Name: Homemade Crumpets Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: PT-489615H48M37S
Total time: PT-489615H48M37S
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups plain flour (195g / 6.9oz); 1 teaspoon sugar; ¾ teaspoon table salt; ½ teaspoon instant yeast; ½ teaspoon baking soda; 1 ⅓ cups warm tap water (330ml / 11 fl oz / 1/3 quart); Oil or butter (for greasing pan and crumpet rings, if pan is not non-stick)

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Introduction

Homemade crumpets are a delightful British treat with a soft, chewy texture and those signature holes perfect for holding melted butter. They’re surprisingly simple to make and far tastier fresh from the pan or toaster. This recipe guides you through each step to achieve perfect crumpets at home.

There are nine round flatcakes stacked closely on a white plate, arranged in a circular pattern with some overlapping each other. Each flatcake has a light golden color and is covered with many small holes all over its surface, showing a soft and spongy texture. The edges of the flatcakes are smooth and slightly darker. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with a subtle pattern. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 ½ cups plain flour (195g / 6.9oz)
1 teaspoon sugar
¾ teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon instant yeast
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ⅓ cups warm tap water (330ml / 11 fl oz / 1/3 quart)
Oil (if your pan isn’t non-stick)

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and baking soda, making sure that the yeast and salt do not touch directly.
Step 2: Add the warm water and beat the mixture with a handheld electric beater for 1 full minute. Start at low-medium speed to avoid splattering, then increase to medium-high.
Step 3: Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel or plate and let the batter rest in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes until it becomes slightly frothy on top but does not rise significantly.
Step 4: Grease the inside of 3-4 crumpet rings with butter, then dip them in flour and tap off any excess.
Step 5: Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes until hot.
Step 6: Place 2-3 crumpet rings in the pan and pour about ¼ cup of batter into each ring. Cook for 5-6 minutes until a dry ring forms around the edges and bubbles burst all around.
Step 7: Reduce the heat to low-medium and cook for another 5-6 minutes until the crumpets look dry on top and no more bubbles are popping.
Step 8: Remove the rings and quickly flip the crumpets for 2-3 seconds to seal the top without browning. Then take them off the pan and let cool slightly.
Step 9: Clean and re-grease the rings with butter and flour, then repeat from step 6 with the remaining batter.
Step 10: To serve, toast the crumpets until golden. You can toast them immediately in the pan after flipping or later using a toaster or broiler.

Tips & Variations

Use crumpet rings to get the characteristic shape and size, but if you don’t have any, small metal cookie cutters can work in a pinch.
For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of dried herbs or a pinch of cinnamon to the batter.
If your kitchen is cold, place the batter bowl inside a warm (not hot) oven to encourage rising.
Make sure to toast crumpets well before serving to enjoy a crisp outside with a soft interior.

Storage

Store crumpets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, toast from frozen or thawed to restore their crispness and warmth.

How to Serve

Two small golden brown pancakes with a soft and porous texture are stacked on a white plate, which sits atop another white plate on a white marbled surface. A wooden honey dipper is held above the top pancake, drizzling shiny, golden honey that flows down the pancake's surface. The background shows a blurred plate with more pancakes. The lighting is bright and natural, making the honey look sticky and the pancakes fluffy. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?

Yes, but you will need to activate active dry yeast in warm water for about 5-10 minutes before adding it to the dry ingredients.

Why do my crumpets not have holes on top?

Holes form due to the bubbles rising as the batter cooks slowly over medium heat. Ensure your batter is well rested and the pan temperature isn’t too high or too low to encourage bubble formation.