A few brown butter popovers on a cooling rack with a bowl of butter in the background.

Baked in a muffin tin until deeply golden brown, these rosemary brown butter popovers have a crisp crust and a soft, nearly custard-like interior. While the popovers bake, a cranberry orange butter sweetened lightly with honey and spiced with a touch of cinnamon is whipped together. Served warm, each popover is complemented by a generous slather of cranberry orange butter, making them the perfect addition to a holiday table or brunch spread!

Herbed popovers in a baking tray with a green napkin and a bowl of butter in the background.

Hey there, and welcome back, friends.

You are in for a treat!

A few herb popovers on a platter with a bowl of butter in the background.

You’ve never had popovers like these. They’re savory and perfectly crispy on the outside. Each bite is filled with holiday flavor. They’re the perfect containers for filling with gravy. 

A rosemary popover on a plate with a knife with butter.

Let’s talk about the flavor of these popovers. You know I never miss a chance to add a little bit of brown butter to my recipes! This one is no exception. I can’t get enough of that nutty brown butter taste. 

A few brown butter popovers on a platter with a bowl of butter in the background.

I often incorporate brown butter into my dessert recipes, such as these Pumpkin Cake Bars with Brown Butter FrostingBrown Butter Cake with Maple Caramel ButtercreamBrown Butter Sweet Potato Bread, and Brown Butter Pumpkin Coconut Cake. These would be great additions to your holiday menu.

Herbed popovers in a baking tray.

These herbed popovers hold their own on a table filled with a holiday feast. Usually, popovers are plain, but the addition of fresh rosemary, Parmesan cheese, and, of course, brown butter turns these popovers into a savory treat.

A few brown butter popovers on a cooling rack with a bowl of butter in the background.

Plus, the homemade cranberry butter adds that special festive touch that will make these a traditional part of your holiday menu. 

A rosemary popovers smothered with cranberry butter on a plate.

What I love about these rosemary popovers is their versatility. They can easily be served as part of a cozy holiday brunch side or at the dinner table. No matter how your family celebrates the holidays, this recipe is a savory addition.

A rosemary popovers smothered with cranberry butter on a plate.

Ingredients

Very ingredients for rosemary popovers in bowls.
  • salted butter
  • fresh rosemary
  • a few large eggs
  • whole milk
  • some grated Parmesan cheese
  • all-purpose flour
  • sea salt 
  • dried cranberries 
  • orange
  • honey
  • ground cinnamon

How to Make Rosemary Brown Butter Popovers

Start by positioning a rack on the lower shelf of your oven, making sure there is at least 6 inches of space between this rack and the next to allow the popovers room to “pop”. 

Preheat the oven and thoroughly grease the muffin pan with high-heat cooking spray.

Cubed butter in a saucepan.

Add the diced salted butter to a small pan set over medium heat. A lighter-colored pan will make it easier to see when the butter is browned, but it is not necessary. 

A saucepan with brown butter.

Once the butter melts, swirl the pan every minute or so until the bits on the bottom of the pan turn brown and the butter smells nutty. This will take a few minutes. 

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rosemary. Once you add the rosemary, it will bubble up a bit. Once the bubbles subside, set the pan aside.

The popover batter in a large sprouted mixing bowl with a whisk.

Add the eggs and milk to a large spouted bowl. Whisk until homogeneous, and there are no visible streaks of yolk or whites left. 

Add the parmesan and flour and mix until no large lumps of flour remain. Small lumps are fine. There should be small bubbles across the surface of the batter, and it should be very thin. 

The brown butter and rosemary added to the popover batter.

Drizzle the browned butter and rosemary over the top of the batter, then mix it in. 

The popover batter poured into a cupcake pan.

Ensure the oven has properly preheated, then pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling them up ⅔ to ¾ of the way. The size of the cups will determine whether you are able to fill 10 or 12 total.

Bake the popovers for 20 minutes without opening the oven door. After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for an additional 12-18 minutes until the popovers are deeply golden brown on top. 

Butter, cranberry, and orange zest added to a large bowl.

While the popovers bake, make the cranberry compound butter. Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer.

The cranberry orange butter mixed in a large bowl.

Beat with the paddle on low to medium-low for a few minutes until creamy and well combined. Portion into a serving dish and set aside until the popovers are ready.

The baked rosemary popovers in a cupcake tray.

Once you’ve removed the popovers, carefully transfer them to a cooling rack or serving platter. It is normal for them to deflate some once they come out of the oven. 

Herbed popovers in a baking tray.

How to Store

Serve the popovers warm with cranberry compound butter. Popovers are best when enjoyed within 2-3 hours of baking. 

Store leftover cranberry orange butter in the fridge. Enjoy within 1 week for the best flavor. 

A rosemary popover on a plate with a knife with butter.

More Fall Side Recipes

A few brown butter popovers on a cooling rack with a bowl of butter in the background.

What do you think of this herbed popover recipe? What would you serve with these popovers? Let me know in the comment section below. 

If you share across social media, make sure to tag #aclassictwist, so I can see your beautiful creation come to life!

Happy Fall baking, friends!

Herbed popovers in a baking tray.

Rosemary Browned Butter Popover Recipe

Herbed popovers in a baking tray.
Yield: 10-12 popovers and 1 heaping cup of butter

Rosemary Brown Butter Popovers

Baked in a muffin tin until deeply golden brown, these rosemary brown butter popovers have a crisp crust and a soft, nearly custard-like interior. Served warm, each popover is complemented by a generous slather of cranberry orange butter, making them the perfect addition to a holiday table or brunch spread!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

For the popovers

  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, diced
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

For the cranberry orange butter:

  • ¼ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • 1 cup salted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 large orange, zested
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Position a rack on the lower shelf of your oven, making sure there is at least 6 inches of space between this rack and the next to allow the popovers room to “pop”. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Thoroughly grease a 12-cup muffin pan with high heat cooking spray.
  2. Add the diced salted butter to a small pan set over medium heat. A lighter colored pan will make it easier to see when the butter is browned but it is not necessary. Once the butter melts, swirl the pan every minute or so until the bits on the bottom of the pan turn brown and the butter smells nutty. This will take about 5-8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rosemary. Once you add the rosemary it will bubble up a bit. Once the bubbles subside, set the pan aside.
  3. Add the eggs and milk to a large spouted bowl. Whisk until homogenous and there are no visible streaks of yolk or whites left. Add the parmesan and flour and mix until no large lumps of flour remain. Small lumps are fine. There should be small bubbles across the surface of the batter and it should be very thin. Drizzle the browned butter and rosemary over the top of the batter then mix it in. 
  4. Ensure the oven has properly preheated, then pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling them up ⅔ to ¾ of the way. The size of the cups will determine whether you are able to fill 10 or 12 total.
  5. Bake the popovers for 20 minutes without opening the oven door. After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for an additional 12-18 minutes until the popovers are deeply golden brown on top. 
  6. While the popovers bake, make the cranberry compound butter. Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle on low to medium low for 2 minutes until creamy and well combined. Portion into a serving dish and set aside until the popovers are ready.
  7. Once you’ve removed the popovers, carefully transfer to a cooling rack or serving platter. It is normal for them to deflate some once they come out of the oven. Serve the popovers warm with cranberry compound butter. Popovers are best when enjoyed within 2-3 hours of baking. 
  8. Store leftover cranberry orange butter in the fridge. Enjoy within 1 week for the best flavor.

Notes

  1. Make sure to measure out the rosemary for the recipe AFTER it has been finely chopped. 
  2. It will take 30-60 minutes for the eggs and milk to come to room temperature, depending on the ambient temperature of your kitchen. You can speed up the process by placing the eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 10-15 minutes. The milk can be gently warmed on the stove until lukewarm, but not any hotter, as it will cook the eggs when mixed together. 
  3. If you don’t have a spouted mixing bowl, I recommend portioning the batter into a spouted measuring cup, as this will make it easier to fill the muffin cups with batter.

Recipe Tips

  • Make sure to thoroughly mix the flour into the egg and milk mixture. This ensures the flour is properly hydrated and will efficiently release steam when it hits the hot oven (and create the “pop”). Whisk it in vigorously and make sure there are no large lumps visible. You should also see tiny bubbles across the surface of the batter. 
  • For the second stage of baking at 350 degrees, baking the popovers for 12 minutes will ensure a soft, custard-like middle, while 18 minutes will yield a more hollow and airy center and reduce the amount that the popovers will deflate after they are removed from the oven. Choose your preference! 
  • A muffin pan that has the ability to evenly distribute heat, such as one made of aluminum or steel, will yield the best results. 
  • If your kitchen is particularly drafty and cold, you can gently warm the milk until lukewarm. 
  • Try to refrain from opening the oven during baking in order to keep the heat contained and reduce the risk of the popovers not baking properly.

FAQs

Can I use a popover pan if I have one? Absolutely. If you happen to have a popover pan, you can use one instead of a muffin pan. Note that you will fill the cups about ⅔ of the way, but the yield will be closer to 6 larger popovers with a standard popover pan. The texture will be more airy and less custard-like with a popover pan than a muffin tin. 

Can I use unsalted butter? Yes, you can use unsalted butter in place of the salted butter. I recommend increasing the salt in the popovers to ¾ teaspoon and adding about ¼ to ½ teaspoon to the cranberry orange butter. 

Making this Recipe?

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