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Lemon Vanilla Bean Popovers

Lemon Vanilla Bean Popovers! This sweet version of a British classic {Yorkshire Pudding} is perfect for serving up at brunches and parties. The batter comes together quickly in the blender, then poured into a standard muffin tin where they bake up into light, hollow nibbles.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dessert
Cuisine: American, British
Servings: 8 popovers
Author: The Kitchen Prep

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons melted butter divided
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk warmed slightly
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the oven rack to the lower ⅓ level in the oven. Brush 8 wells of a standard muffin tin with 1 tablespoon butter (including the top part of the muffin tin since they'll puff up and extend over the edges). Place the muffin tin in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the batter: Crack eggs into blender and blend at medium speed, about 1 minute. Slowly pour the warmed milk into the mixture as it blends until fully combined. Add vanilla bean paste, lemon zest and remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter; blend for about 10 seconds more, then stop blender.
  • Add flour, salt and sugar to the mixture and slowly increase the blender speed until the batter is fully combined and smooth, about 15-20 seconds. (Don't over-process.)
  • Open the oven door and carefully slide out the rack using an oven mitt. Pour the batter into each of the buttered muffin tin wells, filling about ¾ of the way full.
  • Carefully slide the oven rack back into position and bake the popovers for about 33-35 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. (Try not to open the oven door as to keep the heat inside the oven steady as they bake.) If the popovers look like they're getting too dark too early, lightly tent them with a piece of foil.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before removing -- they should come out pretty easily with a little twist. Serve immediately with butter or jam.

Notes

Variations
  • Savory Popovers: Add savory ingredients like cooked bacon, scallions, and chives to the batter before baking.
  • Cinnamon Sugar Popovers: Brush the popovers with extra melted butter when they come out of the oven. Toss them cinnamon sugar to coat.
  • Spiced Popovers: Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the batter for warm, fall flavors.
  • Herb Popovers: Mix in a few teaspoons of your favorite herbs, such as rosemary or thyme, into the batter before baking.
Diet-Specific Substitutions
  • Gluten-Free: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
  • Dairy-Free: Use a plant-based milk instead of regular.
This recipe was adapted from Melissa D'Arabian's recipe on FoodNetwork.com