Crumpets

Crumpets are a British specialty, small leavened pancakes that resemble a sort of soft and porous flatbread, perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. Here is the recipe for homemade crumpets:

Ingredients

• 350 ml of lukewarm water
• 350 g of type 00 flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• Oil or butter for greasing

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in the lukewarm water. Let it rest for about 10 minutes until the mixture starts to foam.
2. Add the flour and mix with a whisk to avoid the formation of lumps until you get a smooth batter.
3. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
4. Dissolve the baking soda in 30 ml of water and add it to the batter, along with the salt. Mix well.
5. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-low heat and lightly grease it with butter or oil.
6. If you have crumpet rings, place them in the pan and fill them about halfway with the batter. If you don’t have the rings, you can simply pour small amounts of batter directly into the pan to form the crumpets.
7. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the surface has bubbles and starts to firm up. Carefully remove the ring if used and flip the crumpet to cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes.
8. Remove the crumpets from the pan and serve warm with butter, jam, honey, or your preferred topping.

Trivia

The term “crumpet” dates back at least to the 14th century in England and initially referred to a type of pancake cooked on a griddle. Over time, the recipe evolved into the porous and soft snack that we know today. In some parts of the United Kingdom, crumpets are also called “pikelets”.

If you want to add an Italian touch, you could serve your crumpets with chocolate and hazelnut spread or with good mascarpone sweetened with a bit of sugar and perhaps a touch of vanilla.