English Crumpets Recipe (2024)

Have you been wanting to make English crumpets for your next breakfast or tea party? Look no further than this easy and delicious recipe; the hardest part is waiting for the batter to rise.

Looking for other English breads? You'll definitely want to try this English bloomer bread and this cob loaf.

About

English crumpets most likely originated in Wales. These English cakes are baked on griddles, and were popular because they didn't require an oven. The griddle was a flat piece of iron set over top of a fire, acting much like a skillet on a modern stovetop.

The signature nooks and crannies of this English bread come from the fermenting yeast in the crumpet batter which produces little bubbles of gas. When the batter hits the hot pan, the heat encourages the bubbles to rise to the top of the crumpet, creating the holes.

Why This Recipe Works

• It's made with a mixture of two flours. Using a blend of all-purpose flour and bread flour gives the crumpets a stronger gluten structure, which helps them rise higher and have a better texture.
• The batter is rested twice. The first time, it's rested until it falls back on itself, which takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours, and the second rest is shorter (only about 20 minutes). These resting times give the crumpets an excellent flavor and rise, and makes sure that they have the distinctive holes on the top.

Ingredients

The ingredients to make English crumpets are simple, and you might already have most on hand. Let's talk about some of the key ingredients.

• Flour: We use a combination of all-purpose flour and bread flour.
• Fat: We used butter for the dough and olive oil for cooking.
• Liquid: We use a combination of water and milk.
• Leavener: Yeast helps the dough rise while the baking soda promotes the fermentation of the yeast giving them their distinct holes.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

• Dairy Free/Vegan: Swap the milk for your favorite plant-based milk, and grease the crumpet rings with oil instead of butter.
• Gluten Free: We haven't tested this recipe made with 100% gluten free flour, but you're welcome to try it and let me know how it goes in the comments! Here's a great recipe for gluten free crumpets if you're looking for more specific tips.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients for the English crumpets.

1. Mix together the two flours and the yeast in a bowl.
2. Warm up the milk to 115°F, then stir the sugar in it to dissolve. Pour all the milk mixture into the flour mix and stir vigorously for 3-5 minutes, until a smooth, stretchy batter has formed.

3. Let the dough prove until it increases in size and starts to fall back on itself. This will take at least 1 to 1 ½ hours. You can really see the strings of gluten in the dough in the photo above!

4. Warm the water to 115°F and stir in the salt and baking soda until dissolved. Gradually stir in the water to slacken the batter.

5. Cover the batter and let it stand for about 20 minutes, until it has risen and has a bubbly surface.

6. Meanwhile, butter the crumpet rings and pull out a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Brush the cast iron with olive oil and place over medium heat. Add the crumpet rings and fill them with 3-4 tablespoons of batter (about halfway full). Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until they are full of holes on top, about 7-8 minutes.

Remove the rings with tongs and flip them over to cook the other side. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until lightly browned.

7. Place the cooked English crumpets on a wire rack, and cover with a tea towel to keep them warm. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining crumpet batter.

8. Serve these English crumpets with lots of salted butter and any other toppings you'd like. Honey, marmalade, raspberry jam, chutney, cheese, or ham are all tasty ideas.

Recipe FAQs

Serve

Wondering what toppings taste good with crumpets? Salted butter, clotted cream, and any type of jams or jellies taste amazing on crumpets. You can also have fun experimenting with savory toppings like chutney, cheese, or sliced meat as well.

Serving leftover crumpets? Pop them under the broiler or in a toaster to toast them. This makes them taste almost as fresh and crispy as when they were first cooked!

Looking for other English teatime treats to serve with crumpets? Make your afternoon tea extra special by serving it with some tea sandwiches, like these crab salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, or egg salad sandwiches.

If you want some British sweets to go with these crumpets, try this Earl Grey shortbread, lemon scones, or blueberry frangipane tart. If you're looking for more sweet breads, try these Cornish saffron buns, or Lincolnshire plum bread.

Store

Leftovers: Leftover crumpets can keep at room temperature for 2-3 days if they are sealed in an airtight container. However, they will stay the freshest if they're frozen after being cooked and cooled. See the freezing directions below.

Freeze: Seal them tightly in a zip-top freezer bag, pressing out the extra air and freezing for up to 1 month. There' s no need to defrost before toasting.

Expert Tips

• Stir the batter vigorously for 3-5 minutes until the batter is smooth and stretchy. The energetic stirring will build up the gluten in the dough, resulting in wonderfully chewy and holey English crumpets.
• Tired arm from stirring? Pour the batter into a stand mixer and let it do the hard work for you.
• Let the batter rise until it's starting to fall back. This will take some time, but it means that the batter will have a much better flavor.
• Be careful not to fill the crumpet rings more than ⅔ full since the extra batter will spill over the edges of the crumpet ring as it cooks.
• Place the cooked ones on a wire rack to keep them a little crispy. Cover with a tea towel to retain some of the warmth.

More Savory Breads You'll Love

If you liked this recipe and found it helpful, give it some love by sharing!

Follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook for more crave-worthy recipes!

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated!

Recipe