Description
Cornmeal popovers with herb honey butter deliver a Southern-inspired comfort classic that marries rustic charm with delicate sophistication. Golden, airy pastries paired with silky herbed butter create a memorable side dish you’ll savor with every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) fine cornmeal
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) whole milk
Liquid and Fat Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) melted butter
- ½ teaspoon honey or sugar
Seasoning and Leavening Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Herb Honey Butter Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to a sizzling 425F (220C), ensuring the temperature is precise for optimal popover performance.
- In a generous mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients – flour, cornmeal, and salt – using a whisk to eliminate potential lumps and create a uniform mixture.
- Select a separate bowl and vigorously whisk the liquid components – milk, eggs, molten butter, and golden honey – until they seamlessly integrate into a silky, homogeneous liquid.
- Introduce the wet ingredients into the dry mixture gradually, whisking with deliberate, smooth strokes to develop a velvety batter without any residual clumps.
- Allow the batter to rest and relax for a full 10 minutes, permitting the ingredients to meld and the gluten to soften while the oven reaches its peak temperature.
- Position the popover pan in the heated oven for a brief moment to warm, which will help create those signature crisp, puffy exteriors.
- Carefully distribute the rested batter into the heated popover vessels, filling each compartment approximately two-thirds full to facilitate maximum rising potential.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake until the popovers transform into golden, dramatically inflated towers with crisp, burnished edges.
- Once achieved, immediately extract from the oven and serve piping hot, accompanied by the herb-infused honey butter for a luxurious finishing touch.
Notes
- Choose a heavy-duty muffin tin or popover pan for optimal rising and crispy exterior.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature to help create a smoother, more consistent batter.
- Preheat the muffin tin in the oven before adding batter to achieve maximum puffiness and golden-brown edges.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace wheat flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for better structure.
- Customize the herb butter by experimenting with different fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or chives to match your flavor preferences.
- Store leftover popovers in an airtight container and reheat briefly in the oven to restore their crispy texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute half the butter with olive oil and use low-fat milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg