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Experience the nostalgia of childhood with toad-in-a-hole. Learn how to make this traditional British dish in no time.

Growing Up With Toad-In-A-Hole Dinners

Growing up in the UK, my mum would make toad-in-a-hole pretty much any day of the week.

Toad-in-a-hole is a frugal dish that anyone can make quickly when time is short in the kitchen.

If you like Yorkshire pudding with your roast dinner, you will love toad in the hole.

Basically, the bangers (sausages) are supposed to be the toads poking out the Yorkshire pudding when cooked.

When you make the toad-in-a-hole, it all happens pretty fast, but that is because you need the oil in a casserole dish to be very hot.

No Perfect Toad-In-A-Hole Recipe

My mum always told us to stay out of the kitchen when she made toad-in-a-hole.

She was worried about the hot oil, but she occasionally let me watch, and that’s how I learned to make it.

I don’t get all fancy with the batter, but if you like, you can add fresh herbs such as chives or basil to give the dish that onion flavor.

You will find many toad-in-a-hole recipes online, some with different ingredient variations and flavors.

There’s no perfect toad-in-a-hole recipe, as the recipe differs from person to person, although the concept remains the same.

Homemade Gravy And Store-Bought Bisto

I like my toad-in-a-hole batter to be well-cooked and then drenched in gravy.

Traditionally, Brits use pan drippings from frying the pork sausages to cook up some onions and make a delicious onion gravy.

When you mix the toad in the hole batter mix, make sure to make it nice and smooth with no lumps.

You must ensure that you aren’t opening the oven once you pour the batter over top of the bangers.

Just have patience and watch from the window to make sure your batter puffs up and turns a golden brown colour.

I used Bisto gravy for this recipe because that is what I had on hand, and my mum sent it to me from the UK along with some Twiglets for Mrs. CBB.

I make homemade gravy, but not every dish I create has drippings for me, and that’s where my Bisto comes in handy.

The fluffy batter will sink once you cut it, but when you pour the silky gravy over the top, it soaks all those flavors up and melts in your mouth.

Side-Dishes To Serve With Toad-In-A-Hole

You can serve toad-in-a-hole with mashed potatoes or oven-roasted potatoes.

My mum also made peas, cabbage, or carrots alongside the dish, although I prefer mashed potatoes with peas.

Traditions of Scotland Toad-In-A-Hole

I asked Nicola what her memory of Toad in a hole was for her back home in the UK.

Nicola occasionally shares her amazing recipes with us here at Canadian Budget Binder.

Yes I make it here my hubby loves toad in the hole as do the kiddos.  

In Yorkshire (known for the Yorkshire puddings none the less) they have the same mixture but sweet served with cream or apple sauce.

I always remember dad and my mum making toad in the hole.  

We got to eat in front of the TV on a Friday night sitting watching retro stuff Tarzan and Harold Lloyd!

Nicola Don

So, there you have it, folks, an easy recipe for any night of the week: don’t be afraid to make the toad in a hole because I’m pretty sure it will be a hit with your family.

This recipe will give you at least 4 servings unless you are a growing boy like me who can eat at least three sausages independently.

Double the recipe and use a bigger casserole dish or jam all the sausages together like a happy family.

How To Make Toad-In-A-Hole

• Yield: 4 servings
• Prep Time:  20 mins
• Cook Time: 10-15 mins at 425 degrees or until golden brown

Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 4 pork sausages
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup of fresh chives minced (optional)
• Salt
• Pepper
• 3 tablespoons of melted butter
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

• Cover your casserole dish or baking pan with extra virgin olive oil so nothing sticks.
• Please place it in your pre-heated oven of 425 degrees to get the pan or dish very hot on the top rack, but put a baking sheet on the second rack in case oil spats below.
• Once the pan is hot, cook your sausages until golden brown in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
• While your sausages are browning, put your flour, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add 4 large eggs, salt and pepper, melted butter, and milk, and then mix until smooth and set aside.
• Once the casserole or pan in the oven is hot and your sausages are cooked, add the sausages to the pan with all the drippings, then pour the batter over the top.
• Bake until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
• Do not open your oven door during this time or risk your dish sinking. Just oversee it from outside the oven window.

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Yield: 4 servings

Toad-In-A-Hole

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

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Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 4 pork sausages
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/2 cup of fresh chives minced (optional)
• Salt
• Pepper
• 3 tablespoons of melted butter
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. Cover your casserole dish or baking pan with extra virgin olive oil so nothing sticks.
2. Please place it in your pre-heated oven of 425 degrees to get the pan or dish very hot on the top rack, but put a baking sheet on the second rack in case oil spats below.
3. Once the pan is hot, cook your sausages until golden brown in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
4. While your sausages are browning, put your flour, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add 4 large eggs, salt and pepper, melted butter, and milk, and then mix until smooth and set aside.
5. Once the casserole or pan in the oven is hot and your sausages are cooked, add the sausages to the pan with all the drippings, then pour the batter over the top.
6. Bake until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
7. Do not open your oven door during this time or risk your dish sinking. Just oversee it from outside the oven window.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Once cooked, serve immediately, topped with homemade gravy (or Bisto), and served with mashed potatoes and vegetables for a full meal or on its own.

This is a classic British dish many people may have heard of yet not tried.

If you like sausages, you must try toad-in-a-hole, and heck, it will make a great conversation for any dinner party.

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