Toad in the Hole
Sausages baked in a tall, crisp Yorkshire pudding batter and served with onion gravy.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 hr
- Makes
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy

Toad in the hole is a Yorkshire pudding with sausages baked into it. The rules are the same as for Yorkshire puddings: rest the batter, get the fat very hot, and keep the oven door shut. Brown the sausages first so they colour well and give off fat for the batter to rise in.
Ingredients
Batter and sausages
- 140gplain flour
- 4medium eggs
- 200mlwhole milk
- pinch of salt
- 8good pork sausages
- 2tbspsunflower oil or lard
Onion gravy
- 25gbutter
- 2onions, thinly sliced
- 1tbspplain flour
- 400mlbeef stock
Equipment
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Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 220°C / 200°C fan / gas 7. Put the sausages and oil in a roasting tin about 30 × 20 cm and roast for 15 minutes until browned.

Photo: Conan · CC BY 2.0 (cropped) - 2
Meanwhile, whisk the flour and eggs to a smooth paste, then gradually whisk in the milk and salt (ideally make the batter ahead and let it rest). Pour the batter quickly into the sizzling tin around the sausages and bake for 25–30 minutes without opening the door, until risen and deep golden.

Photo: john wilbanks · CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped) - 3
For the gravy, cook the onions slowly in the butter for 15–20 minutes until soft and brown. Stir in the flour, then gradually add the stock and simmer until thickened.

Photo: Ben30 from Barnes, United Kingdom · CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped) - 4
Cut into portions and serve at once with the onion gravy, peas and carrots or greens.

Photo: {{{1}}} · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
If it goes wrong
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Batter didn't rise | Fat not hot enough | The fat must sizzle when the batter goes in; put the tin back in the oven to reheat if needed |
| Soggy under the sausages | Too much batter for the tin | Use a tin about 30 × 20 cm so the batter is not too deep |
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