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Christine Gallary
Christine GallaryFood Editor-at-Large
Christine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and she has worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW.com. She lives in San Francisco and loves teaching cooking classes. Follow her latest culinary escapades on Instagram.
updated Jun 21, 2021
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Here's how to make perfect, pillowy, Yorkshire pudding in whatever type of pan you please.
Makes1 large Yorkshire puddingPrep10 minutesCook20 minutes to 27 minutesJump to Recipe
Jump to Recipe
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You might know it as Yorkshire pudding, you might have had it as a popover — whatever you choose to call it, the impressive cloud-like creation that emerges from the oven is always as delicious as it smells and looks. The crispy shell gives way to a tender, eggy interior, and the best way to eat one is to just tear it apart with your fingers. Whether you choose to make one big one or individual ones, here’s how to do it using everyday pans that you already have.
What’s the Difference Between Yorkshire Puddings and Popovers?
A side dish hailing from England, Yorkshire pudding came about as a useful way to use up the drippings from a beef roast. As the beef roast rested, the drippings in the pan were heated up until sizzling, then an easy batter of water or milk, flour, and eggs was poured in. The combination of the hot pan and eggs helped create Yorkshire pudding’s puffy, airy texture, and it was cut up and served with the beef roast to soak up all the juices on each person’s plate. While traditionally made in the roasting pan, Yorkshire pudding can also come in smaller individual forms.
Popovers are essentially the same things as Yorkshire puddings, but are made individually in a popover pan, which is similar to a muffin tin but with taller, straighter sides. The name comes from the fact that they “pop” over the top of the pan impressively. Instead of beef drippings, butter is usually used to grease the pan.
What Ingredients Do I Need For Yorkshire Pudding?
There are only four ingredients that go into the easy batter: whole milk, flour, eggs, and salt. Whisk everything together until smooth and let the batter rest while the oven heats up.
The final ingredient is also the most important: the fat. For the fat, you have some options depending on what you have on hand or the flavor you want:
- Beef drippings: This is the original fat in Yorkshire puddings. If you want to try it with beef drippings, save the grease next time you’re making a prime rib or beef roast.
- Oil: Neutral vegetable oil is easy and pantry-friendly, but it yields the least flavor. Use one with a high smoking point rather than olive oil, which can burn easily.
- Bacon fat: Save some of the grease from your morning bacon for smoky, salty Yorkshire puddings.
- Butter: While butter undoubtedly makes scrumptious popovers, it also burns easily, so we recommend using a combination of melted unsalted butter and oil instead.
Choosing the Right Pan for Yorkshire Pudding
The beauty of Yorkshire Pudding is that you can use a variety of pans. For a single large pudding, grab a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, which retains heat beautifully and results in a big, impressive puff. You can also use a regular oven-safe skillet — just make sure it’s straight-sided so that the batter has somewhere to cling to and climb. The handles on skillets make maneuvering them in and out of the oven much, much easier. Other baking dishes like pie pans don’t have high enough sides.
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For individual popovers, a regular muffin pan will yield 12 small popovers, and a popover pan will yield 6 bigger popovers. For either one, make sure to bake it on a rimmed baking sheet, as there’s always the chance the batter or some of the grease will spill over.
How to Make Yorkshire Puddings and Popovers
The key to a good rise and puff lies in everything being as hot as possible. This starts with preheating the pan with the fat in it, as well as the baking sheet if you’re using a muffin or popover pan. When the batter is poured in, you should hear a satisfying sizzle, which means you’ve jumpstarted the rising process. And while you may be tempted to peek to see how things are progressing once it’s in the oven, don’t open the door and let the precious heat out, just turn on the oven light and peek through the glass instead.
A fresh Yorkshire pudding or popover waits for no one! Be ready to eat it as soon as it comes out of the oven, but don’t be disappointed if it deflates (the big ones tend to deflate quickly). It’ll still be every bit as delicious, especially if slathered in whipped strawberry butter, if you want to mimic the famed popovers they serve at Neiman Marcus. A simple smearing of salted butter and jam is another tasty combination.
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell
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Here's how to make the best Yorkshire pudding.
How to Make Easy, Classic Yorkshire Pudding
Here's how to make perfect, pillowy, Yorkshire pudding in whatever type of pan you please.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes to 27 minutes
Makes 1 large Yorkshire pudding
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 cup
all-purpose flour
- 1 cup
whole milk
- 3
large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
kosher salt
- 1/4 cup
fat of choice: vegetable oil, bacon fat, or beef drippings, or 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter mixed with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Equipment
- 1
(10-inch) straight-sided oven-safe regular or cast iron skillet, standard 12-well muffin tin, or 6-well popover pan
Measuring cups and spoons
Baking sheet
Medium bowl
Whisk
Instructions
Make the batter. Place 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole milk, 3 large eggs, and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside to rest at least 20 minutes while you heat the oven.
Heat the oven to 450°F. Remove all of the racks from the oven except one arranged in the lower third position, then heat the oven to 450ºF.
Oil the pan. Pour 1/4 cup oil or drippings (or mix 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil) into a 10-inch straight-sided oven-safe regular or cast iron skillet. Alternatively, place 1 teaspoon of the oil or beef drippings into each well of a 12-well muffin pan, or 2 teaspoons into each well of a 6-well popover pan.
Heat the pan. Place the skillet in the oven, or place the muffin tin or popover pan on a baking sheet before placing in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes to heat the oil and the pan.
Add the batter. Remove the skillet, muffin tin, or popover pan from the oven. Rewhisk the batter, then pour all of it into the skillet, or divide the batter between the wells of the muffin tin or popover pan.
Bake until puffed and deep golden brown. Return the skillet, muffin tin, or popover pan to the oven. Make sure the muffin tin or popover pan is on the baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake until puffed, deep golden brown, and crisp to the touch, about 25 minutes for the skillet, or 20 to 25 minutes for individual puddings. (Do not open the oven door during the baking time.)
Serve the Yorkshire pudding hot. Serve the Yorkshire pudding immediately from the skillet, or remove the individual puddings from the pan and serve immediately.
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Filed in:
Baking
british
Dessert
easy
Eggs
How To
