Perfect! Here’s a classic homemade English muffin recipe that’s simple but gives that soft, chewy inside with the slightly crisp outside. I’ll break it down step by step.
Ingredients (makes about 6–8 muffins)
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (around 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 ½ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- Cornmeal, for dusting
Instructions
- Activate the yeast
- In a small bowl, mix the warm milk, sugar, and yeast.
- Let it sit 5–10 minutes until foamy. If it doesn’t foam, the yeast might be dead, and you’ll need new yeast.
- Make the dough
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
- Add the melted butter and foamy yeast mixture.
- Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough
- Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 4–5 minutes.
- First rise
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1–1.5 hours.
- Shape the muffins
- Punch down the dough gently.
- Roll or pat it out to about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick.
- Use a round cutter (about 3–4 inches / 7–10 cm) to cut out muffins.
- Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal and place the muffins on it.
- Sprinkle a little cornmeal on top as well.
- Second rise
- Cover the muffins with a cloth and let them rise 30 minutes.
- Cook the muffins
- Preheat a skillet or griddle over low-medium heat.
- Cook muffins 6–7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- They should sound hollow when tapped.
- Cool and split
- Let muffins cool on a wire rack.
- Split with a fork (not a knife) to get that nooks-and-crannies texture.
Tip: Toast before eating and add butter, jam, or make classic eggs Benedict.
If you want, I can also give you a faster, no-yeast English muffin recipe that skips the long rising time—perfect if you’re hungry right away. Do you want me to do that?
