How to Make Easy English Muffins

Muffins are the perfect cosy treat for a chilly day, snuggled up with a good podcast.

This was inspired by my simple white loaf recipe, and pairs well with my amazing vegan fruity butter.

So let's set the record straight. A muffin is simply an individually portioned cake or baked item. According to Wikipedia. It does go on to muddy the waters somewhat by stating that the term muffin is, after all that, somewhat of a free for all. So, there's no record to set straight. A muffin is a muffin is a, er muffin.

But for today we are cooking a yeasted bread muffin, known in the US as an English muffin. I think certainly I was aware of this type of muffin as a child, long before I knew that cakey muffins existed. Those were always called cupcakes or buns (another confusing term) and are considered a quick bread (due to the lack of yeast in the batter, similar to a banana bread or other such baked products that are actually just cakes!).

These muffins have a unique taste, that despite using just flour, yeast, water, salt and sugar, is distinctly muffin-like. In fact, I think it's purely the dusting of the semolina that gives them that taste, and that doesn't even go into the mixture!

Muffins freshly baked and still hot are delicious to eat just as they are, but the next day they definitely benefit from a toasting. When I was a child, we had an open fire and I remember sticking a muffin half on a toasting fork and thrusting it deep into the flames until it would char around the edges. Then I'd spread it thickly with butter and blackcurrant jam. I think I prefer this kind of muffin to the cake ones.

This recipe is borrowed from the third River Cottage Handbook, Bread, and I highly recommend seeking this out as it is a wealth of useful tips and breadmaking knowledge.

I hope that you give my easy English muffin recipe a try, they really are so good to make and eat, and a really good first-time baking recipe too!

• flour. I use plain, strong flour
• yeast. I use instant.
• semolina. This is a critical ingredient for giving you that classic crunchy outside, and you only dust the unbaked muffins with it.

See recipe card for quantities.

Mix the flour, yeast, water and sugar and knead until you have a rough ball of dough. Leave to prove for 2 hours

After a couple of hours, the dough will be doubled, smooth and shiny

Knock down the dough, then shape into a circle and cut into 8 pieces

Roll into muffin shapes, flattening slightly, coat in semolina then leave to rise for another hour or so.

Cook in a heavy bottomed frying pan, on both sides for 15 minutes.

Hint: do not omit the semolina, it is cheap to buy and you will use it for lots of other baking purposes, like pizza crusts etc.

A heavy bottom frying pan is essential. I love to use my Ninja Foodi Zerostick Frying Pan (shameless affiliate link) but any heavy based frying pan or skillet is perfect.

These are really only good for a day or 2 after you make them, and they definitely need toasting by day 2.

Freeze them on the day of baking, one cooled, then thaw at room temperature before toasting.

Make a larger batch and freeze them on the day of baking so that you always have some lovely fluffy muffins.

We just call them muffins. And yes, we call things like blueberry muffins, muffins as well!

I get really cross at this type of question, like, do you put jam or cream on scones first - you do you!

We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.