English Muffin

Originally appearing in British cookbooks as early as the 18th century, English muffins were once sold by “muffin men” going door-to-door, a practice immortalized in the nursery rhyme “The Muffin Man.” Over time, the term “muffin” in the United Kingdom came to refer to this flat, griddle-cooked bread, while in North America it distinguishes itself from the sweeter, cake-like American muffin. Let's bake together!

Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure with me, as we uncover the secrets to creating the perfect English Muffins from scratch. 🍞✨

These delightful, golden-brown muffins are the ideal canvas for your breakfast creations. Whether you’re topping them with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce for Eggs Benedict or simply spreading them with your favorite jam, making your own English Muffins is a game-changer.

English Muffin

Course: baking
Cuisine: English
Keyword: breakfast, english muffins
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 105kcal
Cost: $5
Continental breakfast

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer
  • 2 Baking trays
  • 1 Bowl
  • 1 Dough scraper
  • 16 Muffin rings

Ingredients

Poolish Starter

  • 200 g Bread Flour
  • 200 g Water
  • 100 g Whole Milk
  • 12 g Sugar
  • 5 g Instant yeast

Dough

  • 50 g Egg
  • 300 g All purpose flour
  • 12 g Salt
  • 50 g Butter

Instructions

  • English muffins are a type of small, round, yeast-leavened bread with a distinct flat shape and a soft, chewy interior filled with little air pockets—often called “nooks and crannies.” Traditionally, they’re split horizontally and toasted to bring out a crisp exterior while keeping the inside tender. They’re popular as a breakfast staple, serving as the base for dishes like eggs Benedict or quick breakfast sandwiches.

Poolish Starter

  • Mix all ingredients together. Cover and let ferment for 90 minutes until it bubbles and cracks appear from the center.

Mixing

  • Add the egg into the poolish and transfer mixture to the mixing bowl. Add in the remaining ingredients. Mix on low speed for about 3 minutes. Increase to medium-high and mix for another 6–7 minutes until the dough starts to pull away from the bowl.

Portioning & Shaping

  • On a floured surface, splitting the dough into two logs and then dividing each log into 8–10 equal portions helps ensure even sizes. Shaping each portion into tight rounds creates a smooth surface, which is essential for proper rising and structure.

Proofing

  • Place the rounds into greased English muffin rings. Let them proof (covered) for a 45 to 60 minutes.

Baking

  • Dust the proofed muffins with semolina or cornmeal, cover them with parchment and a baking tray. Bake at 450ºF/230ºC for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, uncover and bake for 5 minutes more if necessary. Let cool.
    Bruno Albouze Heart Muffins

Storage

  • English muffins can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Muffins can also be kept frozen for up to a month.

Nutrition

Serving: 45g | Calories: 105kcal
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5 thoughts on “English Muffin”

  1. In the video you say that the poolish should be a 1:1 liquid and flour mixture, however in the recipe there is 300g liquid(200 water and 100 milk) and 200g flour, is that correct?

  2. Hello Chef,
    Could a levain be used instead of poolish in this recipe? If so, could they then be made on the same day if the starter is a good strong one? Or would it require leaving the shaped rounds refrigerated overnight? I make sourdough bread at work and always have a starter at hand (instead of spending extra time making a poolish) so thought I might ask if yeast is essential for leaving of these muffins at all?

    Thanks
    Raj

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