Hello my Foodie Friends. Summer is a wonderful time to entertain with family and friends. Many times when we have guests coming over or when we are visiting others, deciding on what to serve or bring can be a quest. On a visit to Maine last year, I ventured into a bakery that served strawberry and cream popovers – which Paula and I had to try! The popover featured the typical high-rise crown and was sweet providing a perfect fix to our sweet tooth and mid-afternoon snack need. Perfect for a summer afternoon, these strawberry and cream popovers might just be my new favorite thing! They’re a non-traditional take on the classic strawberry shortcake—think cream puff meets popover meets strawberries! They are simple and quick to make. Not only do they have a delightfully moist center and a perfectly crisp exterior, the mixture of vanilla pudding and fresh whipped cream is pretty delicious! Paula just made some for our quiet 36th Anniversary at home dinner and we were reminiscing about our wedding. She said remember when you did this! Yep popover smashed in my face and she had devil eyes! I exclaimed ok, now we are even! Truce!
Here is how to make it:
1 recipe for vanilla pudding, chilled
1 recipe for popovers, baked + cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sweetened whipped cream
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
confectioners sugar to garnish
Ingredients for Popovers
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus softened butter for greasing pans
1 ½ cups flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 ½ cups milk, at room temperature
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Generously grease aluminum popover pans with softened butter. You’ll need enough pans to make 12 popovers. Place the pans in the oven for exactly 2 minutes to preheat. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, salt, eggs, milk, and melted butter until smooth. The batter will be thin. Fill the popover pans less than half full and bake for exactly 30 minutes.
1. Make a batch of vanilla pudding and refrigerate.
2. Make one recipe of popovers and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and an additional teaspoon of sugar. Using a popover pan, scoop mixture into pans and bake as directed. Let popovers cool on a wire rack.
3. Wash and slice a pint of fresh strawberries and set aside.
4. Whip about a cup of whipping cream with a touch of confectioner’s sugar until it forms soft peaks.
5. Fold together equal parts whipped cream and vanilla pudding – you may have leftover pudding.
6. Lay a couple sliced berries on each popover, add a spoonful of the cream mixture, place a few more sliced strawberries on top and dust with confectioner’s sugar.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy!
This recipe may be great with just about any fruit. Try it with fresh raspberries and toasted sliced almonds!
Having the correct pan is important to making airy popovers with golden domes. The secret is how the batter lies in the pan. A popover pan is deep with steep-sided wells. This forces the batter upwards creating puffy domes and crispy sides. At Compliments to the Chef located at 46 Marion Avenue in Saratoga Springs, we carry popover pans from Nordicware. The Nordicware pan is made in the U.S.A. The pan is designed to allow maximum airflow so popovers reach their full height.
The next time you are not sure what to pop on over with to visit a friend or a family member, think about a creative popover to serve as a breakfast, snack, or dessert item. Come visit Saratoga Springs’ CTTC, where we have Tools for Cooks! Have fun with family and friends and Pop on over to their house with some delicious treats just to say “Hello” or that “I love you” (also, no face smashing!).
Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen!”
Take care, John and Paula
