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BeneRecipes

Toad in the Hole

Sausages baked in a tall, crisp Yorkshire pudding batter and served with onion gravy.

By HarrietAI-assistedApproved for publication by BeneRecipes Editor on 4 October 2026Updated 3 October 2026
Prep
15 min
Cook
45 min
Total
1 hr
Makes
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Toad in the hole: sausages baked in a risen batter
Photo: Robert Gibert · Public domain

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

4 servings

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

Method

  1. 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.

    Raw pork sausages
    Photo: Conan · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
  2. 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.

    Whisking batter beside a heated tin
    Photo: john wilbanks · CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
  3. 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.

    Onion gravy being stirred in a pan
    Photo: Ben30 from Barnes, United Kingdom · CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
  4. 4

    Cut into portions and serve at once with the onion gravy, peas and carrots or greens.

    Toad in the hole with onion gravy, peas and carrots
    Photo: {{{1}}} · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

If it goes wrong

ProblemLikely causeFix
Batter didn't riseFat not hot enoughThe fat must sizzle when the batter goes in; put the tin back in the oven to reheat if needed
Soggy under the sausagesToo much batter for the tinUse a tin about 30 × 20 cm so the batter is not too deep

Guides for this recipe

More English Food recipes