English Muffin Bread

English muffins are famous for their nooks and crannies, and this English muffin bread is filled with them, but in loaf form—no splitting required! Sit down with a cup of tea and a golden-toasted slice of this bread, generously spread with your favorite toast topper.

Butter melts and pools in each crevice. Or maybe you’ve been saving a jar of homemade strawberry jam from your neighbor, or sweet honey from the farmers market. Whatever you choose, it will gather into those little pockets so that every bite squishes with flavor. (You’ll want to enjoy this toast with a napkin.)

Ingredients for English Muffin Bread

• Flour: This English muffin bread recipe yields two loaves, so a generous amount of flour is needed. All-purpose flour works well here.
• Active dry yeast: Active dry yeast helps bread rise, helping to form all those air pockets that make this bread’s signature texture.
• Sugar: A bit of sugar adds a very subtle sweetness and helps feed the yeast.
• Baking soda: Yeast gets some gentle assistance with the rising power of baking soda.
• Whole milk and water: Warm milk and water are the liquids for this dough, adding a little protein and an ideal environment for yeast growth.
• Cornmeal: Cornmeal provides the characteristic grainy texture often found on the outsides of English muffins.

Directions

Step 1: Begin mixing the batter

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In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, salt and baking soda. Add the warm milk and water. Using a stand mixer, a hand mixer or a wooden spoon and a strong arm, beat on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping the bowl occasionally. Then beat on high for three minutes.

Step 2: Finish the batter, let it rise

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Stir in the remaining 3 cups of flour. The batter will be stiff, but don’t knead it any further.

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Grease two 8×4-inch loaf pans, then sprinkle them with cornmeal. Scrape the batter evenly into the pans, and sprinkle the tops with additional cornmeal.

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Cover the batter and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled (about 45 minutes).

Step 3: Bake until golden brown

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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the loaves until the tops are a beautiful brown, about 35 minutes. Remove the bread from the pans and let it cool on a wire rack.

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English Muffin Bread Variations

• Try a savory version: Add grated asiago cheese (or another firm cheese). Mix 1/2 cup into the dough and sprinkle another 1/4 cup on top.
• Make a classic cinnamon raisin: Add an additional 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to the dough during the initial mix. After adding in the second round of flour, fold in 1 cup of raisins.

How to Store English Muffin Bread

Store English muffin bread wrapped at room temperature for one to two days.

Can you freeze English muffin bread?

This bread can be wrapped well, slipped into a freezer-safe plastic bag and frozen for up to three months, then thawed on the counter. Alternatively, you can slice the bread and freeze it with pieces of parchment paper between the slices so you can grab a piece and pop it directly in the toaster.

Can you make English muffin bread ahead of time?

If you’d like to space out the dough making and cooking, let the dough rise in the pans, covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Take it out one hour before cooking to come to room temperature, then bake as directed.

English Muffin Bread Tips

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Can you use plant-based milk to make English muffin bread?

Yes, you can substitute nondairy milk 1-to-1 for the whole milk in this recipe for English muffin bread. Soy milk performs well in baked goods, as it has a similar protein level as traditional milk.

Why don’t you knead English muffin bread?

Kneading develops gluten, which causes bread to have a tight crumb. We want English muffin bread to have an open structure with large holes, perfect for catching pools of melted butter.

Do you have to use cornmeal?

Cornmeal on the bottom of the pan helps to keep the bread from sticking, and it also gives the bread an authentic English muffin feel and texture. But it’s not critical to the recipe, so if you don’t have any on hand, you can skip it.