Chef Johns Popovers Recipes

TRADITIONAL YORKSHIRE PUDDING

Steps:

• Whisk eggs and salt together in a bowl until light and frothy. Whisk in flour and milk until smooth and lump-free; batter will be thin and barely coat the back of a spoon.
• Transfer batter to a 4-cup measuring cup and chill in the refrigerator, at least 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Fill each cup of a 12-cup nonstick muffin tin with 1 tablespoon melted beef fat; use your finger to grease the sides and tops of the cups. Place the muffin tin on a baking sheet.
• Heat in the preheated oven on the middle rack until fat is smoking hot, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and fill each muffin cup halfway full with batter.
• Bake pudding in the preheated oven until browned and fully puffed, about 25 minutes more. Remove from the oven and immediately poke a hole in the center of each to release steam. Serve hot, warm, or room-temperature.

BLUE CHEESE POPOVERS

Steps:

• Whisk eggs, salt, cayenne, milk, oil, and flour together in a large measuring cup or mixing bowl just until blended.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 1 hour on the counter, or in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours, up to overnight.
• Grease 14 nonstick muffin cups with butter, and then mist with cooking spray.
• Whisk the batter for a few seconds and fill each prepared muffin cup 4/5 full. Sprinkle each evenly with blue cheese.
• Place the muffin pans into a cold oven with a drip pan set underneath. Set the heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Bake in the oven until popovers are well browned and fully puffed, about 30 to 35 minutes. Poke each popover with a knife to allow steam to escape. Serve hot.

POPOVERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease and flour six 6-ounce custard cups.
• In a medium bowl beat eggs slightly, Beat in flour, milk and salt until just smooth; being careful not to overbeat. Fill custard cups 1/2 full.
• Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for 20 minutes more. Immediately remove from cups and serve piping hot.

CHEF JOHN'S BOSTON CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray 2 (8-inch) cake pans with cooking spray.
• Stir yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, water, and vegetable oil in a bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Divide cake batter between the two prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cakes have risen and are lightly golden brown, 33 to 38 minutes. Check for doneness after 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes should come out clean. Allow cakes to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pans. Cool cakes completely, about 40 minutes.
• Whisk 3 eggs, cornstarch, and sugar in a large bowl until well mixed and lemon colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whole milk, and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to boil.
• Reduce heat to low; pour egg mixture into cream mixture and whisk until thick, about 1 minute.
• Pour egg and cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl; discard any chunks.
• Whisk vanilla and salt into the egg and cream mixture until combined. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap pressed against the surface. Chill in refrigerator to form a pastry cream texture, 3 to 4 hours.
• Place chocolate in a large bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon butter and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Pour cream mixture over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Set aside until cooled, but still pourable, about 20 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a plate, flat side up. Spread pastry cream to within 1-inch of the edge of cake. Place second cake layer on top, rounded side up. Press gently to push pastry cream to the edge. Pour chocolate mixture over top of the cake and spread so it drips over the edge.