British Crumpets: Make-Ahead Griddle Crumpets with Butter and Honey for School Mornings

Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the warm milk and water and beat hard with a wooden spoon for 2–3 minutes into a smooth, thick batter.

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups (300ml) warm whole milk
• 1/2 cup (120ml) warm water
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 2 tbsp warm water
• 2 tbsp neutral oil or melted butter, for greasing rings and pan
• 4 tbsp salted butter, for serving
• 3 tbsp runny honey or golden syrup, for serving

Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the warm milk and water and beat hard with a wooden spoon for 2–3 minutes into a smooth, thick batter.
2. Cover and leave in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until the batter has risen and is full of bubbles.
3. Stir in the dissolved baking soda, cover again and rest 15 minutes more — this is what creates the classic crumpet holes.
4. Heat a heavy griddle or cast-iron pan over low-medium heat. Grease the pan and the inside of four 3-inch crumpet rings (or egg rings).
5. Set the rings in the pan and spoon batter in to about 3/4 inch deep. Cook 8–10 minutes, until the surface is covered in holes and just set.
6. Lift off the rings, flip the crumpets and cook the tops for 1 minute until pale golden. Repeat with the remaining batter, re-greasing the rings each time.
7. Cool completely on a rack. Stack between parchment and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.
8. On school mornings, toast straight from the fridge or freezer until crisp outside and hot through, then spread with butter and drizzle with honey.
9. Crumpets have been a British teatime and breakfast staple since the 1700s, when they were cooked on griddle irons over the hearth. Their honeycomb of holes is made for soaking up melted butter, and a weekend batch that toasts in two minutes is exactly the kind of make-ahead breakfast that gets families out the door on busy weekdays.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 250 kcal
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 9g
• Sodium: 480mg