Homemade English Muffin Recipe (from Scratch)
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Homemade bread of any kind is delicious, and this Homemade English Muffin Recipe will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that made-from-scratch is always better.
If your memories of English muffins include sandpapery bread you’d rather not replicate, have no fear. This is a must-try recipe, so put it on your list and pick up the ingredients from the store. If you love English muffins as we do, take a look at our English Muffin Bread and our Sourdough English Muffins recipes. They’re amazing too.
English muffins are soft and doughy and may even be chewy with lots of nooks and crannies in the texture, while biscuits are light and fluffy.
We break down this recipe into simple steps, with easy-to-follow directions, to make it so easy you won’t even blink the next time someone in your family asks for this delightful breakfast bread.
Why You’ll Love Homemade English Muffins
- I was very intimidated making English muffins, so we made several batches before I photographed them. Here’s what I have learned from this experience. Don’t be intimidated. They are easy and delicious; kids can even help make and cut the dough.
- Great grab-and-go breakfast for kids of all ages!
- They are filled with nooks and crannies to soak up toppings!
Ingredients you need for this recipe
- Warm Water. Getting your water warm (to about 80ºF) will help the yeast act more effectively. You can use an Instant Read Thermometer and take the water straight from the tap. You can also microwave it quickly if needed. Just a few seconds is all it takes. Do not overheat the water, or you could kill the yeast! Stir microwaved water before testing the temperature to make sure it isn’t too hot.
- Instant Dry Yeast. Do not buy the wrong kind of yeast. If yeast varieties confuse you, our baking article can help.
- White Granulated Sugar. You can use raw sugar or turbinado sugar.
- All-Purpose Flour. This keeps the finished bread a little softer than bread flour.
- Salt. For chemistry. Just use regular table salt or fine sea salt. Coarse salt does not work well in this recipe.
- Warm Milk. Whole milk adds flavor and necessary fat to the bread making the English muffins soft and tender. Just like the water, we warmed the milk.
- Butter. I used full-fat salted, but you can use unsalted as well.
- Cornmeal. This is optional just so the dough does not stick to the cookie sheet after the second rise. In my humble opinion, makes a big difference in this recipe.
How To Make Homemade English Muffins Recipe
Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.
Step One. Proof the yeast.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar together. Let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture foams up.
Step Two. Mix the English Muffin Dough.
Add the flour and salt. Mix, alternating with the milk. Once the flour is almost all incorporated, add the melted butter. Mix until you have a ball form. For this step, use a wooden spoon or Danish whisk or use your hands.
Step Three. Let your homemade English Muffin recipe rise.
Once you have a dough ball, no more dry flour is visible; cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free place to let the dough rise for 60 to 90 minutes. Once the dough has risen, double in size and place it on a lightly floured work surface.
Step Four. Roll out your English Muffins.
Roll the dough about ½ inch thick. Using a 3-inch round biscuit cutter, cut into eight circles. Place them on a prepared baking sheet pan. Allow to rise again.
Step Five. Fry your English Muffins in a cast iron skillet.
Use a non-stick pan or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet with a lid. Cover and heat it up on medium heat. Once the English muffins are in the hot skillet, cover and cook the first side for 5 minutes. Carefully flip them onto the second side and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
What to Serve with English Muffins
- Serve them warm or lightly toasted. Add a pat of butter or your favorite jam. A toasted English muffin is delicious with our Italian Sausage and Potatoes.
- You are going to love these for an egg sandwich. Add bacon, sausage, or ham for meat, and cheese for extra special breakfasts at home. Breakfast sandwiches using Microwave Scrambled Eggs. They make a delicious make-and-take lunch too.
- Kids love making English muffin pizzas. Take a half, and top it with all your favorite toppings. We love peanut butter, Nutella, or strawberry jam.
- Get fancy and add a poached egg or make eggs benedict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an electric mixer?
Yes, you can use an electric stand mixer but I would not recommend using a hand mixer as the dough is very thick.
How long do English Muffins last?
Our homemade English muffins will last as long as one week in the refrigerator. If you store them at room temperature, they need to be used within three to four days.
Can English Muffins be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make them ahead of time. Here are three scenarios:
Make-Ahead (Overnight) English Muffin Timing:
1. Night Before:
Follow the recipe up to the point where the dough is mixed. Instead of letting it rise at room temperature, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate overnight (8–12 hours).
2. Next Morning:
Take the dough out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes to take the chill off.
Continue with shaping, resting, and cooking as directed in the recipe.
Alternative (Shaped Overnight Rise):
If you want to shape the muffins the night before:
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1. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 1 hour before shaping into muffins.
2. Arrange them on the baking sheet dusted liberally with cornmeal, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning, let them warm up for 30–45 minutes, then cook as usual.
This method lets you wake up and go straight to cooking! Let me know if you want it adjusted further for your schedule.
Freeze Shaped English Muffin Dough:
- Shape the dough following the recipe’s instructions.
- Place the shaped dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours or until they’re solid.
- Remove them from the baking sheet and place the frozen muffins in an airtight container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Thaw & Bake frozen dough:
Option 1: Overnight Thaw (Best for Flavor & Texture)
• Arrange frozen muffins on a baking sheet, cover, and let them thaw in the fridge overnight (8–12 hours).
• In the morning, let them sit at room temp for 30–45 minutes before cooking as usual.
Option 2: Quick Thaw (Same-Day Baking)
• Place frozen muffins on a baking sheet, cover, and let them sit at room temp for 2–3 hours until soft and puffy.
• Cook as usual.
Note: I don’t recommend cooking frozen English muffins. They won’t rise properly.
How To Reheat & Store Homemade English Muffins
What Is The Best Way to Store English Muffins?
Once they are completely cooled, place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature for 3 to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Can I Freeze Homemade English Muffins?
Yes! Freeze the muffins individually for about twenty minutes and then move them to a freezer-quality bag so that you can still grab what you need and go. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or at room temperature. If you’ve sliced them before freezing, you can even thaw them in the toaster or toaster oven.
How Do I Reheat Homemade English Muffins?
Toasted is our recommendation for the best results, with even heating and the perfect level of crunch.
Variations and Substitutions
If you have a bigger cutter, you can use it. You will have fewer English muffins as a result.
Have fun with the recipe with these variations.
- Make it spicy: We add some spicy cheese or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the dough mix.
- Make it kid-friendly: Add cheese and bacon to the dough mixture.
- Raisins or dried cranberries would be delicious too!
- Add some herbs, such as rosemary or dill, to the dough for a more savory taste.
- Add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the dough for a warm, fall-like flavor.
Where And How To Add Mix-Ins
The best time is in Step 2 – when mixing the dough. After you’ve added the flour, salt, milk, and melted butter and the dough comes together into a ball, that’s when you’d fold in your extras.
For chocolate chips, raisins, or dried cranberries:
- Add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chocolate chips right after the dough forms a ball
- Mini chocolate chips work better than regular size – they spread out more evenly. Gently fold them in so you don’t overwork the dough.
For Cinnamon Brown Sugar. You have two yummy options:
Option 1: Mix it into the dough
- Mix together 2 tablespoons brown sugar + 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Add this when you add the regular sugar and flour in Step 2
- This gives you cinnamon swirled throughout
Option 2: Cinnamon sugar swirl
- Roll out the dough as usual
- Sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mixture on top before cutting the circles
- This creates a pretty swirl pattern.
Hostess Tips and Tricks
- Cover when cooking. This is very important because it helps create steam and the perfect crust.
- I would not recommend using a regular whisk or a hand mixer as the dough is very thick. If you have a stand mixer, you can use it, but don’t over-mix.
- If the butter is too hot and added to the water and yeast mixture, you may risk overheating the yeast, which won’t bloom.
- Be careful when moving the English muffins after the second rise. They are full of air bubbles, and you don’t want to break them out. I used two hands and carefully lifted them up from the cookie sheet and placed them in the hot pan. Because my cast iron is well seasoned, I did not need to oil the pan at all. However, I did test it, and if you add a thin layer of oil before putting the muffins in, it won’t change the outcome.
- See the recipe card for more tips as you go! I’ve included a lot of tips for making your own homemade English muffins.
The key is adding mix-ins after the dough comes together but before the first rise. I hope you enjoy experimenting!
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Homemade English Muffin Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water
- 2¼ tsp instant dry yeast or 1 envelope
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar you can use raw sugar
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅔ cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter melted, cooled (I used salted but you can use unsalted as well)
- Cornmeal optional so the dough does not stick to the cookie sheet after the second rise
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture foams up. This is a sign your yeast is active.
- Add the flour, and salt mix alternating with the milk.
- Once the flour is almost all incorporated, add the melted butter.*NOTE* I add the butter at this stage so it is nice and melted and has cooled off. If the butter is too hot and added to the water and yeast mixture you may risk overheating the yeast which won’t bloom.
- Mix until you have a ball form. For this step, use a spoon or Danish whisk, or use your hands.*NOTE* I would not recommend using a regular whisk or a hand mixer as the dough is very thick. If you have a stand-up mixer you can use it, but don’t over-mix.
- Once you have a dough ball, no more dry flour is visible, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free place to rise for 60 to 90 minutes.
- Once the dough has risen, double in size, and place it on a lightly floured surface.*NOTE* When I say lightly, I add about 2 tablespoons of flour on my baking mat.
- Roll the dough about ½ inch thick. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut into 8 circles. You will need to cut a few, roll the dough, and cut more until you get 8.*NOTE* Once the dough is rolled, lift it from the mat to “relax it” then cut the circle.
- Sprinkle cornmeal on a cookie sheet and once the English muffins are cut place them on the cookie sheet and cover with a towel.*NOTE* This is, in my opinion, very important. Cornmeal acts as little beads that will not modify the composition of the English muffin but will help with the dough not sticking to the cookie sheet. I used a silicone mat, and just with the movement of lifting the dough from the silicone mat, the muffins lost some of their air bubbles and were flatter. So every time I put the cut dough on the cookie sheet pan I make sure there is enough cornmeal under it so it moves easily. When you pick them up from the pan to cook, don't worry about brushing off the cornmeal.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 45 minutes.
- Use a non-stick pan or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet with a lid. Cover and heat it up on medium.*NOTE* This is important. Covering when cooking helps with the steam. If not covered they don’t cook perfectly and the crust will burn.
- Add 3 or 4 English muffins at a time depending on the size of your skillet.*NOTE* CAREFUL when moving the English muffins after the second rise. They are full of air bubbles and you don’t want to break them out. I used 2 hands and carefully lifted them up from the cookie sheet and placed them in the hot pan. Because my cast iron is well seasoned I did not need to oil the pan at all. However, I did test it and if you add a thin layer of oil before putting the muffins in it won’t change the outcome.
- Once the English muffins are in the hot skillet, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Carefully flip them and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
- The English Muffins are cooked when the internal temperature has reached 190 °F.
- Cool on a cooling rack.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
If you enjoyed the Best Homemade English Muffins recipe, I think you’ll enjoy these too!
Try a few of our recipes, like these yummy cinnamon rolls or the blueberry hand pies. Want something super easy? Try this recipe for basic homemade muffins you can customize as you like! On the other hand, if you want to impress, make this Chocolate Babka bread.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
I made these for burger night instead of classic buns and they were a hit! My kids loved them! I was hoping to have one with butter and jam but they were gone before I could! =p Thank you for all the notes and tips, they helped!