Popovers

Popovers are a light, hollow breadlike pastry made from an egg-based batter. When baked in a hot oven in greased cups or a popover pan, the batter rises rapidly, forming a crisp crust with a hollow interior. They are typically served warm, with butter, and can be prepared in a range of sweet or savory styles.

Ingredients usually include flour, eggs, milk, salt, and a fat such as butter or oil. Some recipes add a small amount of sugar. The batter is whisked until smooth, briefly rested, then poured into preheated, well-greased cups. High heat creates steam that lifts the batter; the popovers bake without opening the oven door, until deeply browned and fully puffed, about 20–40 minutes.

Origin and use: Popovers are associated with American cooking, especially in New England and the Midwest, and likely developed in the 19th century from Yorkshire pudding-inspired batter or other European influences. The name refers to the way the batter rises and "pops" over the edges of the cups. Savory versions may include cheese or herbs; sweet versions may be served with jam or syrup.

In computing, a popover is a user interface element that appears as a transient, contextual overlay anchored to a control. It provides additional content or options and can be triggered by clicking or focusing the related control. Popovers are designed to be dismissible, often closed by pressing outside the popover or by an explicit close control.