By Wendy Stoltz and Florina Dobre / Last Modified On March 18, 2023

These gluten-free popovers are light, airy, and deliciously satisfying. They require just 5 ingredients and will be a hit at breakfast, brunch, or any meal of the day! These are delicious treats that the whole family will love and ask for more.

I use a muffin tin to make my gluten-free popovers. So I thought it only apt to share some of my favorite muffin recipes too. We enjoy these gluten-free chocolate chip muffins, gluten-free blueberry muffins, paleo blueberry muffins, and these gluten-free pumpkin muffins. We've perfected all sorts of gluten-free bread recipes! You have to try our basic Gluten-Free Bread Loaf and flaky Gluten-Free Biscuits too. 

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Gluten-Free Popovers Recipe

Popovers are really quite fun to make and eat. If you have never had one, it is often likened to a dinner roll. They start off as a liquid batter and then cook up in a muffin tin, rising up super tall and then settling back down.

This Gluten-Free Popovers recipe creates rolls that are airy, flaky, a bit chewy, and completely delicious. 

We have another tasty recipe that puffs up in the oven! Try making a Gluten-Free Dutch Baby Pancake next. 

Why You’re Going to Love These Gluten-Free Popovers

We've simplified it - Classic popovers require you to use a special popover pan. This one is made in a regular muffin tin because we don't own a popover pan! We also aren't preheating the pan or dealing with any hot oil. Instead of preheating, we are starting the popovers in a very hot oven in order to quickly build steam inside of them. The less complicated, the better when it comes to gluten-free baking. 

5 Ingredients - You probably already have everything you need to make this recipe. Gluten-free bread is easy to bake when you keep a simple pantry stocked with things like GF all-purpose flour and some eggs, milk, and butter in the fridge. 

It tastes so good - These GF popovers are so good. They have the perfect chew and are airy too.

Ingredients in Gluten-Free Popovers

All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour - We used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. I like this blend, made primarily from rice flour, for its ability to closely mimic regular wheat flour in baked goods. It also includes Xanthan gum, which is perfect for creating a gluten-like texture. My DIY Gluten-Free Flour Blend also works well in this recipe. The flour blends I've created work with most baked goods, and I don't add in xanthan gum. The reason is I only add it in afterward if the recipe needs it.

Salt - Just a bit to season the popovers. 

Milk - Regular whole milk is perfect, but you could also use 2% or even plant-based milk such as almond milk or soy milk if you like. It's helpful if the milk is slightly warm. I usually microwave it for 30 seconds or until it's just above body temperature. 

Eggs - Eggs are an essential ingredient in popovers, and they are what allow the popovers to rise in the oven and have a custardy texture. Use room temperature eggs before making the popover batter. This makes it easier to get the batter super smooth. 

Butter - Either salted or unsalted butter will work in this recipe. If you use salted butter, you may want to add a little less salt to the batter. Melt the butter before you start. 

You don't need baking soda in this recipe to make the popovers rise. The circulation of the air in the oven is where the magic happens together with the batter. 

Equipment Needed for These Gluten-Free Popovers

Popover tin - You can use a muffin pan as I have, or else buy popover pans. 

Mixing bowls - These Pyrex mixing bowls come in handy.

Whisk - I like to use a stainless-steel whisk.

If you have any questions about making Gluten-Free Popovers, please leave a comment, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

How to Make Gluten-Free Popovers

1. Start by preheating the oven to 400°F/200°C, and greasing a metal muffin pan with nonstick spray, butter, or shortening. Then, in a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour and salt together. Whisking helps prevent any clumps or salty spots. 
2. Add in the lukewarm milk, melted butter, and eggs.
3. Whisk until the batter is smooth and no clumps remain. 
4. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin's cavities, filling each ⅔ full. Bake as directed in the recipe card below. You'll bake them for part of the time at 400°F, and then reduce the oven temperature to 325° for the remaining time. 

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below. 

Tips for Making the Best Gluten-Free Popovers

To Store - Keep any leftover popovers in a zip-top bag or another airtight container for 1-2 days at room temperature. They really are best if served right away, though! 

Make Lighter Popovers - If you want crispier, lighter gluten-free popovers, replace ¼ cup of the gluten-free flour in the recipe with ¼ cup of cornstarch. 

No Peeking - It's important not to open the oven while the popovers are baking. Keeping the oven temperature even throughout the baking time will produce the most steam inside of the popovers. Opening the door will disrupt the process and could ruin the gluten-free popovers altogether. 

Use a Timer - It's very important to reduce the oven temperature after the first 20 minutes of bake time, so set a timer to remind yourself to do so!

Cool in the Pan - Don't try to remove the popovers from the pan right away. Give them 10-15 minutes to cool still in the pan. After that, they will be fully cooked and set and easy to get out. 

Are you looking for another easy recipe? Check out my Gluten-Free Drop Biscuits. They are perfect for Chicken and Biscuits or Biscuits and Gravy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Freeze Gluten-Free Popovers?

Yes, you can freeze the GF popovers. Let them cool, and then place them in a freezer bag or airtight container. They store well for 2 months. But I do, however, prefer them fresh.

Can You Make These Gluten-Free Popovers Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can. Go up to the step of making the batter. It keeps in the fridge for 24 hours, and when you are ready, carry on with the rest of the recipe. 

What Substitutions / Replacements Can I Make in These Gluten-Free Popovers?

Dairy-free - Use any milk you prefer or a non-dairy variety. You can use coconut milk, but I suggest the canned full-fat version. The taste will be different, and they will be slightly denser. I have not tried all the milk varieties, but generally, you want milk with a good blend of fat and protein in order to get the rise, so they are light and airy. Use a non-dairy butter alternative too.

Vegan - Use flax egg or chia egg. Use milk and butter non-dairy alternatives. I have not tried this alternative.

Egg-Free - Use flax egg or chia egg. I have not tried this variation yet.

How Do You Work With Gluten-free Flour?

It's important to measure your gluten-free flour correctly to get great baking results. 

The most accurate way to measure is by using a kitchen scale and weighing the flour blend. 1 ¼ cups of Bob's Red Mill 1:1 baking flour, as called for in this recipe, should weigh 185 grams. 

Otherwise, take care not to compact the flour as you are measuring it. Rather than scooping into your flour container with a measuring cup, use a spoon to add flour to the cup, and then gently level the measuring cup using a flat knife. 

Know your flours: Gluten-free baking can get complicated with the number of different types of gluten-free flours available! When possible, use the specific GF flours called for in the recipes. To learn more, check out our post on Gluten-Free Flours. There we give you information on all the different flours and an easy recipe for making your own blend from rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum. You can also learn more baking tips. 

Can I Use Almond Or Coconut Flour In This GF Popovers Recipe?

For this specific recipe, I would not recommend almond or coconut flour. Almond flour has a higher fat content and is low in carbohydrates which will create a different texture and how the popovers rise. Coconut flour absorbs liquid differently from gluten-free all-purpose flour. You would need to adjust the liquids in the recipe to make it work.

What To Serve With Gluten-free Popovers

Use popovers wherever you would typically serve dinner rolls or biscuits. 

• Add butter, jam, or honey, and enjoy these for breakfast with a healthy pineapple spinach smoothie. 
• Add popovers as a side dish when you make Gluten Free Beef Stew or Gluten Free Meatloaf.
• If you're serving Ham for a holiday meal, gluten-free popovers are the perfect thing to fill the breadbasket with. 
• I love a roll or a popover with a hot bowl of soup. You should try my Gluten Free Tomato Soup or Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup next. 

Can I Make These In A Popover Pan?

If you have a popover pan, feel free! These special pans are designed specifically to bake popovers with straight, tall sides so that the popovers can rise up extra tall. Muffin pan popovers aren't quite as impressive, but they work just the same and are delicious. 

If you decide to use a popover pan, you'll need more batter per cavity, so expect to only make 6 rolls rather than 12.

Do I Need To Preheat The Pan?

Many traditional recipes for popovers require you to preheat a popover pan with butter or oil in the cavities. I don't find it to be necessary, so I've left it out of my recipe. Starting with warm melted butter and warm milk gives you a head start on steam creation so make sure not to skip that part. These gluten-free popovers made in a muffin tin rise up enough without any preheating. 

Can I Use A Silicone Pan?

A silicone muffin pan will not allow the batter to flow upwards the same way that a greased metal tin does. Don't try to make popovers in anything but a metal pan. 

What Is The Best Gluten-Free Flour For Popovers?

I've only made these using Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend and my Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Blend, so I can't say if others will work. Please leave a comment if you try this recipe with another type of flour so we can all learn from your experiment. 

Why Are My Popovers Hollow?

This is normal! If your popovers are hollow in the middle, it just means that you made them correctly. When the batter is cooked, steam is produced inside the rolls, creating a delicate yet creamy texture inside and leaving space where the steam was. 

How Do I Make A Gluten-free Yorkshire Pudding?

A traditional British food, Yorkshire Pudding is just about identical to a popover. They are often made using beef fat to grease the pan and served with hearty dinners like pot roast with gravy. This recipe is a perfect replacement for Yorkshire puddings, and I recommend using the cornstarch tip that I gave above to make them extra crisp. 

Continue to Content

Yield: 12 Popovers

Gluten-Free Popovers

Print

These gluten-free popovers are light, airy, and deliciously satisfying. They require just 5 ingredients and will be a hit at any meal of the day!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup all purpose gluten free flour (we used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¼ cups of milk, slightly warm
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Grease a metal muffin pan; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour and salt together.
3. Add in the milk, eggs, and melted butter, and whisk until the batter is smooth and no clumps remain.
4. Pour the batter into the muffin tin's spaces, filling each ⅔ full.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F, and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the popovers are a medium to dark brown, and are cooked through.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the popovers to cool for 10-15 minutes, before removing from the pan.

Notes

• This recipe works best using either Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, or our homemade gluten-free flour blend.
• You can substitute ¼ cup of the gluten-free flour with cornstarch for a lighter, crispier popover.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  EPICA Bellemain 6 Cup Nonstick Popover Pan
• 
  OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk,Black
• 
  USA Pan Bakeware Muffin Pan, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel
• 
  Pyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl Set, 1-Qt, 1.5-Qt ,and 2.5-Qt Glass Mixing Bowls, Dishwasher, Microwave and Freezer Safe

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 54Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 183mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.