Cheese Popovers
Most incredibly airy and crispy cheese popovers you could ever imagine. No popover pan is even required!
Dunk them into soups, serve along salads, or dip into cheddar cranberry dip.
Cheese popovers are hollow, eggy, muffin-size light rolls. They “pop over” the sides of the pan as they bake, forming tall crowns with a crispy outside and airy yet slightly custardy inside.
They are incredibly easy to make with mostly pantry ingredients and a muffin pan.
Enjoy as-is with a smear of butter or jam. Or serve them alongside roasted tomato basil soup, three bean turkey chili, and summer corn chowder.
Secret to Making Popovers
There are two secrets to no-fail popovers. First, start with a piping hot pan. Simply heat the pan in the oven before you pour in the batter. That way the popovers can begin cooking right away.
Another secret for success is to not open the oven door while the popovers bake. If you open the oven door the temperature inside can drop too quickly and the popovers will not rise properly.
Cheese Popovers Q&A
Before we get to how to make the cheese popovers, let’s answer some frequently asked questions. If you have a question that’s not included, let me know in the comments below.
Do you need a popover pan to make popovers?
No. Simply use a 12-cup standard-size muffin pan.
What is the consistency of popover batter?
The consistency of popover batter should be runny, similar to heavy cream.
Should popover batter rest?
No need to rest the popover batter. These cheese popovers rise just fine without resting the batter.
Can I make popover batter in advance?
The popover batter can be prepared earlier in the day and refrigerated. Let the batter stand at room temperature while you preheat the oven and pan, then stir the batter well before pouring into the cups.
How do you know when popovers are done?
Popovers are done when they rise and turn golden brown. They should feel dry to the touch and sound hollow when tapped.
Why are my popovers not fluffy?
It could be several things. First, if you make any substitutions to the recipe, I can not guarantee results. I tested the recipe only as written. Second, do not open the oven when the popovers are baking. Lastly, the pan has to be really hot before pouring the batter so the popovers can begin cooking right away.
What does a popover taste like?
Popovers taste crispy on the outside with a soft buttery, slightly eggy flavor on the inside. Similar to a Dutch baby pancake.
Are popovers good the next day?
Popovers are best enjoyed right away. They lose their crispiness the longer they sit.
Ingredients for Cheese Popover Recipe
- whole eggs
- egg white
- milk
- unsalted butter
- all-purpose flour
- kosher salt
- cheddar cheese
How to Make Cheese Popovers
Heat the oven and pan: Place a 12-cup muffin pan in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
Make the batter: Whisk together the eggs and egg white. Add milk and melted butter. Then whisk in flour and salt. Lastly, add the cheddar cheese.
Pour the batter into the pan: Remove the heated muffin pan from the oven. Generously spray each cup with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each cup about half full with the batter.
Bake the popovers: Place the pan on the lowest oven rack and bake until very brown and crusty, about 20-25 minutes. Do not open the oven door during baking as this causes the popovers to deflate.
Prick with a knife and serve: Remove the popovers onto a cooling rack or platter. Pierce each popover with a sharp knife to release steam. Serve immediately.
Tips & Notes
- Spoon and level the flour. Don’t scoop.
- Spray the muffin pan generously with non-stick cooking spray, including the inside of the cup and the rim.
- Buy a block of cheddar cheese and shred it yourself. Not only does it taste better but it will melt better.
- Bake the popovers on the lowest oven rack.
- Do not open the oven while the popovers are baking, otherwise, they will not rise properly.
Serving Suggestions
Cheddar cheese popovers are light and airy and can be served as-is or alongside some type of soup or salad. Here are a few suggestions:
- Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup
- Potato Corn Chowder
- Sicilian Chicken Soup
- Chopped Autumn Salad
- Shrimp Salad
- Roasted Beet Salad
Love popover type recipes? Try our Brazilian cheese bread or strawberry filled pancakes.
Print
Cheese Popovers
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
Most incredibly airy and crispy cheese popovers you could ever imagine. No popover pan is even required!
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg white
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spoon & leveled
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- Cooking spray
Tools
Instructions
-
Place a 12-cup muffin pan in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and egg white. Add milk and butter. Then whisk in flour and salt. Lastly, add the cheddar cheese. The batter should be runny, similar to the consistency of heavy cream.
-
Remove the heated muffin pan from the oven. Generously spray the inside of each cup with nonstick cooking spray, including the rim. Working quickly, fill each cup about half full with the batter.
-
Immediately, place the pan on the lowest oven rack and bake until brown and crusty, about 20-25 minutes. Do not open the oven door during baking as this causes the popovers to deflate.
-
Remove the popovers onto a cooling rack or platter. If popovers get stuck to the pan, run a knife around the edge, then remove. Pierce each popover with a sharp knife to release steam. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Before making the popovers, I highly recommend checking out the Q&A section of the post. I covered most commonly asked questions and included many tips for success.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 popover
- Calories: 91
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 107.9 mg
- Fat: 4.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.1 g
- Protein: 4.1 g
- Cholesterol: 40.2 mg
Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
