Yorkshire puddings are a Sunday staple but getting them to rise to their full potential can be a bit of a head-scratcher. However, one dad says his simple recipe is one which you “can’t go wrong with” and promises “perfectly risen” puddings.
The dad, who shared cooking tips, tricks and recipes on his TikTok page @DaddyMayCooks, described his method as an “equal amount recipe” with “no need to weigh anything”.
Before he begins making the puddings, he says that it is important to choose the right type of tray to cook your puddings in. The cook uses a deep dish muffin tray with 12 spaces for puddings. “Yorkshires always rise better in metal because they kind of go up the edges,” he explained.
Next, he fills each of the 12 spaces with oil, which needs to be pre-heated before the mixture goes in. “Before we make the mixture we are going to get the oil in and we are going to get that heated up,” he explained. “So, I normally put in about a tablespoon of oil into each one.
“Then we are going to get that into the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes at about 180C or as hot as your oven can go to heat them up. I usually put them in at 180C.”
Then, he moves on to making his mixture, but unlike some recipes, you don’t need scales or measuring jugs.
Instead, the cook explained how he measured everything using two cups. “The only thing that is constant with my Yorkshire pudding recipe is the eggs,” he said. “I always use four eggs. The flour and the milk are variable because of the eggs.
The dad gets two glasses which are the same size. He cracks his four eggs into one of the glasses and then fills the second glass with flour, making sure the flour reaches the same level in one glass as the four cracked eggs did in the other.
You can measure this by placing the glasses side-by-side. It is important to make sure you use plain flour and not self-raising flour. The next step is to get your mixing bowl and pour in the flour. Next, pour your milk into a glass, again making sure it reaches the same level as the eggs.
“I am using full-fat milk,” said the cook. “I know people use semi-skimmed, some people swear by skimmed, but I have always used blue top because that is predominantly what we have had. I have used skimmed as well and that has worked just as well.”
Now pour both the milk and the eggs into your mixing bowl before adding a pinch of salt.
“Get your whisk and this is when you are going to mix it up,” said the dad.”This is where a lot of conversations happen with people. Some people say don’t whisk it…other people use a fork. I just get it in here and, honestly, I’ve never ever found there is a problem with just whisking it up until you have got yourself a fairly smooth batter.
“A few lumps don’t really matter but I am just going to mix that up and put it to one side.”
Though he notes some people recommend adding a touch of baking soda or self-raising flour to the mixture, the TikTok creator says he does not think this is necessary for his method. You will know your mixture is ready when it is runny but thick.
Once your oil is heated up, it’s time to move quickly. “Get the oil out, making sure you shut the oven door to keep the heat in,” he said.
“That oil is nice and hot now. Get your mixture, [give it] one last stir round and you are going to fill [your baking tray] about half way up.
“Hopefully this should start bubbling as you put the batter in and you will hear it sizzling away. That’s it, this is basically when you want to try and work as fast as you possibly can.” [SIC]
The puddings should go back into the oven at 180C for approximately 25 minutes. “Do not open the door,” he warns. “Just leave them to do their thing.”
After 25 minutes, check on your puddings; if they look risen, it’s time to serve them up. The cook added: “I would say they are perfect, fluffy, crispy – that’s how I make my Yorkies.”
