English Muffins

English muffins were never something that I thought about making at home.  I imagined the process as a difficult one, and really didn’t think that it’s characteristics could be replicated.   But after finding a recipe and giving it a shot, it really couldn’t be more simple.  There’s just something satisfying about accomplishing something like this… even if it was easy!

I was very impressed with the end result of these muffins.  There are so many ways to enjoy them… slather them with butter and/or jam for a simple breakfast, or be creative and make some savory creations.  The options are endless…. I’ll be posting a quick and easy pizza snack using these muffins soon!

English Muffins {print recipe}
2¼ cups bread flour
½ tablespoon sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
1¼ teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
¾ to 1 cup milk or buttermilk, at room temperature
Cornmeal for dusting

Stir together the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Mix  on low speed with the paddle attachment, and add the butter and ¾ cup milk until the ingredients form a ball.  If there is still loose flour in the bowl, dribble in some of the remaining ¼ cup milk. The dough should be soft and pliable, not stiff.

Sprinkle some flour on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter, and begin kneading {or mixing on medium speed with the dough hook}. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes by hand {or knead with mixer for about 8 minutes}, sprinkling in more flour if needed to make a tacky, but not sticky, dough.  Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Ferment at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the dough doubles in size.

Transfer to a working surface and divide the dough into 6 equal pieces of 3 ounces each.  Shape the pieces into round rolls.  Line a sheet pan with baking parchment, mist the parchment lightly with spray oil, and dust with cornmeal.  Transfer the balls of dough to the sheet pan, spacing them about 3 inches apart.  Mist them lightly with spray oil, sprinkle them loosely with cornmeal, and cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a towel.

Proof at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the pieces  nearly double in size and swell both up and out.

Heat a skillet or flat griddle to medium {350 degrees if you have a thermometer setting}.  Also, preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the oven rack on the middle shelf.

Brush the pan or griddle with vegetable oil or mist with spray oil.  Uncover the muffin rounds and gently transfer them to the pan, sliding a metal spatula under them and lifting them to the pan.  Fill the pan so that the pieces are at least 1 inch apart, not touching.  Cover the pieces still on the sheet pan with the plastic wrap or a towel to prevent them from developing a skin.  The dough that is being cooked will flatten in the pan and spread slightly, then the pieces will puff somewhat.  Cook them for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the bottom of the dough cannot cook any longer without burning. The bottoms should be a rich golden brown; they will brown quickly but will not burn for awhile, so resist the temptation to turn them prematurely or they will fall when you flip them over.  Carefully flip the pieces over with the metal spatula and cook on the other side for 4 to 6 minutes in the same manner.  Both sides will now be flat.  When the dough seems as if it cannot endure any further cooking without burning, transfer the pieces to a sheet pan and place the pan in the oven {don’t wait for the still uncooked pieces, or the ones just out of the pan will cool down and will not respond to the oven stage}.  Bake for 5 to 8 minutes on the middle shelf in the oven to ensure that the center is baked.  Meanwhile, return to the uncooked pieces and cook them, then bake them, as you did the first round.

Transfer the baked muffins to a cooling rack and cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing or serving.

Recipe is from Brown Eyed Baker, originally from The Bread Baker’s Apprentice by Peter Reinhart.