Perfect Popovers Recipe

Imagine – Perfect Popovers that never fail!

Perfect popovers have crisp exteriors and soft insides with a melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture that are totally irresistible.  The addition of baking powder is the secret to this recipe.  You will thank me for this outstanding and easy-to-make popover recipe.   If you purchase and use popover pans, you will have airy popovers with crisp, golden domes every time.

Popovers are a great addition to your Christmas meal. The bread rolls “pop” up light and airy while baking.  If you are planning a Prime Rib Roast, you can even bake the popovers in the meat drippings for Yorkshire Pudding.

 

Perfect Popovers

I like to use the heavy metal Teflon-lined popover pans.  I find that these pans heats up and retains heat longer than glass.  Large muffin tins may be substituted, but the shape and height will not be the same.  A popover pan is designed to concentrate the heat into the popovers and allow air to circulate around the popovers.  This pan will also make for taller popovers.

 

Perfect Popovers Recipe:
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Perfect Popovers Recipe
Servings: 6 popovers
Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cups whole milk  or half & half, warmed
  • 2 cups bread flour*
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature**
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
Preparing Popover Batter:
  1. Important:  The key to making perfect popovers is having the eggs and milk at room temperature or warm before mixing.  It is also important to let the batter sit for an hour before baking it.  Popovers do not freeze well and pre-made batter has a tendency not to work properly the next day.

  2. Place the milk in a bowl and microwave on high for approximately 1 1/2 minutes, or until just warm to the touch or registers 110 degrees F. on your cooking thermometer.

  3. Spoon the flour into a cup and level it off with a knife (do not shake the cup to settle the flour).  In a large bowl, sift the flour, salt, and baking powder together

  4. In a blender or food processor, combine the eggs, milk, melted butter, and Dijon mustard; process approximately 10 seconds until blended.

  5. Add flour mixture to egg mixture in blender.  Process approximately 10 to 15 seconds or until just combined.  Only mix the batter until small lumps are left in it, to reduce the risk of over mixing the batter.  Scrape down the sides of the blender with a rubber spatula, if necessary.

  6. Let batter rest for 60 minutes before pouring into the popover cups.  DO NOT refrigerate the batter.

  7.  

Baking the Popovers:
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Move the oven rack to a lower (but not necessarily the lowest) slot to keep the tops from overbrowning.  

  2. TIP:  To prevent the popover tops from browning too quickly, position an oven rack at the very top of the oven, and put a cookie sheet on it to shield the popover tops from direct heat.

  3. Place the empty popover pans in the oven for 5 minutes or until they are hot.  

  4. Once oven is the correct temperature and the empty popover pans are hot, quickly remove the popover pan from the oven; lightly spray the popover cups with a nonstick spray (the popover pans only need a thin coating of baking spray to prevent sticking).

  5. Fill the popover cups with the prepared popover batter almost to the top with the batter.  If you leave one of the cups of the popover pan empty, fill it half full of water (this will help protect the pan from the high heat).  Immediately place the pan back into the oven.

  6. Bake without opening the door for 15 minutes.  Do not peek - this is important!

  7. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F. and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown on the outside and airy on the inside.  Under baking can cause popovers to collapse after they’re removed from the oven.  Resist the urge to open the oven door.  If you open the oven door, the heat escapes, the oven cools down, the steam inside the popovers condenses, and the popovers collapse.

  8. Remove popovers from the oven, and unmold onto a rack.  Popovers should pull away from the pan easily; if not, use a dull-bladed knife to nudge them from the pan.

  9. Pierce the sides with the tip of a sharp knife to let steam escape (this will keep the exterior crisp, the interior moist, and prevent the  popovers from collapsing).

  10. Serve immediately with lots of butter.

  11. Recipe yields 6 Popovers.

  12.  Perfect Popovers

Recipe Notes

* Bread flour is a high-protein flour.  The high protein help the popovers rise.  All-purpose flour may be substituted but the results will not be as spectacular.

** Do not use egg substitutes as the popovers will lose their puff if you do.

 

Popover Variation Ideas – Try Some Creative Popover Variations:

Bacon and Asiago Cheese Popovers:  Add 3 strips of cooked and crumbled bacon and 1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese to the batter.

Cheese Popovers:  Crumble a 3/4-inch cube of cheese (of your choice) in the bottom of each popover pan before pouring in the batter.

Chocolate Popovers:  Add 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar to the batter.

Lemon-Pecan Popovers:  Add 2 tablespoons finely-grated lemon rind (zest) and 1/4 cup finely-chopped pecans.

Parmesan-Herb Popovers:  Add 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme to the batter.

Parmesan-Chive Popovers:  Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons chopped chives to the batter.

Parmesan-Pepper Popovers:  Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 teaspoon coarsely-ground black pepper to the batter.

Pesto Popovers:  Add 3 tablespoons pesto to the batter.

Poppy Seed Popovers:  Add 1 tablespoon poppy seeds to the batter.

Categories:

Holidays & Events    Rolls & Bread Sticks   

Comments and Reviews

5 Responses to “Perfect Popovers Recipe”

  1. LuAn Lorenson

    I have one pop-over pan for 6. I need 14 popovers for a dinner party. Can popovers be reheated in the oven just before serving?????

    Reply
    • Linda Stradley

      Popover do not reheat well. That being said, some people freeze the popovers and then reheat in a 400 deg. F. oven for about 5 minutes.
      I, personally, prefer baking my popovers just before serving. So delicious served straight from the oven.

      Reply
  2. Lisa Conradi

    Best resolution….buy 2 more popover pans. Keep if 14 is a commitment n guest list. If not, give one to a daughter and one to a friend.

    Reply
  3. Peggy Schelhammer

    directions includes baking powder but no amount listed in ingredients??? Help!

    Reply
    • Nancy

      Wow, good catch! I updated the recipe. We have been doing a conversion and must have dropped the ingredient.
      Thank you!

      Reply

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