One can enjoy them topped with jam, but not for me. Served warm and dripping with butter is the only way I like eat them. They are one of my favorite items to eat for breakfast, with a large mug of tea of course or as an afternoon tea time snack, tea and crumpets is one of Englands best afternoon treats.
What is a crumpet?
Crumpets are savory, light, airy and a little bread-like. They are made by cooking a yeast and flour batter in a round ring mold in a pan until cooked through and bubbles develop on the top. They are then turned and when the bubbles pop, they create the famous holes on the top that butter melts into.
Crumpets v’s English Muffins
Crumpets are not to be confused with English muffins, but they are similar. With the combination of only 6 ingredients, milk, sugar, yeast, flour, baking powder and salt, the batter is poured into ring molds and cooked stovetop in a skillet over low heat. As they cook the batter bubbles and when the bubbles burst this is how the holes are created.
Crumpet distinctive holes
I have had many questions regarding the holes not developing. The holes are created by the heat causing steam which rises up through the dough and creating bubble pockets that burst and create holes. SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT DEVELOP, this has happened to me. You can see in the video some of mine don’t have holes. Make sure you use the freshest yeast and baking powder. Also, only fill the molds to 3/4-inch (2 cm). I have to admit, I was standing over them a little too eagerly as they cooked and urging on as many bubbles to appear as possible so that would equate to lots of holes. The more holes means more butter melts into the center of the crumpet.
Crumpet making tip
To retain the characteristic holes, it is important not to turn the crumpets too soon. If you look at the picture above, the bottom one was turned too soon (still wet in the center) and it flattened the dough and closed the holes. You want it to look like the top one. This is also important, because the step is partially cooking the crumpet that you can finish in the toaster. I’m so excited that after many attempts, I have perfected my own crumpet recipe and I’ll never buy store bought again. Why eat rubbery, manufactured crumpets when homemade is so much better? These are lighter, better tasting and I can control what ingredients put into them, which are all real and nothing I can’t pronounce. Classic English Scones
