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    English Muffins

    This English Muffins recipe is cooked on a skillet and makes fluffy English Muffins full of the signature nooks and crannies we love.My Favorite English Muffins Recipe!When you’ve got four kids, you become a pro at quick and easy meals. Back in the day, I found myself going through loads of store bought English muffins because they make for a yummy, filling, and deliciously easy breakfast. Simply toast them and slather them up with butter and jam. Or, turn them into a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg and sausage patty. At dinnertime, well, my family is all about English muffin pizzas.It wasn’t long before I realized I’d have some major savings by making my English muffins at home! But, I psyched myself out. They’ve got to be hard to make, right?Wrong! They are so easy to make. They are lightly kneaded, only rise once, AND you won’t even need to turn on your oven. What Are English Muffins?When you think of English muffins, I’d bet you picture the signature nooks and crannies. I could just drool thinking about melted butter pooling in the large nooks and crannies. I bet you can, now, too. Are you picturing it? But, aside from nooks and crannies, what makes an English muffin an English muffin? Well, they’re not made in a cupcake or muffin tin. That’s it, really.If you go to England, they’re simply called muffins. And, what we call muffins are called American muffins or sweet muffins. Weird, right?!? Recipe IngredientsDon’t let these English muffins fool you! Aside from buttermilk and yeast, I’ll bet you’ve got everything you need at home right now!buttermilkbutterbread flourInstant Yeast saltsugareggcorn mealHow to Make English MuffinsMelt: In a microwave safe bowl heat the buttermilk and butter together in 30- second increments until the buttermilk is warm, reaching a temperature of 120°F – 130°F on an instant read thermometer. The buttermilk might separate and look curdled. Don’t worry, this is okay.Mix: Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and egg into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix on low until combined. This should take about 1 minute. Remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook attachment. Turn mixer up to medium-high and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If you don’t have a dough hook attachment, you can knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5-6 minutes. It will take about the same amount of time and you know your dough is ready when it’s smooth, elastic and bounces back when pressed lightly with 2 fingers.Rise: Form the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with a towel. Place the bowl in a warm, draft free place in your kitchen and allow the dough to double in size. This will take 1-2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. If your oven has a proof setting, this can be used as well.Prep: Prepare a large baking pan by sprinkling it liberally with corn meal. Once you’ve done this, set the pan aside.Divide: Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten the ball until it’s about 3- inches in diameter. Place each into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with more corn meal. Cover the pan and let the dough rest for 20 minutes.Heat: Spray a griddle or large skillet lightly with nonstick spray, or coat it lightly with oil. Heat the pan on low and place the muffins onto the pan, working in batches, carefully transferring the muffins onto the griddle. You don’t want to handle them too much. This will cause them to deflate. Cook: Cook the muffins on each side for 7-10 minutes, until the crust on each side is golden brown and the center of the muffin reaches 180°F on an instant-read thermometer. If you don’t have an instant read thermometer, don’t stress! If your muffins cook in the skillet for 7-10 minutes on each side and are golden brown, they are pretty much guaranteed to be cooked. If the muffins are browning too quickly, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all!Cool: Allow the muffins to cool completely on a wire rack before using a fork to split them.Why Buttermilk?I get – hands down – the best English muffins using buttermilk. I’ve tried alllll the other options: whole milk, 2% milk, combinations of milk and water. Take it from me, buttermilk gets the best results. I really like the texture and flavor that buttermilk adds to my English muffins. The acidity in the buttermilk works really well with the yeast to rise and create a nice, airy dough. This is what gives my homemade English muffins the signature nooks and crannies we all loveDon’t worry if you don’t have buttermilk. You can quickly and easily make a buttermilk substitute right at home!What Happens If Your English Muffins Brown Too Quickly In Your Skillet?If the muffins are browning too quickly, don’t panic! Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all! Simply, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. This can happen for loads of different reasons, but these are the most common:A dark pan like a cast iron skillet distributes and holds heat, which can lead to it getting too hot too quickly.Stove tops can heat on low at different temperatures. You might have an electric stove top, or a gas stove top…there’s no set temperature for “low” and temperatures may vary.If you’re working in batches, your skillet will be hotter on the second or third batch than the first, creating varying cook times.Tips for the Best English MuffinsIf you’re looking for my top tips for the best English muffins, I’ve got you, girl.  Here are my suggestions:Allow the dough to rise to at least double in size. If the dough isn’t rising, just give it more time, and make sure it’s in a warm, draft-free place in your kitchen.Does your oven have a proof setting? If yes, this works great with this dough. Let that dough rest. Once you’ve allowed your dough to rest for 20- minutes after you’ve formed them into flattened balls try not to handle them too much. They will rise slightly and this is when all the air pockets form giving you the distinct interior texture of an English Muffin.Both kinds of yeast work. You can use regular yeast instead of instant yeast, you just need to give it more time to rise!If your English Muffins are browning too quickly on the stove top, just place them on a parchment lined baking sheet in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes to bake them.How To Fork Split An English MuffinPlease! Never cut an English muffin with a knife! When you do this, you lose all of the nooks and crannies. Instead, you should ALWAYS fork split your English muffins. Here’s how:Hold your English muffin in one hand and your fork in the other hand.Insert your fork into the side of the English muffin.Spin your English muffin while simultaneously moving your fork in and out until it arrives back at the place you started.The two sides should completely separate. Serving IdeasEnglish muffins make for a great breakfast. They’re super simple to toast and serve with butter or jam. You can also use them as the bread on your breakfast sandwich – egg and cheese; egg, cheese, and bacon; egg, cheese, and sausage – on an English muffin. Scrambled eggs, over easy eggs, I’ve even been known to sandwich an omelette filled with cheese between two slices of English muffin. YUM!My kids have always enjoyed them as mini pizzas, too. All you have to do is fork split them, spoon on your favorite sauce, and top with shredded mozzarella. Then pop them in the oven until toasted and the cheese is melted. You could use your English muffins as the bread for any sandwich, really. Peanut butter and jelly? Sure! BBQ pulled pork? Yep! Burger?How to Store English MuffinsNow, it’s not likely that I’ll eat 16 English muffins in one sitting. Hey, I said it’s not likely, but it’s definitely not impossible. If you do end up needing to store your English muffins, you have two options. First, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. Or, you can freeze your leftover English muffins in a ziptop bag for 30 days. Don’t forget to label your freezer bag so you are sure when to use them. Allow them to thaw to room temperature before using them. PrintEnglish Muffins Description:Making English Muffins at home is so rewarding…and delicious! This easy English Muffins recipe will have you enjoying homemade muffins in no time.Ingredients:1 3/4 cups buttermilk1/4 cup butter, cubed4 1/2 cups bread flour1 (0.25- ounce) packet Instant Yeast (2 teaspoons)1 teaspoon kosher salt2 tablespoons granulated sugar1 large egg, lightly whiskedCorn Meal for sprinkling on panInstructionsIn a microwave safe bowl heat the buttermilk and butter together in 30- second increments until buttermilk is warm, reaching a temperature of 120°F – 130°F on an instant read thermometer. Buttermilk might separate and look curdled. This is ok.Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and egg into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix on low for 1 minute until combined. Remove the paddle attachment, replacing it with the dough hook attachment. Turn mixer up to medium-high and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Alternately, you can knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5-6 minutes.Form the dough into a ball, and cover the bowl with a towel. Place the bowl in a warm, draft free place in your kitchen and allow the dough to double in size. This will take 1-2 hours, depending on the warmth of your kitchen. If your oven has a proof setting, this can be used as well.Prep a large baking pan by sprinkling it liberally with corn meal. Set aside.Once the dough is doubled, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten the ball until it’s 3- inches in diameter. Place each into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with more corn meal. Cover the pan and let the dough rest for 20 minutes.Spray a griddle or large skillet lightly with nonstick spray, or coat lightly with oil. Heat the pan on low and place muffins onto pan, working in batches, carefully transferring the muffins onto the griddle. You don’t want to handle them too much, causing them to deflate. Cook the muffins on each side for 7-10 minutes, until the crust on each side is golden brown and the center of the muffin reaches 180°F on an instant-read thermometer. If the muffins are browning too quickly, place them in a 325°F oven on a parchment lined pan for 10 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly. Depending on the pan you use, this can happen and is not a problem at all!Allow the muffins to cool completely on a wire rack before using a fork to split them.Notes:Store airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 30 days. Allow English Muffins to thaw at room temperature.Here’s the link to my Buttermilk Substitute in case you’re all out! Keywords:: english muffins recipe, homemade english muffins, how to make english muffins, english muffins pizza Want To Save This Recipe?PIN for later: LEGGI TUTTO

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    Hot Cross Buns

    679 SharesHot Cross Buns are a soft, sweet bread roll made with a vanilla icing cross on the top, traditionally eaten on Good Friday in some countries, but they should definitely be enjoyed all year long!If you’re new to yeast baking make sure to try my Cinnamon Rolls Recipe! They’re amazing and easy enough for beginners!Hot Cross Buns Are A Classic Easter RecipeHot Cross Buns are a treat I grew up eating on Easter morning. I know there are lots of different traditions when it comes to Hot Cross Buns, but I always looked forward to having them once a year. Honestly, though, there is no reason why these can’t be enjoyed all year long! They are a sweet bread, usually made with dried currants or raisins (I used Craisins), and topped with a sweet icing. We always had them warm with a nice spread of butter too. SO good!Baking With Yeast Is Easy!I have been on a roll lately baking with yeast, and I am not about to stop anytime soon. My Sweet Dinner Rolls have been a weekly recipe! To imagine there was a time when the idea of baking bread from scratch made me a little nervous is crazy! It’s actually very easy and using Rapid Rise (Instant) Yeast makes it quick too!Honestly, if you think about yeast as just another ingredient it takes the worry out of it. AND once you do it once, you will see how uncomplicated the process really is. You can make bread by hand, or if you have a mixer with a hook attachment that works for the kneading portion too!My Main Bread Making TipKnowing when to be done kneading is the question I get most. So here’s my PRO TIP: After you knead the dough for the recommended period of time, press it gently with two fingers, and it springs back, you’re done kneading! It should be smooth and elastic to the touch.What Are Hot Cross Buns?I did a little research to find out the history of Hot Cross Buns and found lots of interesting facts. They say that the cross on the bun represents…well, a cross, and the bread represents the end of Lent. There are also many theories on the origin of Hot Cross Buns.One of the interesting myths behind the recipe is that buns baked and served on Good Friday will not spoil or grow moldy during the subsequent year. Another myth is if the buns are hung in the kitchen, they are supposed to protect against fires and ensure that all your bread turns out perfectly! I kind of like that idea!!Anyhow, there are countless stories and traditions around Hot Cross Buns, but what I know is that they are delicious!How Do You Make Hot Cross Buns?Working with RapidRise® Yeast makes the process easy! The dough comes together very quickly, and requires about 4-6 minutes of knead time, which you can do with your hands, or with the dough hook attachment on your stand mixer!The dough will be soft for these, so add your flour in small increments, to make sure you don’t add too much!Allow 350-45 minutes for the dough to rise. I like to cover the dough and put into an oven that was heated just to warm, and then turned off.Hot Cross Buns should be soft, and chewy, like any good bread. You have the subtle sweetness from the dried fruit, and the icing on top, paired with that distinct yeast flavor.I hope these become a tradition in your house too!Looking for More Yeast Bread Recipes? Try These:PrintHot Cross Buns Description:Easy, classic Hot Cross Buns RecipeIngredients:1/2 cup dried cranberries or currants3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour3 tablespoons granulated sugar1 (1/4- ounce) envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise Yeast1 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 cup milk1/4 cup water1/4 cup butter 2 eggs1 egg white, lightly beatenIcingInstructionsPlace dried cranberries in a small bowl. Cover with boiling water and let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until plumped. Drain and set aside.Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt, and cinnamon in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.In a microwave-safe bowl heat the milk, water and butter for 30 – 45 seconds until very warm (120° to 130°F). Stir this into the flour mixture.Mix the eggs, cranberries, and enough remaining flour to make soft dough (I generally use 3 1/2 cups total). Replace the paddle attachment with a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 4-6 minutes. Alternately, you can knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, 4-6 minutes. Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and let it rest for 10 minutes.Line a large baking sheet parchment paper and coat lightly with nonstick spray.Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place 3- inches apart on prepared sheet. Cover and let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 35 to 50 minutes.Preheat oven to 375°F.With a sharp knife, cut a shallow cross in top of each bun. Brush egg white over tops and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. Allow the buns to cool before icing.For the icing, mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream in a bowl until smooth. Place the icing in small zip-top bag with a corner snipped off and pipe the icing onto the buns in a cross shape.Notes:Store airtight at room temperature for up to a day. Best served same day.Keywords:: hot cross buns, bread, yeast, rapid rise yeast, quick yeastWant To Save This Recipe?PIN for later: LEGGI TUTTO

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    Pumpkin Scones

    787 SharesThese Pumpkin Scones are soon to be your favorite pumpkin recipe! They are flaky and buttery with the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor. The perfect cross between a muffin and a biscuit topped with a brown sugar icing, this scone recipe can be enjoyed as a breakfast treat, a snack, or even as dessert!I love scones so much, and if you do too you should try my Bacon Cheddar Scones, or my Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Scones!Pumpkin Scones are the Ultimate Fall Scone Recipe!I am SO excited about today’s scone recipe. SO EXCITED! I am big scone guy, and today’s Pumpkin Scone Recipe MIGHT be my favorite of all time.If you have ever had a bad scone experience…we all know what I mean, dry, crumbly, flavorless…you might not be too anxious to try again. I do understand. Truly.ORRRR if you’re one of those “I don’t like pumpkin” people, this recipe might be easy to skip over. But please, oh please, do yourself a favor and try my recipe. My husband who “doesn’t like scones” loved these, and my son who “doesn’t like pumpkin” said these were amazing. Two glowing reviews from two of my harshest critics, so those are supremely high accolades!This Recipe Makes Light, Flaky, Moist Scones!Like I said before, if you’ve ever had a dry scone you might not be so inclined to try another one…but if you’ve had a good one, I think you will be matching my enthusiasm today!This is an easy scone recipe, literally made in minutes. I took the base recipe from my Chocolate Chunk Orange Scones and tweaked it to incorporate the pumpkin and the results are DELICIOUS!!How Do You Make Pumpkin Scones?That’s why we’re all here today…not to look at pretty scone pictures, but to learn how to make them, right? So let’s get to it!What Ingredients Do You Need?Simple, everyday ingredients are what makes these scones easy to make and perfectly flavorful.All Purpose FlourSugar – I used granulated sugar, but you could absolutely use light brown sugar as well!Salt and Baking PowderButter – I used salted butter in my scone recipes because I prefer the slightly balanced sweet and salty dough, a lot like a biscuit. AND make sure it’s COLD COLD COLD! I’ll explain a little more in depth below.Heavy Cream – this adds so much richness to the scone, while also adding a little more fat which assists in keeping these extra moist!Pumpkin Pie SpicePumpkin Puree – Make sure you use 100% pumpkin here (like Libby’s) and not canned Pumpkin Pie MixDo You Have To Make the Icing?Well, of course not…especially since you will have the sweet crunch of the turbinado sugar on top…BUT. The brown sugar icing on these is absolutely delicious and takes this scone recipe to the next level FOR SURE.How Do You Make Flaky Scones?My trick to flaky, almost layered scones is using COLD BUTTER! A lot like my Pie Crust Recipe you will want to use very cold butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter. This will leave small pieces of butter throughout the dough, like in the image above.Also, when you form the scone dough into a ball and then a flat circle, try not to handle the dough too much. The less you handle the dough, the flakier it will be. The more you knead this dough, the butter will warm with the touch of your hands, and strands of gluten will form as it’s kneaded like in bread, which you want to prevent!You can see in the second image above the flaky layers. AND when you break it open it will look like this…See all those glorious, moist yet flaky layers? THAT, my friends, is scone perfection!I only use 1/4 cup of pumpkin in these scones, which adds the pretty color and the perfect subtle pumpkin flavor. That, combined with the Pumpkin Pie Spice isn’t overpowering, but perfectly pumpkin.AND wondering what you should do with that extra pumpkin from the can? Try my Pumpkin Mug Cake!Scones Aren’t Your Thing, But Pumpkin Is? Try These Other Pumpkin Recipes:PrintPumpkin Scones Description:These Pumpkin Scones are buttery, flaky, sweet, and PERFECT!Ingredients:2 cups all purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 cup granulated sugar1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 cup cold, salted butter, cut into cubes1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons heavy cream2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice1/4 cup pumpkin puree2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (like Sugar in the Raw) for garnishIcing2 tablespoons butter1/4 cup light brown sugar1 tablespoons milk1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1/3 cup powdered sugarInstructionsPreheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Set aside.Cut the butter into the mixture using a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture resembles coarse sand. There will (and should be) some larger pieces of butter.In a medium bowl whisk together 1/2 cup heavy cream, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and pour the wet ingredients into the well. Mix the dough together using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. It should have a slightly dry texture and hold together, but not be crumbly. Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of cream if the dough seems too dry.Place the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and form it into a ball. Flatten the ball into a circle about 1 1/2- inches thick.Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 6 wedges.Place the wedges onto the prepared baking sheet and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the lightly golden.To prepare the icing place butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a bowl stirring frequently. Allow the mixture to boil for 3 minutes and then remove from the heat. Immediately whisk in the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth and no lumps remain.Drizzle the icing onto the scones and allow it to set.Serve warm or at room temperature.Notes:Store airtight for up to 2 days. You can cut the scones into smaller wedges, just adjust the bake-time down slightly.Keywords:: cookies and cups, scone recipe, pumpkin scones, pumpkin recipe, fall baking Want To Save This Recipe? LEGGI TUTTO