Traditional English Popovers

Name: Traditional English Popovers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 3 eggs – room temperature; 1 1/2 cups whole milk – room temperature or slightly warmed; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour – sifted; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 4 tbsp unsalted butter – melted and cooled; 1 tbsp unsalted butter – cut into small cubes

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These traditional English popovers make any snack feel like high tea! Buttery, flaky dough with just a hint of sweetness is baked to golden perfection, making the perfect treat with tea or coffee.

English popover on plate with more popovers on serving plate in background

You may not immediately think of popovers when you think of indulgent snacking, but for me, they’re always one of the first things on my list. When I was a girl, my parents took me to a restaurant called Sister Restaurant on Long Island.

They served popovers with butter and fruit preserves as a dessert, and it was the most amazing thing I’d ever had. To this day, I don’t remember the details of the occasion, but I vividly remember the popovers. That’s why I love making these delicious bites for family and friends.

Why You’ll Love These Traditional English Popovers

Basic Ingredients: These popovers are made with simple, basic baking ingredients found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
Easy: This recipe only takes a little mixing and baking. That’s all there is to it!
Light and Flaky: The popovers are light, flaky, and buttery.
Versatile: These make a great afternoon snack or addition to breakfast or brunch.

Ingredients

3 eggs – room temperature
1 1/2 cups milk – room temperature or slightly warmed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour – sifted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter – melted
1 tablespoon unsalted butter – cut into small cubes

Substitutions and Variations

Savory: I like to put a teaspoon of sugar in my popovers, but you can leave it out for a savory dough.
Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour if you have celiac or gluten sensitivity.

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
Popover pan or muffin pan
Baking sheet

1: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2: Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Then, add the salt and sugar and mix.

3: Add the melted butter and stir. Then, add the eggs and mix until incorporated.

4: Add the milk and mix until well-blended. Then, continue mixing until the batter is smooth.

5: Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes before baking.

6: Just before filling the popover pan, lightly butter each cup of your popover or muffin pan and put it in the oven for 2 minutes to get hot.

7: Remove the hot pan and drop a small cube of butter into each well. Then, immediately divide the batter between the wells.

8: Bake the popovers for 18 to 20 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to 350 and continue baking for another 8 to 10 minutes.

9: Remove the baked popovers and immediately tip them out onto a baking sheet. Pierce the top of each popover with a knife to release the steam. Serve hot and enjoy!

Storage

Room Temperature: Store for up to 2 days in an air-tight container.

Refrigerator: Store for up to a week in an air-tight container.

Reheat: Microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through.

What to Serve with British Popovers

Serve these popovers with butter and jam and a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. They also make an excellent addition to breakfast or brunch alongside your favorite savory breakfast foods.

Tips

Remove your pan as soon as the butter in each cup has melted. It’s easy to burn it!
Your batter will be on the thin side. It’s supposed to be, so don’t try to add more flour.
The easiest way to remove the popovers from the pan is to simply dump them out onto another cookie sheet.
Pierce the popovers immediately after removing them from the oven. Don’t wait! If you do, your popovers will get soggy very quickly.

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FAQ

What is a popover?

A popover is a light roll with a buttery, eggy flavor and flaky texture. Depending on the recipe and ingredients used, it can be savory or slightly sweet.

What is the secret to popovers?

Popovers rely on steam to rise, so you want your batter to be warm when you put it into the oven. Use melted butter and room-temperature eggs so the moisture in the batter can immediately begin to produce steam and make your popovers light and airy.

What do you serve with popovers?

Popovers can be served with butter and jam for breakfast, fruit and whipped cream for dessert, and alongside savory dishes like roast beef or chicken for dinner.