I didn’t set out to be the two-time Yorkshire Pudding Champion, but once is luck and twice is proof. This award-winning Yorkshire pudding recipe has been tried, tested, and judged by chefs and food critics, and it delivers every single time. No faff. No gimmicks. Just proper pudds with skyscraper sides, golden crispness, and a hollow ready to drown in gravy.
For the story behind the batter, read my Yorkshire pudding history, from the early dripping pudding to the tall Sunday-roast classic we know today.
The secret? Smoking-hot fat, a decent tin, and a batter mixed just right. I’ve linked the kit I use so you can recreate the result at home: a reliable Yorkshire pudding tin, proper beef dripping, a no-nonsense digital scale, and a trusty oven thermometer to keep your oven honest.
And yes, email me your pudds when you nail them: info@yorkshirepudd.co.uk I’m serious. I love seeing them.
Watch: How to Make Yorkshire Puddings
Watch two-time World Yorkshire Pudding Champion Chris Blackburn demonstrate how to make tall, crisp Yorkshire puddings in this step-by-step tutorial with Hisense UK.
Ingredients
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225g plain flour (weighed on a digital kitchen scale)
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4 large eggs
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300ml whole milk
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1 tbsp beef dripping (this dripping gives next-level crispness)
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1 tsp salt
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1/2 tsp white pepper
Method
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Heat like you mean it
Set the oven to its highest temperature (many go to 240–270°C). Put a little beef dripping into each hole of your Yorkshire pudding tin and slide it in to get smoking hot. I check with an oven thermometer because oven dials are optimists.
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Mix the batter
Sift flour and salt into a big bowl. Add the beaten eggs and half the milk. Whisk until it resembles wallpaper paste, super smooth. Add the rest of the milk and whisk again until silky. Rest 10–15 mins.
Prefer speed? A hand mixer gets it lump-free in seconds.
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Pour, don’t dither
Carefully pull out the tin (fat should be shimmering). Pour the batter ½ to ¾ full in each hole. Straight back in the oven. Do not open the door for the first 20 minutes unless you enjoy disappointment.
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Bake
20–25 minutes until tall, golden and crisp. If your oven was genuinely hot and your fat properly smoking, they’ll climb like champions.
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Serve immediately
Pudds wait for no one. Get them on the plate with your roast beef, chicken, or a rich veggie casserole.
Chris’s Quirky Tips (that actually work)
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Eggs = glue. When you whisk eggs, go softly and briefly, stop when they look a bit like… snot. There, I said it. That’s the structure talking.
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Tin matters. Flimsy trays kill the rise. A deep, non-stick pudding tray helps them shoot up and release easily.
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Fat choice. Beef dripping makes the crispiest shells. This is the one I use.
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Heat is king. The fat must be smoking and the oven genuinely blazing. Verify with an oven thermometer.
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Make-ahead? Yes. Bake, cool, then reheat in a roaring oven for 3–4 minutes. They’ll puff back like nothing happened.
Troubleshooting (because we’ve all been there)
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Flat as a pancake? Your fat wasn’t hot or you hesitated pouring. Get the tin raging hot and move fast.
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Heavy, doughy bottoms? Overfilled or under-heated. Stick to ½–¾ full and ensure that fat is shimmering.
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Won’t release? The tin’s the culprit. Upgrade to a quality non-stick tray.
Yorkshire Pudding FAQs
What is Yorkshire pudding made of?
Traditional Yorkshire pudding batter is made from plain flour, eggs, milk and salt, then baked in very hot fat. I use beef dripping for a deeply savoury flavour and crisp shell, but a high-smoke-point vegetable oil also works.
What consistency should Yorkshire pudding batter be?
Once all the milk is incorporated, the batter should be smooth and pourable—roughly like single cream. It should coat the back of a spoon but run freely into a hot tin. If it is thick enough to sit in a mound, whisk in a small splash of milk.
Why did my Yorkshire puddings not rise?
The usual causes are fat that was not hot enough, an oven that lost heat, batter poured too slowly, or opening the door during the first 20 minutes. Preheat the tin and fat thoroughly, work quickly and keep the oven closed.
Can I make Yorkshire puddings ahead?
Yes. Bake them fully, cool them quickly and refrigerate within two hours. Eat within two days, or freeze once cooled. Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout and crisp.
What to Serve Them With
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A classic Sunday roast with proper gravy.
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Sausage & onion gravy midweek, no judgement here.
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Veggie casseroles (have a look at my Top Casserole Dishes roundup for inspo).
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Feeling fancy? Use them as edible bowls for stew or slow-cooker tagine.
Looking for more ideas? Browse my Yorkshire pudding recipes for gluten-free pudds, modern twists and proper gravy pairings.
Show Me Your Pudds
I’m not kidding—send me your photos: info@yorkshirepudd.co.uk
Or tag @Yorkshire.Pudd on Instagram with #YorkshirePudd. Best ones get a cheeky share.
Kit I Actually Use (if you want the same result)
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Yorkshire pudding tin – deep, reliable, non-stick.
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Beef dripping – flavour + crisp edges.
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Digital kitchen scale – the difference between “good” and “nailed it”.
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Oven thermometer – because 230°C on the dial isn’t always 230°C inside.
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Hand mixer – for silky batter on busy Sundays.
Nutrition estimate
Approximately 120 calories, 5g protein, 15g carbohydrate and 4g fat per Yorkshire pudding, based on a batch of 12. Values are estimates and will vary with tin size and the amount of dripping used.
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