Snacks

How to Make Proper English Crumpets at Home

Name: How To Make English Crumpets Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 crumpets
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 150g plain white flour; 200ml water; ½ tsp salt; ½ tsp sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp dried yeast

Bring a taste of Britain to your breakfast table. There’s something undeniably comforting about a warm, golden crumpet fresh from the toaster, its signature holes soaking up melted butter or sweet jam.

Homemade English crumpets with Marmite and jam topping

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Prep time: 25 minutes. Cook time: 10 minutes. Makes: 6

This recipe makes 6 English crumpets

If you’ve ever lived in the UK you’ll recognize just how iconic these little beauties are—perfect for breakfast, brunch or a comforting afternoon tea. But what if you can’t find them where you live? The good news: making proper English crumpets at home is easier than you think—and even more delicious than store-bought!

🧑‍🍳 Why Make Crumpets at Home?

Crumpets are low in fat, incredibly satisfying, and endlessly versatile. Whether you top them with Marmite (a British classic!), honey, peanut butter, or fresh fruit, they’re a blank canvas for your cravings. Plus, homemade crumpets have a fresher taste and fluffier texture than anything you’ll find in a supermarket.

English crumpets should be enjoyed warm, just out of the toaster. I like them topped with jam, Marmite, or melted butter, but you can top them with just about any sweet or savoury topping, such as honey, syrup, peanut butter, or fresh fruit.

This recipe makes 6 glorious English crumpets, and with a prep time of just 25 minutes and a cooking time of 10, you'll be enjoying these delights in no time!

🧰 What You'll Need

Before we dive into the delicious details, let's talk tools. To achieve those iconic crumpet shapes, you'll need non-stick crumpet rings. I recommend ones around 9cm in diameter with a 3cm depth. A flat-bottom skillet or frying pan is also essential for even cooking.

🛒 Ingredients (Makes 6 Crumpets)

Flour - 150g plain white flour
Water - 200ml water
Salt - ½ tsp salt
Sugar - ½ tsp sugar
Baking powder - 1 tsp baking powder
Dried yeast - 1 tsp dried yeast

🥣 Step-by-Step: Making the Crumpet Batter

In a large bowl, combine the flour, water, and salt.
Now, get ready for an arm workout! Vigorously whisk for at least 5 minutes. This isn't just mixing; it's developing the gluten, which is key to those signature crumpet bubbles.
In a separate small dish, mix a few milliliters of water with your dried yeast to activate it.
Add the sugar, baking powder, and your activated yeast mixture to the bowl. Whisk for another 30 seconds until you have a smooth, clear batter.
Cover your bowl and find a warm, cozy spot for it to rest for 15 minutes. This brief rest allows the yeast to work its magic and the gluten to relax.

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Top tip: Make sure your mixing bowl is generously sized! This batter will expand quite a bit as it rests.

🔥 Cooking Your Crumpets

Lightly grease your crumpet rings and place them in a non-stick frying pan. Preheat the pan over medium heat.
Pre-heat your frying pan on a hob on medium heat setting.
Before you start pouring, give your batter a gentle stir to release any large air bubbles.
Using a ladle, pour the batter into each crumpet ring, filling them about halfway up.
Now, for the magic! Watch as bubbles start to appear on the surface. After approximately 4 minutes, the edges of the crumpets should be set. Carefully lift off the hot rings using an oven mitt.
Continue to cook until the middle of the crumpet is no longer too gooey. Then, with a confident flip, then flip them to brown the tops lightly.
Remove the baked Crumpet from the pan (if the top looks a bit gooey, flip it over in the pan for a few seconds)
Cool on a wire rack.
Repeat the process until you've cooked all your batter!
Toast your crumpets and enjoy with butter or anything else you like.
🧈 Final Step: Toast and Top!

Once cooled, pop the crumpets into the toaster. This step is crucial — toasting brings out the crumpet’s signature crispy top and warm, doughy interior. Then it’s time to get creative with your toppings!