The Crumpet

Crumpets more than likely originated in Wales in Anglo-saxon times as a bread that was not baked in an oven but cooked on a flat griddle. They became popular throughout Great Britain and in England during the Victorian period that the recognisable crumpets of today emerged. Although they are classified as a bread, they are made from a batter rather than a dough like the English muffin. They are circular about 8 inches in diameter and about an inch or just under in height and characteristically have holes in the top surface.

They are present everywhere and I often had them growing up, toasted with a spread of butter. Quite a unique spongy texture and flavour but the shop bought ones are nothing compared to the freshly made ones.

I wish I had a homemade recipe to share but I always had the shop bought crumpets. The best recipe by far I have come across is by an English celebrity baker with an American name, Paul Hollywood.


What you need:

175g strong white flower
175g plain flour
2x 7g sachets instant yeast
1 tsp caster sugar
350ml warm milk
150-200 warm water
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp salt
sunflower oil for cooking


What you do:

• Weigh the flours into a bowl. Add the yeast and stir.
• Dissolve the sugar in warm milk and pour into flour. Beat until you have a smooth batter. Beat hard for 5 minutes otherwise you don't get the characteristic holes in the top.
• Cover and leave for up to an hour, the batter will rise and fall.
• Combine the bicarbonate and salt with warm water and beat into the batter. Add about 3/4 of the water and keep adding until get a double cream consistency. Cover and leave for 20 mins.
• Heat a flat griddle or heavy pan and grease some metal crumpet ring (chef rings), place onto griddle/pan.
• Drop 2 dessert spoons into ring and leave for 5 minutes. Bubbles should appear. Turn the crumpets in their rings and cook for further 3 mins.
• Can be served then or toasted after cooling with butter.

Don't forget if you hear an English person talking about someone as 'a nice bit of crumpet', can you guess what they mean?