Homemade crumpets are a wonderful breakfast, brunch, or supper treat and the finest way to increase your butter intake!
What are Crumpets?
When you leave your homeland, there are always some foods that you miss. You either suck it up, rely on care parcels or come up with your own version.
One of those foods for me was crumpets.
I started working on this recipe almost as soon as we arrived in Hungary in 2008.
Crumpets are essentially delicious porous savoury bread sponges designed to deliver melted butter!
And anyone who has seen my old school chicken Kyiv recipe will know how I love butter!
Depending on where you are in the UK, they are also called pikelets. Although in my neck of the woods, pikelets are not yeasted and are much flatter.
The Secret is in the Temperature
Aside from letting the batter rise properly, the real secret to cooking crumpets is the temperature of your pan.
Just like pancakes, be prepared for the first one not to turn out perfectly.
Sadly, all pans and all hobs are different, so whilst I can hold your hand a little, this stage is all about experimentation.
However, once you have your favourite pan and your favourite ring, you can knock these out like shelling peas.
For me, the sweet spot is one notch below what I consider to be a medium heat on my hob with a fairly heavy pan.
If your pan is too cold, the mix will run out under the rings. Too hot and you will burn the base before the bubble structure has a chance to form.
How to Store and Serve Them?
This recipe will make a cool dozen crumpets, and like most bread products, they will last around 3-4 days.
But they do freeze wonderfully and will last for... I honestly have no idea. The notion that these things last longer than a few days really does not compute!
They need toasting before you serve them, just slide them under a grill/broiler or into a toaster.
If you are using a grill/broiler, then you toast the holey side last.
I always serve two per serving.
Then you slather them with butter. Lots and lots of butter, no, not that much... MORE BUTTER!
I have heard of people adding jam and even pate to them.
I have no idea who those people are, but they are restricting your consumption of butter. Do not listen to them!
Homemade Crumpets Recipe
Ingredients
- 450 g Plain Flour 3⅓ Cups
- 1 teaspoon Soft Brown Sugar
- 7 g Dried Yeast
- 350 ml Milk 1½ Cups
- 350 ml Fizzy bottled water 1½ Cups
- 1 teaspoon coarsely ground sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda
- Cooking Oil
Instructions
- Sift the yeast and flour into a large mixing bowl, add the sugar and mix together.
- Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it reaches 20°C or 68°F. Add it to the flour mix with the water and beat until it reaches a smooth mix.Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside in a warm room for 2 hours.
- Whisk in the bicarbonate of soda and salt.
- Heat a heavy-based frying pan over a heat just below medium. Add a little oil into the pan and then pour in 1.5cm (just over ½") of the mix into 10cm (4") baking rings.Allow the crumpets to slowly cook; they will take around 8-10 minutes.
- At this point in time, you can flip them over and cook for no more than 60 seconds.
Loyola
Friday 8th of February 2019
OMG I need this for breakfast.....tomorrow.....Thanks for sharing always great recipe.
Ramona
Friday 8th of February 2019
Great crumpet recipe Brian, those cuties are just throwing a beautifully blushed smile at me and the more I look at them the more I feel like grabbing them off my screen. I make crumpets too - my kids would have them every day ( I would too if I could ha ha). Delicious and great looking little cuties -you definitely inspired me to make some now - I did not have them in a while. Thanks for sharing yet another wonderful recipe with blissfully beautiful pics ;-)
Beth
Friday 8th of February 2019
So we don't have crumpets in the States. We have things that they call English Muffins that have a ton of nooks and crannies to hold butter too. Which is key IMHO! I must try your recipe to compare. The "English muffins" that I make do not have the baking soda, brown sugar or water. I am totally intrigued and have to make these!
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale
Friday 8th of February 2019
I have never had a crumpet, but I have always wanted to try one. Thanks for sharing your recipe. Now I can make some! I am sure I will love them.
Patty
Friday 8th of February 2019
Oh yum! Watching your video I know I really must try to make your crumpets, I do need to increase my butter intake lol! I've started to make my bread a few months ago and I like to try different ones each time. Can't wait to try your crumpets!