Crumpets vs. English Muffin: What’s the Difference?

A crumpet is a small, round bread made from flour, yeast, salt, baking soda, warm water, and milk. You can make crumpets by pouring the batter into a crumpet ring mold and cooking the batter on one side on the stovetop or in a griddle pan or frying pan. Crumpets are commonly enjoyed during breakfast or afternoon tea, with fruit jam, clotted cream, or butter placed on top of the crumpet.

An English muffin is a small, round bread made from flour, yeast, butter, salt, and milk. To make English muffins, roll the dough into smaller pieces and cook both sides of the pieces on a stovetop, in a griddle pan, or a frying pan. You can dust the muffins with cornmeal or semolina to keep them from sticking to the pan. Slice English muffins in half and serve them with fruit jam or butter, or add egg and cheese to make a breakfast sandwich. English muffins are also a popular base for poached eggs when making eggs Benedict, a popular brunch dish.

The English muffin was invented in the 1880s by Samuel Bath Thomas, a British expat in New York City. Thomas created the “toaster crumpet,” inspired by the traditional English crumpet known for its small holes that are ideal for soaking up spreads and butter.

Crumpets and English muffins are both popular for breakfast, but there are some differences:

• Batter: Crumpets have a loose batter and are usually cooked inside of a crumpet ring mold. English muffins have a firm dough, and the muffins are usually rolled out into little balls before cooking on the stove.
• Texture: English muffins have more of a bread-like texture, while crumpets have a spongy texture. English muffin halves are commonly toasted in a toaster, giving them a crispy texture. Crumpets tend to be chewy.
• Cooked sides: You cook one side of crumpets and both sides of English muffins. That means that you can see the nooks and crannies on the top of the crumpets. With an English muffin, you have to slice it in half to see the nooks and crannies.
• Service: English muffins are thicker. Typically, cooks slice English muffins in half before serving. For crumpets, you can add toppings directly onto the crumpet since it is a flatter bread.

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