Have you ever had a freshly baked English Muffin, hot out of the oven? Before I attempted these, I can’t say I ever have. These pillowy soft muffins have those perfect divots and pockets you’d expect for all your toppings to fill and melt into. They are fluffy, slightly chewy, and have just the right amount of crispiness on the outside. These muffins with the nooks and crannies can easily be found at the store but there is something so special about being able to make them right at home and experiencing a fresh one right out of the oven. I mean where else can you get that except for at home?!

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So I just had to give them a try myself. They turned out even better than I imagined, were easy to make and the flavor was better than any store-bought version I’d ever tried. This will be your new favorite lazy weekend project and simpler than you’d expect. You are only 7 ingredients away from enjoying these yourself and most of these items you probably already have on hand.

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7 Ingredients for Homemade English Muffins

• Milk: This will give softness to the dough and helps keep the muffins moist. I like to use whole milk but you can use low-fat or even your favorite variety of dairy-free milk would work.

• Yeast: I always use instant yeast because there is no need to activate it before adding the other ingredients. You can use active dry yeast instead but you will need to activate it with the warm milk first, which takes about 10 minutes.

• All-purpose Flour: I prefer all-purpose flour for these because of how soft and fluffy it makes the dough. They still have just the right amount of chewiness, so no bread flour is needed here.

• Butter: Adds richness and flavor.

• Honey: This feeds the yeast and adds a touch of sweetness.

• Salt: Every bread recipe needs salt and will add flavor.

• Cornmeal: This is optional for sprinkling on both sides of the dough rounds, before cooking them. I think this small step makes a big difference and makes these feel really authentic, just like the ones you’d buy.

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How are Homemade English Muffins Made?

I was really intrigued when I first learned that English Muffins are actually cooked on a griddle or in a pan on the stovetop with a little bit of butter, rather than baked. I’ve seen a few different ways that you can shape the dough into circles, including shaping the dough into balls with your hands or using metal ring molds. For this recipe, the dough is instead rolled out then cut into circles with a cookie or biscuit cutter. I like the look of the clean, crisp cut you get with the cutter and there’s no need for molds that you probably won’t use for any other project.

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What Does Fork Split Mean?

I’ve seen this on packages of English Muffins at the store but never understood why until I made my own. Using the prongs of a fork to split the muffin open, rather than using a knife to cut it in half will help retain the rugged interior texture that you’d expect to see in a classic English Muffin. Cutting the muffins in half could actually leave you without the traditional texture of the nooks and crannies. Use a fork and insert the prongs into the side of the English Muffin, making your way all around the sides while gently pulling it open.

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Best Ways to Enjoy Homemade English Muffins

The possibilities are endless. Try my favorite Hot Honey and Pepperoni English Muffin Pizza. Absolutely delicious and a quick and easy snack or lunch. Have fun, get creative and see what combinations you can come up with! Here are a few other ideas of spreads you can add and ways you can transform your plain English Muffin:

• Butter
• Jam or Jelly
• Honey or Honey Butter
• Cream Cheese + Jam
• Peanut Butter
• Breakfast Sandwich (think McMuffin style)
• Avocado Toast
• Eggs Benedict

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I hope you find these as fun to make (and eat) as I have. Happy English Muffin making!