A popover is a light American pastry made from an egg batter similar to that of Yorkshire pudding, typically baked in muffin tins or dedicated popover pans, which have straight-walled sides rather than angled.
Popovers may be served either sweet, topped with fruit and cream/or jelly for breakfast; or savory at afternoon tea with cold cuts.
Name The name "popover" in American English comes from the fact that the batter swells or "pops" over the top of the tin while baking; in Swabia, sweet (sugared) Swabian popovers are called Pfitzauf.
History The popover is an American version of Yorkshire pudding and similar batter puddings made in England since the 17th century.
The oldest known reference to popovers dates to 1850.Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2006, s.v. The first cookbook to print a recipe for popovers was in 1876.
A variant of popovers with garlic and herbs is called Portland (Oregon) popover pudding.Evan Jones, American Food: The Gastronomic Story, 1975, p. 102
See also
Yorkshire pudding
References