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How to Make Popovers (in a muffin tin)

How to make muffin tin popovers

2020 edit: I tried this recipe in a nonstick muffin tin, and my popovers did not rise properly at all. I’m thinking maybe this works best in a traditional tin vs. a nonstick tin!

Oddly enough, until a few years ago, I’d never had a popover, despite having seen them in cookbooks for years.

One night I decided to give them a try, to serve with soup, and as it turns out, my family really likes popovers.

how to make popovers in muffin tin

When I posted a photo of these on Instagram (I’m thefrugalgirl over there), there was some discussion about whether the popovers are the same as Yorkshire puddings, and from what I read on the internet, they are, at least, very similar.

Except that we never eat our popovers with gravy/meat.  We put butter and sometimes honey on them.

At any rate, every American cookbook I’ve ever seen refers to these as popovers, so for the purposes of this blog, popovers they will be.

popover in muffin tin

You can buy a dedicated popover pan, but since my kitchen isn’t particularly enormous, I really, really try not to have unitasker pans. 

So I’ve always made my popovers in a muffin tin and it works out just fine.

Almost every popover recipe I’ve ever seen has exactly the same egg/milk/flour proportions; the only differences are in the greasing/baking methods.  I opt for the pan prep method recommended by Cook’s Illustrated in their Baking Illustrated book.

Basically, instead of greasing the pan, you put oil into the muffin cups and then heat the pan before adding the batter.

(Sort of similar to the way you make Apple Pfannekuchen.  Or a Dutch Baby.)

baking illustrated popovers

To start, grab a muffin tin and place 1/4 teaspoon oil into the 10 outer cups, leaving the middle two empty.

grease popover pan

Place the pan into the oven and heat it to 400 ° F.  While the pan heats, make the batter.

Whisk two eggs, and whisk in the milk.

how to make popover batter

Next, whisk in the flour and salt.

add flour and salt

And then whisk in the melted butter.

melted butter

The order of these steps vary in recipes, but I’m not sure it matters a whole lot, honestly.

Pour the batter into a measuring cup so that it’ll be simple to fill the muffin cups.

popover batter in measuring cup for easy pouring

By now, the pan should be piping hot, so carefully take it out of the oven and evenly pour the batter into the 10 greased cups.

popover batter in muffin tin

Place the pan back into the oven (Don’t forget to use potholders! The pan is super hot.) and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Do NOT open the oven door during the baking process.  Opening the oven door causes eggy things like popovers, Dutch babies, and souffles to fall.

During the baking process, the popovers should sort of slide up into a puffy, lopsided shape, and they’ll end up being far larger than you’d think they could possibly be.

popovers

Remove them from the pan right away. Just use a butter knife to help get them out of the pan if they stick a bit.

Serve them while they’re still hot, because they’re awfully delicious that way and also because then the butter you put on them will melt.

Melted butter is marvy-fab.  Obviously.

Oh, one last thing!  One of the recipes I’ve tried in the last few years called for half whole wheat flour, and the whole wheat was surprisingly not-noticeable.  So, go for it!

popover in muffin tin

Muffin Tin Popovers

Yield: 10 popovers
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

You don't need a popover pan to make these; a muffin tin works just fine!

Ingredients

  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Add 1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil to 10 muffin cups (leave the middle two empty). Turn oven on to 400° and place muffin tin in oven to heat while you make the batter.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and milk together. Add flour and salt; whisk until smooth. Whisk in melted butter.
  3. Pour batter into a measuring cup for easy pouring. Remove now-hot tin from the oven and pour batter evenly into the ten oiled cups.
  4. Bake popovers for 30-40 minutes, at which point they should be puffed and crispy. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don't open the oven door while these are baking, or they may fall.

Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1 popover
Amount Per Serving Calories 82Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 42mgSodium 89mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 3g
 

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Tracy

Tuesday 12th of March 2024

OMG! I just made these and literally just pulled them out of the oven. So good! Exactly what I wanted, thank you so much for this recipe. I first saw this recipe from Ina Garden, and always thought I had to have the popover pan, then I found your recipe. Thank you again!

Kristen

Wednesday 13th of March 2024

Aww, yay, I'm so glad you have been saved from having to buy a new pan!

Jeannine

Thursday 8th of February 2024

I made these popovers and they were delicious, however, I baked them for 30 minutes and they were slightly burnt , next time I'll only bake them for 20 minutes . Other than that they puffed up nice and had a good flavor

Christine

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

Iโ€™ve never made popovers before but Iโ€™m super excited to try them. Iโ€™ve made Yorkshire pudding several times though and apparently they are very similar. My husband is not a fan though but Iโ€™m very sure my kids and grandkids will gobble them up. Iโ€™m anxious to try a sweet and a savoury one also.

Paulette

Sunday 13th of August 2023

I made the batter the night before, refrigerated, then baked in the morning. The popovers were huge! Also, I reheated the leftovers in the air fryer @ 330 degrees for 3 minutes....still great!

Ann

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

I'm very sad that my popovers did not rise and they stuck to the pan. Any advice?

Ann

Wednesday 15th of February 2023

@Kristen,

I think I need to let the batter rest for a while and I will definitely use cooking spray next time even though I used a non stick pan. I will try again!!

Kristen

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

Ohh, man! Hmm. I'm not sure about this; you did add the oil to the hot muffin tin, right? That usually is enough to keep mine from sticking terribly.

I am so sorry yours didn't rise!

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