After years of buying commercially made Cinnamon-Raisin English Muffins, I discovered that they aren’t that difficult to make. They are, in fact, fun to make! Now, I can make a batch and freeze them so I can enjoy them whenever I please. They toast beautifully, and I love them slathered with butter and honey. Delicious!
During my work week, I’m such a creature of habit. It begins with my alarm going off at 5:10 am, stretching out and delaying (until the last possible minute) hopping into the shower so I can try and wake up. For at least two years, I make a cup of dark roast bold coffee in my Keurig, and toast a Cinnamon-Raisin English Muffin, lightly buttered with honey and enjoy it on my way to work– listening to my daily podcast.
I stock up on English Muffins, when they are on sale and freeze them. Then, the unthinkable happened. One Monday morning, I sleepily reached for a muffin. Empty. Nothing. I checked the freezer, and the familiar plastic bag wasn’t there. Nooooooo! The drive to work, just wasn’t the same for me, as I sipped my coffee and made a mental note to stock up, after work.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention, so during my break, I decided to do a little research on how to make my own English Muffins. I decided I needed to learn how to make my own. That evening, I measured out the water, sugar, and yeast.
Then, I unpacked the English Muffin Tins I had purchased some time ago– with the intention of learning how to make English Muffins. NOTE: You don’t have to own muffin tins. I’ve heard that people make them out of foil– or the dough is supposed to be thick enough that you can do this “free form”.
This is a plastic bucket with a lid, that I use a lot for making bread. A glass bowl and plastic wrap work just as well. To the sugar and yeast, I add warm water (at about 110F) and stir it; set it aside for 5-10 minutes until it becomes bubbly and alive.
Turn on the oven to WARM for 2-3 minutes and then turn it off. This is my way of speeding up the proofing process.
See this cool little tool? It’s a Danish Dough Whisk, and this has become a handy little tool. It makes mixing bread dough a breeze.
It’s been less than ten minutes, and I’ve measured out flour, raisins, cinnamon and I’m warming up some 1% milk to about 110F. The yeast is nice and foamy…
Homemade Cinnamon-Raisin English Muffins
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup water warm (110F)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 cup milk slightly warm (100-110F) (I used 1% milk)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup raisins
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together water, sugar and yeast and let mixture stand for 10 minutes, until slightly foamy.
- Using a wooden spoon, (or a Danish Dough Whisk), which is my favorite tool) stir in remaining ingredients except the raisins and mix until smooth.
- Once the batter comes together, stir in the raisins.
- Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 45 minutes to relax and rise. The dough will have a soft and sticky texture.
- NOTE: I like to use my oven as a dough "incubator". I simply turn the oven on to WARM for a few minutes, then shut it off. This speeds up the proofing of the dough.
- Heat a griddle/nonstick frying pan over medium/medium-high heat (water dropped on the griddle evaporates very quickly). Lightly grease with cooking spray if not using a nonstick pan.
- NOTE: Each stove/griddle is different. I found that I had to use a medium heat, to avoid burning of the muffins. Better to start at a medium heat, and you can always turn it up.
- Drop dough by 1/2 cupfuls into a muffin form, or 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased surface and cook until medium brown on the bottom.
- NOTE: Once I put the batter on my grill, I turned down the heat. (Think of this as being similar to making pancakes.) My first two muffins burned a bit, so once I adjusted the heat down, they turned out beautifully golden.
- The exact time depends on the temperature of your griddle and the size of your muffins, but expect this to take several minutes. Flip over and cook 2nd side until brown.
- Cool on wire rack for at least 15 minutes or until completely cool.
- When ready to serve, split muffins with a fork and toast.
- Makes about 5 muffins (if using 1/2 cup measures) and 6-8 if using 1/4 cup measures.
Unknown says
Debby,
Your page is beautiful, your pics a great,your recipes are mouthwatering, your dialogue is most entertaining. I would love to be included in your drawing and use your awesome tool.
Debbie T.
PS: Glad your ride to work is back to normal!!
amy beth marantino says
I enjoy your blog… you are doing a great job. i would like to have a chance to win this prize.
Sofia Arcângelo says
It looks delicious! 🙂
bellini says
Being British I have made English Muffins long, long ago but of course have never made cinnamon and raisin. Thy would go me a reason to jump out of bed every morning.
Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary says
Wow those looks so good Deb! Puts the packaged ones to shame!
Anonymous says
i'd like to be included!
blueblanket@hotmail.com
Lisa/Fresh Eggs Daily Farm Girl says
I love so many of your recipes, but this one in particular looks like alot of fun. I am definitely going to try it.
Please enter me into your drawing ! Thank you. Lisa fresheggsdaily@gmail.com
Kathy in Portland says
I'd love to have that dough whisk. I could use it to make sourdough English muffins, right after I go out and buy the muffin rings.
kathymbaker@comcast.net
Nellie says
Great idea! I have made Sourdough English Muffins in the days when I kept sourdough going. Most recently I baked English Muffin Loaf, and cinnamon and raisins could easily be added to that!
Your giveaway is really appealing.:)
Deb says
I have been wanting to make English Muffins and have not yet tried them! Your post is inspiring me to give it a go as yours look just delicious. I have the dough wisk and use it all the time in bread making. It's a great kitchen tool.
Katie says
I've made whole wheat english muffins(1/2 ww, 1/2 ap) and they turned out great. I've also had success adding some ground flax to up the health factor a bit. I'd love to use the dough whisk with my next batch 🙂
Jenn Nahrstadt says
these remind me of the high-end EMs made by Wolferman's. i had no idea there are EM RINGS!
we're doing a month gluten-free right now, but i would love to give these a go when we're done. wondering if you've ever played around with alternative flours, like almond flour, for baking or bread making.
thanks for the link to the rings.
Pat R says
I'd love to win that whisk!!!
psrrn@aol.com
Diane says
Danish Dough Whisk… yes please enter me your drawing!
One can never have enough interesting gadgets to play with!
Your English muffins look mouthwatering I have never even tried to make them "yet"
dwmarks33@comcast.net
Melissa C. says
Please put me in for the giveaway. Those English Muffins are off the hook!
Kim says
I am absolutely addicted to English muffins. They're easily one of my top ten favorite foods. These look delicious!
Manda says
A friend told me about the 5 minute bread book and I have been using it since January. I was terrible at making bread until that book! The whisk looks so cool! THanks for the giveaway!
mandaoverturf at yahoo dot com
Debby says
I'd love to be included in the giveaway! If I win, I think the first thing I make will be the English Muffins. They look so good!
Joanne says
Whoa! How cool! Little known secret – I have an english muffin with peanut butter for breakfast every morning! It's the best. I really should learn how to make them though…you make it look so easy!
Becki's Whole Life says
Wow, what a great post! We love English Muffins and for some reason, although I don't always love raisins in my baked goods, cinnamon raisin English Muffins are my favorite – esp. toasted with a little butter. The little molds are adorable – I have never seen them before.
I would like to be included in the prize drawing – anything to help out my bread making would be good:-).
Anonymous says
i never realized that english muffins were batter as opposed to dough. i don't know why but for some reason that makes them seem more "doable".
i would like to be included in the giveaway – my bread baking defintely needs encouragement.
jacquieastemborski AT comcast DOT net
Velva says
My morning is a lot like yours..except my english muffin or other bread good is coming right out of a bag into my toaster. Your English muffins are inspiring me. So beautiful!
Velva
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
First let me say that I would love to be entered in your drawing to win the dough whisk. I've heard great things about this handy little tool and would be thrilled to have one. And then on to the English muffins…you are amazing, my friend. Leave it to you to make heavenly English muffins in your own kitchen. I can imagine that they are delicious with a bit of butter and honey. I can think of all kinds of uses for those nifty little rings too.
Annabanana says
I love english muffins…sometimes we use them for burger buns too. I'd love to be included for a chance to win your giveaway…I've been intrigued by those whisks and simply cannot wrap my mind around how they work with a hearty bread dough !
Lynn says
Hi Debby, I live in Canada so won't be in the draw but just wanted to let you know what a cool gadget that dough whisk is! I hadn't seen one before but I have a thing for kitchen tools so I'll be looking! Enlish muffins are so yummy, I'll be trying this recipe.
Lynn says
That should be English muffins not Enlish!!
Karen says
I love homemade english muffins – like most things homemade, they are just so much better. I kind of wish I could eat the same thing for breakfast every day. I usually just reheat leftovers from the night before!
Mary says
Debby, your muffins sound delicious. I tried to link to you from my blog which I was able to do when you were using the blogger about page. I can't do that with your Google + page. It does not bring me here. If I didn't know the name of your blog I never could have gotten here. I do by the way post a recipe everyday. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Christine says
I can't believe they're so easy to make! This is a wonderful discovery. Would be tickled to win the Danish dough whisk! What a nice treat! Looking forward to the recipe you come up with for whole wheat muffins!
Monica H says
What a fun post. I've always wanted to make English muffins and these look great. And I live that you love raisins- I don't understand those raisin haters out there. Ha!
Oh, and I miss your collage pics, but I think your photo tutorial turned out great!