Description
This traditional Yorkshire Pudding recipe produces light, airy, and golden-brown puddings perfect for serving alongside your favorite roast beef or gravy. Made with simple ingredients and baked in sizzling hot beef drippings or oil, these puddings rise beautifully in the oven to create a classic British side dish that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Ingredients
Yorkshire Pudding Batter
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk (skim to whole)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
Cooking Fat
- 4-6 tbsp beef drippings or vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, flour, milk, salt, and chopped rosemary until the mixture is smooth and lump-free. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to rest, allowing the batter to hydrate and the gluten to relax for a better rise.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 450°F (230°C or 210° Fan) to ensure it is very hot for proper puffing of the puddings.
- Heat the Fat: Place 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of beef drippings or vegetable oil into each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin or popover tray. Place the pan in the preheated oven and allow the oil to heat until it is smoking hot. This is critical for the batter to immediately sizzle upon contact and rise correctly.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven, ensuring you handle it with oven mitts as the oil will be extremely hot and may smoke. Quickly pour the cold batter into each cup, filling them about two-thirds to three-quarters full without spilling. The batter will start sizzling and bubbling immediately, which triggers the puffing process.
- Bake: Return the filled pan swiftly to the oven and bake the puddings for 12–15 minutes without opening the oven door to prevent collapse. They should turn golden brown and puff up significantly.
- Serve Immediately: Remove from the oven and serve your Yorkshire puddings hot, ideally accompanying a roast beef dinner or with gravy.
Notes
- Resting the batter in the fridge improves texture and rise.
- Beef drippings yield a traditional flavor, but vegetable oil is a good vegetarian alternative.
- Do not open the oven door during baking to avoid deflating the puddings.
- You can vary herbs to taste, though rosemary complements the savory flavor well.
- Ensure the cooking fat is smoking hot before adding the batter for optimal puffing.