Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (2024)

By

Elaine Lemm

Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (1)

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 12/6/23

Tested by

Danilo Alfaro

Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (2)

Tested byDanilo Alfaro

Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.

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In the U.K., the word pudding (or "pud") means something totally different than in America. Rather than just a creamy dessert, pudding can refer to sweet and savory dishes of all different kinds, from black pudding to sticky toffee pudding. Yorkshire puddings are almost identical to American popovers, with crispy edges and a creamy center.

Light and fluffy as soufflés, Yorkshire pudding is made of a runny batter with eggs, milk, and flour that is whisked together before resting. Fat such as beef drippings, bacon grease, or lard is added to the hot pan before the batter. Thanks to the eggs and the high heat, the batter puffs up in the hot oven, leaving the signature crater in the middle.

Enjoy Traditionally...Or Not!

Yorkshire pudding shouldn't be reserved just for Christmas dinner. This recipe is simple enough for any weekend meal. Yorkshire pudding is traditionally served with gravy as a starter dish followed by the main dish, or alongside roast beef or similar meat for a dinner spread. Large Yorkshire puddings are filled with things like chili or sausage and served as popular pub food. You can also enjoy it as a dessert and top it with vanilla ice cream.

Tips for Perfectly Risen, Crispy Puds

  • Rest and Chill—Make sure your batter is well-rested for perfect puddings that are tender on the inside.
  • Smokin' Hot—The fat in the baking pan should be so hot it's smoking.
  • Don't Dilly Dally—Once you've poured the batter into the smoking hot fat, return the pan to the hot oven immediately to get the crispiest, lightest puddings.
  • The Best Fats—Some swear by vegetable oil, but this can make the puddings greasy and it doesn't add flavor. It's best to use lard, beef drippings, bacon fat or duck fat.

The Equal Parts Method

  • Note that the ingredient list calls for 4 eggs, 1 cup milk and 1 cup flour. You're aiming for equal parts of all three ingredients and should scale ingredients up or down to ensure this. To do so...
  • First: Crack your eggs into a measuring cup to determine their total volume.
  • Then: Measure out amounts of milk and flour in equal parts (by volume) to the eggs.
  • Measuring the ingredients this way ensures the correct consistency for your batter no matter the size of the batch you're making.

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Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 pinch fine salt

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons lard, beef drippings, or vegetable oil

  • 2 tablespoons cold water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 450 F/230 C.

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (7)

  2. Combine 4 large eggs, 1 cup milk, and 1 pinch fine salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly with an electric hand mixer or hand whisk. Let stand for 10 minutes.

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (8)

  3. Gradually sift 1 cup all-purpose flour into the milk and egg mixture, again using an electric hand mixer or whisk to create a lump-free batter resembling thick cream. If there are any lumps, push the batter through a fine sieve.

    Let the batter rest in the kitchen for a minimum of 30 minutes, longer if possible (up to several hours).

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (9)

  4. Place a pea-sized piece of lard, dripping, or 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil into each opening in a Yorkshire pudding tin. Alternatively, use a 12-hole muffin tin. Place in the hot oven until the fat is smoking.

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (10)

  5. Add 2 tablespoons cold water to the batter and give it another good whisk. Fill the openings in the tin 1/3 full with batter and return quickly to the oven.

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (11)

  6. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown, puffed, and crisp. Repeat until all the batter is used up.

    Serve immediately.

    Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (12)

How To Store

Yorkshire puddings are best right after they're baked, but you can refrigerate extras in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze them in a heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 1 month. Reheat them in a 350 F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
179Calories
8g Fat
18g Carbs
8g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories179
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g10%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 130mg43%
Sodium 88mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 18g7%
Dietary Fiber 1g2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 73mg6%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 129mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Make Perfect Yorkshire Puddings Every Time with this Traditional Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good Yorkshire pudding? ›

Top tips for making Yorkshire puddings
  • Let your batter rest. ...
  • Don't take them out until they're ready. ...
  • Give them plenty of of space in the oven. ...
  • Use a jug for control. ...
  • Utilise your freezer. ...
  • Give them a quick blast on a high heat. ...
  • Best flour for Yorkshire puddings. ...
  • Mix the batter thoroughly.

What is the traditional way to eat Yorkshire pudding? ›

Traditionally in Yorkshire you would have the pudding as a starter to a Sunday roast (because they're cheap to make and filling so less meat is needed). Served with gravy. More regularly now small puddings are served with a roast. mint sauce is my favourite addition with lashings of marmite gravy.

What ingredient makes Yorkshire pudding rise? ›

They rise mainly because of the egg content in the mixture . . . NEVER add baking powder! For this rising to occur the mixture needs instant heat, this creates steam and they puff up and rise - so the oven, etc must all be pre-heated, a slow gentle heat or cold oven will not work.

What is the best oil for Yorkshire pudding? ›

This needs to get to the exact temperature and be piping hot to ensure the maximum sizzle for the maximum rise in those puds! The oven temperature you'll need is around 220oC / 200oC Fan. What oil is best for Yorkshire puddings? We believe that a cold pressed Rapeseed Oil is the best oil for the job.

How to make pudding better? ›

For Instant Pudding Mix:
  1. Use Cream Instead of Milk: Instead of using regular milk, use half-and-half, heavy cream, or evaporated milk to make the pudding richer and creamier.
  2. Add Flavor Extracts: Just like with cakes, you can enhance the flavor with extracts like vanilla, almond, or a touch of rum or brandy extract.
Oct 25, 2023

How do you make Yorkshire puddings rise better? ›

Resting the batter overnight is key for developing better flavor. Forget about cold batter: letting it rest at room temperature helps it rise taller as it bakes. A combination of milk and water gives the Yorkshire puddings extra rise and crispness.

What is Yorkshire pudding made of? ›

Yorkshire pudding is a savory popover-like dish made from a simple blend of eggs, milk, and flour. Yorkshire pudding was originally made with drippings from roasted meat, but many modern recipes use oil and butter in its place.

What goes best with Yorkshire pudding? ›

Yorkshire pudding is a baked bread-like dish made from batter and is a classic British side dish often served with roast beef. It's a staple in a traditional Sunday roast meal, where slices of roast beef are served with crispy roasted potatoes, vegetables, and the iconic Yorkshire pudding smothered in gravy.

What is another name for Yorkshire pudding? ›

Thus, the Yorkshire pudding was known as a “dripping pudding” because of its use of the juices from the meat — and was served as an appetizer to fill up the person due to the relative scarcity and usually small portions of meat that would be served.

Why do my Yorkshire puddings go flat? ›

One of the main reasons why Yorkshires don't rise is because the oil isn't hot enough, so make sure it's bubbling and sizzling as you pour your batter in. Make sure you aren't over-filling the tin – fill each hole about a third or halfway up, any more and they may collapse through the weight of batter.

How do I stop my Yorkshire puddings from collapsing? ›

Once the Yorkshire pudding is in the oven NEVER open oven door mid cooking. Jumbo eggs give best results, or if recipe calls for 2 large, use 3. Also make sure your oven is preheated to a very hot temp, and that you don't open it to “peek” while it is cooking.

Why do my Yorkshire puddings look like muffins? ›

Sometimes because the oven door is open too long or the pan or fat isn't hot enough before the batter is added. Sometimes it's because there is too much batter in the pan, sometimes because the pan is too large for the quantity of batter, and sometimes because the pan isn't deep enough.

Why don t my Yorkshire puddings stay crispy? ›

The fat isn't hot enough (it should be smoking hot). The oven isn't getting hot enough (needs to maintain a 220C/425F temperature). Your oven loses heat too quickly when you open the oven door and/or you leave the oven door open for too long whilst you're filling up the Yorkshire pudding tins with batter.

Should Yorkshire batter be thick or runny? ›

The best way to know whether or not you have the perfect consistency is to dip a spoon into the batter and see if the batter creates a thin layer on the back of the spoon. If the batter falls off, then it's too thin and if a lot of the batter stays on the spoon, it's too thick.

Does baking powder help Yorkshire puddings? ›

Plain flour is key, according to the Brits. The addition of bicarb or baking powder should not be added to the mix at all, and can even cause the puds to become flat, dense, or even burn.

How do you keep Yorkshire puddings from getting soggy? ›

Remember to (carefully) flip

Another top tip from Adam: to avoid soggy bottoms, try flipping your Yorkshire puddings two-or-three minutes before the end of cooking time. It will dry the bottoms out and ensure you get a nice, even crunch. But remember to flip them carefully, using a utensil; they'll be boiling hot!

What causes Yorkshire puddings not to rise? ›

Over-filling your Yorkshire pudding tin will lead to heavy puddings, which won't rise to lofty heights. Whether you're making individual Yorkshire puddings or a large pud to carve up, only fill the tin about a third of the way for optimum puds.

Is it best to use water or milk in Yorkshire puddings? ›

The primary purpose of the liquid (whether water or milk) in Yorkshire pudding batter is to create steam when the batter is heated in the oven. This steam is what causes the puddings to rise and become light and airy. Water can fulfill this function just as effectively as milk.

Should Yorkshire pudding batter be thick or runny? ›

What consistency should Yorkshire pudding mix be? For perfect Yorkies, you need a consistency of heavy cream, so really quite runny but not milk-runny. To make sure you achieve this I suggest pouring half of the liquid in and then slowly adding more until you reach the consistency.

References

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