Toad In The Hole Recipe | Rise Every Time | Hint Of Helen (2024)

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I LOVE a traditional toad in the hole – succulent sausages surrounded in crispy, fluffy batter. If you’ve not had toad in the hole before (where have you been!) its a traditional British dish made of sausages cooked in a Yorkshire pudding batter. Classically it is served with mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables such as peas and carrots.

It’s the perfect dinner for winter evenings and lazy Sundays – and what’s more, it’s easy to make too! Here I show a step-by-step recipe for toad in the hole made in the oven.

This recipe never fails me – the batter is always huge – it gets a lot of rise thanks to a following a couple of key tips:

  1. Let the batter rest for at least 10 minutes
  2. Pre-heat the tray and oil for at least 10 minutes
  3. Be quick when pouring the batter into the tray, and do not open the oven door whilst the Yorkshire puddings are cooking
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This recipe can easily be halved, doubled, or even quartered to suit your needs. I sometimes make an individual toad in the hole when I’m home alone for a treat – with just two sausages.

Toad in the hole is such a classic family favourite meal, this is one the kids should love too. Use your families favourite sausages and serve with their favourite veggies for a balanced, comforting meal they’ll be asking for time and time again. And because it’s so easy once you follow the rules above – you’ll be happy to cook it too!

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How To Make Toad In The Hole

Scroll down for recipe card and ingredient list. If you have an Actifry I also have a recipe for Actifry Toad In The Hole.

1. Begin by pre-heating your oven to 200C

2. Place the sausages and a drizzle of oil in a metal baking tray with high sides. Or a pyrex dish. I recommend you use a metal baking tray if you have one. Then, put the tray with the sausages into the oven for 20 minutes to begin to cook the sausages.

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3. Whilst the sausages are cooking, begin to make the batter. It is best to make the batter as soon as the sausages go in as allowing the batter to stand for 10-15 minutes really helps the rise. Mix the batter until smooth and allow to sit on the side (room temperature) until you’re ready for the next step.

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4. After 15 minutes remove the sausages from the oven. The oil in the pan will be very hot at this point – and this is how you want to keep it. Be VERY quick at this stage to minimise the time the dish is out of the oven. Make sure you have a heat-proof surface ready and the batter nearby.

If you like your sausages very well done – leave them in a little longer until they are more brown – but remember, they will be cooking for a further 30 minutes with the batter in.

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5. Pour the batter into the sausage tray

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6. Until the sausages are covered about 1/2 – 3/4 of the way up. Then, quickly place the tray back into the oven and close the door.

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7. Whilst the toad in the hole is baking DO NOT open the oven door – this will result in your batter deflating. Cook the toad in the hole for about 30 minutes – check through the oven door (look through the glass if you have a glass door) and check it is browned.

Once removed from the oven, the toad in the hole will sink slightly due to the temperate change – I just recommend you check it is cooked and crispy on top throughout to know it is ready. Once you have removed it from the oven, if it is browned and mostly cooked you can return it to the oven for more time (if you wish) without the risk of it deflating.

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Yield: 4

A classic British Toad In The Hole Recipe. Succulent sausages in Yorkshire Pudding Batter. Always risen - always crisp on top!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time35 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 Sausages
  • 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

Yorkshire Pudding Batter:

  • 115g Plain Flour
  • 3 egg
  • 150ml milk

To Serve (Optional)

  • Mashed potato, gravy, vegetables (such as peas or carrots)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200C
  2. Place sausages and oil into a metal baking tray with deep sides, or a pyrex or casserole dish (see notes). You'll want to chose a tray which has enough room around your sausages, but is not too big - see images above to see the ratio with my tray vs sausages.
  3. Place the sausages into the oven and cook for 20 minutes
  4. Whilst the sausages are cooking, mix together the batter using a whisk or fork - until smooth.
  5. After the 20 minutes remove the sausages from the oven and quickly pour the batter into the dish. Return to the oven immediately
  6. Cook for a further 30 minutes (see notes). Until cooked and the batter is brown and crisp on top.
  7. Serve with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy (optional)

Notes

Don't chose a dish which would shatter easily with a heat change - you'll be pouring batter into hot oil and so i recommend a metal dish or a strong pyrex

If you like your sausages very well done - cook them for longer at step 3

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Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 506Total Fat 40gUnsaturated Fat 27gCarbohydrates 37gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 27g

Nutritional data provided here is only an estimate. If you're tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!

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See more: British Recipes, By Ingredient, Easy Dinner Recipes, Pork, Recipes, Sausage Recipes, Sides

Toad In The Hole Recipe | Rise Every Time | Hint Of Helen (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tray for toad in the hole? ›

A metal tin with fairly high sides is best because metal is a very efficient conductor of heat and getting the batter hot is essential for a good rise. You can use any oven-safe dish, but ceramic and glass dishes take longer to heat up which might affect the rise of your Yorkshire pudding.

Why didn't my toad in the hole rise? ›

Getting your Yorkshires to rise:

Toad in the Hole needs a hot dish with plenty of oil. Using a metal baking tin and adding the batter quickly is recommended. Also, the dish needs to be large enough so that the batter can creep around the edges (at least 30cm x 25cm ideally).

Why does my batter not rise? ›

Bake doesn't rise, or the texture is just wrong

You are probably over-mixing the cake batter. An over-mixed batter overworks the gluten in the flour, resulting in weaker gluten structures. This makes your cake flat and destroys its fluffy texture.

How do you keep toads in the hole from sticking to the bottom? ›

Line the baking dish with parchment paper. Forget the oil. Add some of the sausage drippings to the batter for flavor and then grease the baking dish with shortening. When you add the batter to the baking dish, the shortening will not be displaced by the batter and help prevent the sticking.

Can I use a cake tin for toad in the hole? ›

Pop the empty loaf or cake tin(s) in the oven to warm. 2. Sift the flour into a bowl. Whisk the milk and eggs in a jug.

What cut of meat is used in a toad in the hole? ›

Toad in the hole is a traditional English dish consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables. Historically, the dish has also been prepared using other meats, such as rump steak and lamb's kidney.

How to get batter to rise? ›

The oven should be hot – we're talking 220C/200C Fan/Gas 6. Preheating your pan and oil (as well as your oven) ensures that steam will form as soon as the batter goes into it, causing it to puff up and get that glorious rise. On a practical level, it also means that the batter is far less likely to stick to the pan.

How do you make Yorkshire puddings rise higher? ›

Resting the batter overnight is key for developing better flavor. Forget about cold batter: letting it rest at room temperature helps it rise taller as it bakes. A combination of milk and water gives the Yorkshire puddings extra rise and crispness.

Why is my toad in the hole doughy? ›

Our answer. The batter in a toad in the hole should rise up but will be airy and crisp rather than spongy or cakey. The flour should be plain (all-purpose) flour and not self-raising. However it is most likely that the batter isn't quite cooking properly due to the dish.

Why isn't my batter rising? ›

Add more yeast, blend in the starter, or knead in more flour to help initiate rising. Dough that has expired yeast, too much salt, all-purpose or cake flour, or antifungal spices like cinnamon might have trouble rising.

What's wrong with my Yorkshire pudding? ›

Over-filling your Yorkshire pudding tin will lead to heavy puddings, which won't rise to lofty heights. Whether you're making individual Yorkshire puddings or a large pud to carve up, only fill the tin about a third of the way for optimum puds.

What ingredient makes batter rise? ›

Baking powder and baking soda are both leavening agents, which means they cause dough or batter to expand by releasing gas. Yeast is another leavening agent you might know about.

What if the batter is too thick for toad in the hole? ›

Then add in the milk some at a time, whisking in between, until the mixture is the consistency of a good milkshake. It doesn't need to be an exact science here though, thicker mixture results in a 'stodgier' Yorkshire pudding. Eggs aren't all the same weight so if 200ml is still too thick, then add a bit more milk.

What to serve with toad in the hole? ›

The best side dishes to serve with toad in the hole are onion gravy, mozzarella sticks, mashed potatoes, blooming onion, buttered peas, roasted root vegetables, steamed broccoli, cauliflower cheese, creamed corn, colcannon, horseradish sauce, and braised red cabbage.

Why is it called a toad in the hole? ›

'Toad in the hole' is just a quaint little nickname given to sausages in batter - or Yorkshire pudding, as we proudly call it in the U.K. The origins of the name are shrouded in mystery, but seem to date from the 18th century, when you can find references to 'pigeons in a hole' in old recipe books.

What is the table for toad in the hole? ›

The table for Toad in the Hole is about 15 inches across and 24 inches long. The playing surface slopes towards the players who stand behind a line 8 feet from the front of the board. In the centre of the table is a hole of about 2 inches in diameter through which the toads can fall.

What's best to serve with toad in the hole? ›

The best side dishes to serve with toad in the hole are onion gravy, mozzarella sticks, mashed potatoes, blooming onion, buttered peas, roasted root vegetables, steamed broccoli, cauliflower cheese, creamed corn, colcannon, horseradish sauce, and braised red cabbage.

Why does my toad in the hole stick to the pan? ›

This is about the oil. As mentioned, you need the oil to be very hot before adding your batter, but it's also important to use the right amount. Too much will make the bottom of your Yorkshires greasy, while too little could see your puds stick to the pan.

How to elevate a toad in the hole? ›

Elevate your toad-in-the-hole experience with golden brown sausages in a bed of luscious, melting mustardy cheddar cheese, with tender broccoli florets peeking out from between. It's accompanied by a side of steamed greens and topped with a generous ladle of our rich homemade gravy.

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