Neiman Marcus is an upscale department store that is known for its fashionable clothing, luxury goods, and its bakery and cafe – The Zodiac Room. The Zodiac Room serves American cuisine in a sophisticated setting, including brunch items like popovers. But how many calories are actually in one of their famous popovers?
What is a Popover?
A popover is a light and hollow quick bread that is similar to a muffin but taller with crisp edges. Popovers have a tender, eggy interior encased in a thin, golden crust. They are made from a simple batter of eggs, milk, flour, and salt or sugar. The high proportion of eggs gives popovers their hollow interior and causes them to “pop” upwards and puff dramatically when baked.
Popovers are served straight from the oven while hot and are often eaten at breakfast or brunch. They can be served plain with butter or jam, or filled with fruit, cheese, meat, or other sweet or savory fillings. Popovers were historically associated with New England cuisine but are now popular nationwide.
Neiman Marcus Popovers
The popovers served at Neiman Marcus’ Zodiac Room are made fresh in-house every day. They use a traditional popover recipe that results in a light and airy interior with a delicately crispy shell. The popovers are made with all-purpose flour, eggs, milk, salt, and butter.
Neiman Marcus does not provide full nutrition facts for its popovers. However, we can estimate the calories by looking at standard popover recipes and sizes. A typical plain popover made with 2 eggs and 1/4 cup of milk contains around 160 calories if made with 2 tablespoons of butter.
Neiman Marcus serves their popovers with strawberry butter, which adds additional calories. With 1 tablespoon of strawberry butter, a Neiman Marcus popover likely contains approximately 200 calories.
Factors Affecting Popover Calories
There are several factors that affect the calorie count in popovers:
- Size – Larger popovers contain more calories than smaller ones
- Eggs – More eggs makes them more dense and higher in calories
- Butter – Popovers are often brushed with melted butter or served with butter, adding calories
- Fillings or Toppings – Ingredients like cheese, fruit, jam or honey significantly increase calories
- Baking Method – Deep frying rather than baking adds more calories from oil
To make a lower calorie popover, you can use egg whites instead of whole eggs, reduce the butter, and avoid fillings. Baking them instead of frying also reduces calories.
Nutrition Information
Although we don’t have exact nutrition facts for Neiman Marcus popovers, here is approximate nutritional information per 1 plain popover based on a standard recipe:
| Nutrition Facts | Per Popover |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 |
| Fat | 8g |
| Carbohydrates | 18g |
| Protein | 6g |
With 1 tablespoon of strawberry butter, the calories increase to around 200 per popover. The fat also increases to 12g. Carbs stay around 18g and protein around 6g.
Ways to Reduce Calories in Popovers
Here are some tips for lightening up popovers:
- Use egg whites instead of whole eggs
- Replace some of the butter with unsweetened applesauce
- Use fat-free or low-fat milk instead of whole milk
- Cut back slightly on oil when greasing the pan
- Skip filling and just serve with jam, fruit, or a light spread
- Make mini or bite-sized popovers instead of large ones
With some simple ingredient swaps and size adjustments, you can shave off calories and fat to make a more diet-friendly version of this brunch favorite.
Healthier Popover Alternatives
If you want a lighter breakfast option that is reminiscent of a popover, consider these healthy alternatives:
- Egg white muffins – Whip egg whites and vegetables and bake in a muffin tin for a protein-packed breakfast.
- Whole wheat English muffins – Look for ones with at least 3g of fiber and pile with smashed avocado, tomatoes, and a poached egg.
- Quinoa Breakfast Bowl – Make a hearty breakfast bowl with quinoa, milk, cinnamon, fruit, nuts, and honey.
- Yogurt Parfait – Layer vanilla Greek yogurt with fresh berries and whole grain cereal or granola.
All of these options provide more nutrition than a traditional popover and can help you start the day feeling satisfied while sticking to your health goals.
The Bottom Line
A single Neiman Marcus popover likely contains around 200 calories, with about 12g of fat, 18g of carbohydrates, and 6g of protein. This is based on approximate nutrition figures for a standard popover recipe.
You can reduce the calories in popovers by using egg whites instead of whole eggs, cutting back on butter, opting for small or mini sizes, and skipping fillings. But if you want a very light breakfast, your best bet is to choose a healthier alternative like a yogurt parfait or egg white muffin.
So if you have the chance to enjoy one of these indulgent baked treats, go for it! Just be mindful of portions and try balancing it out with smarter choices the rest of the day.
