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Homemade English Muffins Recipe

4.7 from 52 reviews

Classic homemade English muffins with a soft, tender crumb and a crispy golden crust, perfect for breakfast sandwiches or toasted with butter and jam.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup whole milk (warm, 105115 degrees)
  • 1/2 cup water (warm, 105115 degrees)
  • 2 tbsp shortening (melted)
  • 2 tbsp butter (melted)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Topping

  • 2 tbsp cornmeal
  • 12 tbsp butter (for cooking)

Instructions

  1. Activate yeast: In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the active dry yeast and warm water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast dissolves and becomes frothy, which indicates it is activated.
  2. Mix wet ingredients: Add the warm milk, melted butter, melted shortening, salt, and sugar to the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly until everything is well combined.
  3. Add flour and knead dough: Gradually add 2 cups of the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture and begin kneading. Then add the remaining 2 cups of flour and continue kneading until the dough forms a soft, smooth, and elastic ball.
  4. First rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a clean towel. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the dough has doubled in size.
  5. Shape muffins: Turn the dough out onto a floured pastry mat or clean surface. Gently press the dough down to about a half-inch thickness. Use muffin rings or a round cutter to cut the dough into muffin shapes, then transfer them onto a clean surface sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover with a towel and let them rise for another hour.
  6. Cook muffins: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter to the hot skillet. Place 3-4 muffins at a time in the skillet (as many as fit comfortably). Cook until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip and cook the other side until golden. Repeat until all muffins are cooked.
  7. Cool muffins: Transfer the cooked English muffins to a cooling rack to cool before serving.

Notes

  • Use warm liquids (milk and water) to properly activate the yeast but not hot enough to kill it.
  • Ensure the dough is soft but not sticky when kneading; you can add a little flour if necessary.
  • Muffin rings help maintain the shape but can be substituted with a biscuit cutter or by hand shaping.
  • Cook muffins on medium-high heat for a nicely browned crust without burning.
  • English muffins are best split with a fork rather than a knife to preserve the nooks and crannies texture.

Keywords: English muffins, homemade English muffins, breakfast bread, stovetop muffins, yeast bread