Sunday, October 18, 2009

BBA - English Muffins



The next recipe in the Bread Baker's Apprentice agenda is English muffins. I pick these up at the grocery store from time to time, and I'd never given any thought to making my own. I normally pick the whole wheat ones, and initially planned to sub some whole wheat flour when I made them. I forgot to make the substitution, so mine were made with white flour.

To make English muffins, you simply make a basic bread dough, let it rise, divide it onto 6 supposedly equal pieces, let it rise again, and then cook them on a griddle. Who knew English muffins were made on a griddle?! Since I don't own a griddle, I stole borrowed one from my friend Susan. She's in New York for a wedding and I'm on cat patrol. I left some cinnamon crumb muffins in her freezer so I think she won't mind.


Peter Reinhart says to cook them on the first side until they're almost burned, but mine wouldn't get that browned even after I left them on the griddle 4 minutes longer than the recipe suggested. Next time, I won't do that since it made one side tougher than the other. After cooking on both sides, you finish them off in the oven. And then you have to wait 30 minutes before breaking in to them. Except I waited ten minutes and then attacked.

They were good! They had a much lighter texture than commercial English muffins, and a heady yeasty flavor that I loved. I think next time, I'll let them proof in the fridge over night to develop the flavor.


These were one of the most fun things I've ever made! They're very easy and reasonably fast. If you made the dough the night before and let it proof in the refrigerator, you could serve fresh English muffin sandwiches with eggs and cheese for breakfast...but I enjoyed mine with butter.


If you'd like to see more breads from our fantastic group of bakers, visit the Bread Baker's Apprentice Slow & Steady subgroup: Nancy (of Corner Loaf), Cathy (of The Tortefeasor), Audrey (of Food From Books), Jessica (A Singleton in the Kitchen), Melissa (of From Laptop to Stovetop), Kayte (ofGrandma's Kitchen Table), Sarah (of Blue Ridge Baker), Di (of Di's Kitchen Notebook), Margaret (of Tea and Scones) and Natalia (of Gatti Fili e Farina).



P.S.: I made these again after writing this post, but took them in a different direction. Instead of butter, I used orange olive oil, I subbed about 1/3 cup of whole wheat flour, and I used buttermilk this time. I made them 2.5 ounces so they wouldn't be such a big bready muffin. They were terrific! The olive oil adds a wonderful fragrance without making them oily (or even adding a detectable olive flavor). Now I want to try them again with hazelnut or walnut oil.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your english muffins look perfect! the first time I made them I burnt them. The orange olive oil version sounds tasty.

Megan said...

I had trouble cooking mine the first time too. I'd like to try and make the loaf instead of individual muffins - that sounds like it would be easier.

margot said...

Those look awesome, much better than store-bought. They really do sound like a fun thing to make, too.

natalia said...

I'm baking the celebration bread right now, your English muffins look so nice I want to try them now !!

Pamela said...

I am constantly impressed with the bread bakers. Wonderful job!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Wow, you're posting English Muffins and I still don't have my celebration bread up. I'm turning into the slowest of the Slow! I love how your muffins turned out, and I will use your notes to help when I finally bake mine at the end of the month.

vibi said...

absolutely scurmptiously done, Leslie! Bravo!

Kayte said...

These turned out so great...I agree, they were one of the most fun things to bake. I was so surprised I could make them so easily. I made a loaf of the bread also and it was fantastic. Beautiful photos...great job.

Madam Chow said...

I agree about letting them proof over night. My husband loved these!

Unknown said...

I just made these for the first time today, with a small nudge from Di, Kayte and Sarah. Mine were a bit more puffy than I'd like but still delicious! Love your adaptations the second time around - sounds delish!

Michele said...

Wow! These are so perfect and look delicious!

TeaLady said...

these were good. Eng Muf are probably my favorite breakfast food. Will never buy again.

Yours look perfect.

Will add WWF next time.