English Muffins

My family all like English muffins as a quick breakfast or snack, but boy they’re expensive to buy for such a simple thing! These homemade ones are lovely and easy enough for a novice baker.

Ingredients

• 4 ¼ cups plain flour
• 1 sachet instant yeast
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 50g butter
• 2 cups warm milk or milk from powder or ¼ condensed  milk + 1 ¾ cups water omit sugar
• 1 egg beaten

Method

Dust 2 oven trays with flour. In a large bowl combine the flour instant yeast, sugar, and salt.

In a small pan, melt the butter then add the milk and heat gently. The liquid should be warm but not hot. If you are not sure, hold your little finger in it and count to 10. If it’s uncomfortably hot by the time you get to 10 allow it to cool a little, if it doesn’t feel warm at all, heat it up.

Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the egg and the butter and milk mixture. Use a large metal spoon to mix to a soft dough.

Knead lightly for 2 minutes then place into a large greased bowl and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled  - around 40 minutes or microwave on 10% power for 1 minute, rest for 10 minutes then repeat.

Pre-heat the oven to 190°C. When the dough has doubled in size knead lightly and roll on a floured bench to 1 cm thickness. Cut into circles using a large cutter (I use my favourite “tuna tin” cutter to make 10cm circles). Re roll the trimmings and you should end up with 15 muffins. Place on floured trays and rest for 10 minutes.

Bake the muffins for 7 minutes then turn them over and bake a further 7 minutes, until lightly golden.

To serve split muffins in half and toast lightly, top with jam, honey, ham or whatever else you fancy.

Tip

For spicy fruit muffins add to the dry ingredients 2 tsp allspice, 2 tsp cinnamon,

¼ tsp ground cloves, ½ tsp mixed spice, ½ cup sultanas soaked in boiling water for a few minutes to plump them up.

.