also do this by hand (it just takes longer).
    2. Add the milk and beat/whisk to combine.
    3. Stir in the melted butter until combined, then add the salt.
    4. Stir in the flour until completely incorporated. Some lumps are okay (even if you see lots of tiny little lumps!)–don’t stress about working them into the batter.
    Three photos showing batter being poured into a popover pan and baked.
    1. The batter will be very thin and watery when you are done combining it. This is totally normal!
    2. Divide the batter into a greased pan. I like to use an ice cream scoop to do this, but you could also use a liquid measuring cup.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat and bake for 15 minutes more. Do not open the oven when you reduce the heat–this could cause your popovers to collapse.

    SAM’S TIP: I have found that sometimes as the popovers are rising, some of the butter tends to leak over the edge of the pan. To keep your oven from getting dirty and smoky, I recommend lining a large cookie sheet with foil and placing that underneath your pan as the popovers bake. This will catch any spills and make cleanup much easier!

    Pan of popovers with a fuchsia towel underneath.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can I reheat them?

    The best way to reheat popovers is to toss them on a cookie sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes at 375F (190C). This will also help to make your popovers more firm if they’ve softened too much while sitting. At my house we like to make large batches and then reheat the leftovers over the next day or two.

    What if I don’t have a popover pan?

    You can just use a regular muffin tin. Keep in mind that you will get more popovers this way (about 18 as opposed to 12) simply because the muffin tin is more shallow and can hold less batter.

    Are popovers the same as Yorkshire pudding?

    Yes! Popovers are the American equivalent of the British Yorkshire pudding. Yorkshire puddings are typically more of a savory treat though, while popovers are often served with sweeter toppings like jam or whipped cream.

    Why did they shrink?

    Popovers are made of a light batter expands quite a bit in the oven (which is why they “pop” over in the pan). Largely this is a result of steam expanding in the batter while they bake. As they come out of the oven, they’ll be huge and nicely puffed due to the steam, but as they meet the cooler air they tend to deflate. The cooler or draftier your kitchen, the faster they’ll shrink. This doesn’t affect the taste, but if it bothers you you can turn off the oven once they’re finished baking, crack the oven door a few inches, and let the popovers gradually cool in the oven for about 10 minutes or so before removing them. Personally we eat them so fast it never matters!

    Pan of popovers with a fuchsia towel underneath.

    Honey butter would be a wonderful topping, too!

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜

    Close-up overhead shot of a popover in a popover pan.

    Popovers

    These light and airy popovers require just 5 ingredients and can be made in either a popover pan or muffin tin. Unlike many others, my popover recipe finishes in less than 40 minutes!
    Includes a how-to video!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 popovers*
    Calories: 182kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 6 large eggs
    • 2 cups (475 ml) whole milk
    • 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter melted
    • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Recommended Equipment

    • Popover pan or standard muffin tins
    • Mixing bowls
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450F (230C) and lightly grease a 12-count popover pan or two 12 count muffin tin with butter. Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet (to catch any spills) and set aside.
    • Place eggs in a large bowl and, using an electric mixer, beat on low speed until eggs are frothy and pale yellow (you can do this by hand if you don’t have an electric mixer but it will take longer).
      6 large eggs
    • With mixer on low, add milk and melted butter and beat until well-combined.
      2 cups (475 ml) whole milk, 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
    • Sprinkle salt over the batter and stir.
      1 teaspoon salt
    • Add flour, stirring on low-speed until batter is completely combined. Batter will be very thin and almost watery and may have small lumps in it.
      2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
    • Evenly divide batter into prepared tin (it's very thin, so I like to use an ice cream scoop to pour the batter, helps keep things less messy), filling each about ⅔-¾ of the way full and transfer to 450F (230C) oven (make sure to keep the foil-lined baking sheet beneath the pan, this will catch any spills!).
    • If using a popover pan: Bake on 450F (230C) for 20-25 minutes (I find I need 25 minutes if using a light-colored popover pan like the one I used in the video), then, without opening the oven door, reduce the heat to 325F (160C) and bake an additional 15 minutes
      If using a muffin tin: Bake on 450F (230C) for 20 minutes, then, without opening the oven door, reduce heat to 325F (160C) and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and serve as soon as they're cool enough to touch. Note that popovers will shrink/deflate as they cool, this is normal!

    Notes

    Pan options

    If you use a popover pan you will get 12 popovers, if you use a muffin tin you will get at least 18 popovers.

    Use a cookie sheet under your popover pan

    Place a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil beneath your popover pan or muffin tin. The butter tends to spill over the sides as the batter bakes and will drip onto your oven, causing a lot of smoke and a messy oven. Avoid this and set yourself up for easy cleanup by placing a foil lined (for easy cleanup) pan underneath.

    Toppings/serving

    These are great topped with honey butter, regular salted butter, or butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. They also make a great savory side dish and some people love to use them for soaking up sauces or gravies!

    Storing

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to a month. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1popover | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sharon

      February 16, 2024 at 5:04 pm

      my popover pan is dark; does this require adjustment in bake time or temperature?

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 17, 2024 at 1:43 pm

        Hi Sharon! It could potentially reduce the bake time by a minute or two.

        Reply
    2. Kathy

      February 06, 2024 at 11:22 am

      Can you substitute almond milk for milk in the popover recipe?

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 06, 2024 at 12:50 pm

        Hi Kathy! I honestly don’t know how the almond milk will work here. I haven’t tried it. If you do, I would love to know how it goes. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jeana

      May 28, 2023 at 10:32 am

      5 stars
      These are so amazing, very light!! I sprinkled cinnamon over them and drizzled honey butter!! Melt in your mouth heavenly, perfect snack!

      Reply
      • Sam

        May 29, 2023 at 10:20 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jeana! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Ray

      April 06, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve had many failed attempts at popovers and wanted a recipe that worked for me. I’ve finally found one! This recipe is foolproof. I baked these in my toaster oven, and the popovers puffed up so much I had to deflate them so that they wouldn’t scortch on the heating element! Even though I put them on the lowest rack! (Or maybe I was being overly cautious, I do that a lot.) Even so, they came out delicious and quite puffy!

      Reply
      • Sam

        April 07, 2021 at 9:18 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Ray! 🙂

        Reply
    5. ILOVEURRECIPIES

      February 18, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      Can I divide this in half

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 18, 2021 at 8:54 pm

        Absolutely! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    6. Tina

      August 16, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      I love all of your recipes I have never had any issues with any of them. Your a great cook. I really appreciate your sharing a delicious world with us. I learned a few tips and tricks along the way.

      Thank you!
      Tina

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 16, 2020 at 9:06 pm

        Thank you so much, Tina!

        Reply
    7. AMY

      August 16, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      Can you add to the batter before baking? At my house we love cinnamon, could I add some to the batter or on top?

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 16, 2020 at 9:18 pm

        Hi Amy! Either will work fine here. I would probably just stir it in when you mix up the dry ingredients. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Pam

      March 22, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Love these popovers! Easy to make. We make them all the time.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        March 22, 2020 at 8:53 pm

        I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Pam! Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂

        Reply
    9. ZM

      June 18, 2018 at 7:06 am

      Sam, this sounds like yorkshire pudding. however, for yorkshire pudding we have to heat up about 1cm oil in muffin tins. will try and hopefully it will rise like this.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 18, 2018 at 7:49 am

        My understanding is that yorkshire pudding and popovers are very similar, I believe the batter is usually the same. I have always grown up with them called popovers and made this way, though 🙂

        Reply
    10. Saleema Khan

      June 17, 2018 at 10:11 pm

      I just baked these. They are awesome!!
      I used a muffin tin and got 24 small pop overs. They are so delicious. I made honey butter to go with them.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 17, 2018 at 10:59 pm

        So happy to hear you enjoyed them!! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Michelle

      June 17, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      I would like to half this recipe . Should I fill empty cupcake tins with water? Or simply not fill?

      Reply
    12. Carissa Nelson | Spoonful of Easy

      June 17, 2018 at 11:26 am

      I love popovers but have never hit on a recipe that felt like “the” recipe that would be the new go-to. These look amazing and streamlined. Can’t wait to try them and good info on popover pan vs. muffin tin.

      Reply
    13. Mikaru86

      June 16, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      I’ve never heard of popovers before, but they look and sound delicious, so I’ll have to give them a try some time.

      Reply
      • Sam

        June 17, 2018 at 11:20 am

        I really hope you like them!! 🙂

        Reply
        • MKD

          June 17, 2018 at 12:40 pm

          I remember popovers at my grangmother’s; The only difference was she would deep fat fry them. I would stand on a stool & watch for them to turn themselves over – Hence the name popover.

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