English Muffin Bread (Airy and Dense No-Knead Recipe)

This English muffin bread has everything you love about English muffins in a loaf form! It’s perfectly light and airy, with all the nooks and crannies to hold melting pools of butter. You can pop it in the toaster and slather some butter and jam on top, for a deliciously airy, dense bread the whole family will love!

English muffins are a classic, and this loaf has to be one of the best homemade breads I’ve ever tasted. It’s baked to a beautiful golden-brown, and the sprinkle of cornmeal gives it a unique crunch that truly takes the flavor to the next level. 

And if you’re looking for more breads to bake during this holiday season, I recommend making this muffin bread alongside cranberry bread and banana nut bread. These are definitely ones that everyone in the family loves!

Why I Love This Recipe

I love english muffins so it only seemed reasonable that I would love this recipe I uncovered as well. Here are a few more reasons why you should try this one.

• Easy to make: This English muffin bread recipe comes together with simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and a touch of salt and baking soda. Stir everything in a large bowl, let the dough rise, and you’re ready to bake. No kneading and no fuss!
• Family Favorite: The light, airy texture and delicious crust of this English muffin bread recipe make it a hit with the whole family. Toast a slice and spread some butter and jam for the perfect breakfast or snack.
• Delicious: With its unique texture resembling an English muffin, this bread is a crowd-pleaser. Sprinkle some cornmeal before baking for that extra crunch. The end result is a loaf that’s dense yet light and absolutely delicious.
• Freezer-Friendly: Thanks to the dense, airy texture of English muffin bread, it freezes exceptionally well. The bread doesn’t lose its texture or flavor, making it a perfect bread recipe to bake in large batches and store for future toasting.
• Versatile: This bread is perfect for toasting, and you can serve it with honey butter or your favorite jam. You can even freeze it in slices and toast as needed, making it a versatile addition to your bread recipes. Alongside my easy homemade bread recipe, it’s the easiest one you’ll ever try!

Key Ingredients

All Purpose Flour: This is our main ingredient for the recipe. It provides structure to the bread and makes it firm and dense. 

Dry Yeast: This ingredient plays a crucial role in our English muffin bread recipe. It helps the dough rise and gives the bread its fluffy, airy texture.

Sugar: The sugar in this recipe is not just for sweetness. It also feeds the yeast, helping it activate and raise the dough.

Salt: It enhances the overall flavor of the bread and controls the yeast activity, guaranteeing the bread doesn’t rise too rapidly.

Baking Soda: A small amount goes a long way. It helps with the browning of the bread and contributes to its distinct English muffin texture.

Milk: Milk adds flavor and richness to the bread. It also aids in the browning of the crust.

Water: It is used to activate the yeast and hydrate the flour, which is essential for the formation of the dough.

Cornmeal: This ingredient is sprinkled on the loaf pan before baking. It gives the English muffin bread its characteristic crunchy crust.

Equipment

Large Bowl – You’ll need this to combine your dry ingredients including all-purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, and baking soda. This is where the initial mix for your English muffin bread recipe takes place, so make sure it is big enough to stir comfortably.

Microwave-safe Bowl – This is essential for heating your milk and water to the right temperature. It’s important to use a microwave-safe bowl to prevent any accidents or damage to your bowl.

8½ x 4½ Bread Pan – You’ll need a bread pan to make your delicious English muffin loaf. I recommend an 8 ½ by 4 ½ size.

Wire Rack – After the bread is baked, you’ll need to let it cool. This is where a wire rack comes in handy. It allows air to circulate around the bread, cooling it evenly and preventing it from getting soggy.

How to Make English Muffin Bread 

Preparations

Before you start, make sure to have all your ingredients on hand. Then, grease your bread pan and sprinkle it generously with cornmeal. This will prevent your English muffin bread from sticking to the pan and give it a nice texture. 

Step 1 – Combine Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine your purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, and baking soda. This mixture will form the basis of your English muffin bread recipe.

Step 2 – Heat Water and Milk

Heat up a cup of water and a cup of milk until they reach a temperature of about 120˚ F. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl to save time.

Step 3 – Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients

Add your heated water and milk to your dry ingredients and mix them together well. This is an essential step in many homemade bread recipes, as it helps make sure that all the ingredients are well combined.

Step 4 – Incorporate Remaining Flour

Next, stir in the remaining flour to form a stiff batter. The texture of your dough is important in bread recipes, so make sure it is not too wet or too dry.

Step 5 – Let the Dough Rise

Spoon your batter into your prepared bread pan, which should be sprinkled with cornmeal. Let it rise in a warm place for about forty-five minutes. Allowing your dough to rise is a crucial step in this no knead English muffin bread recipe, as it gives your bread its light, airy texture.

Step 6 – Bake the Bread

Finally, it is time to bake your English muffin bread. Place your bread pan in a preheated oven and bake for about twenty-five minutes at a temperature of about 400˚ F. Your bread should come out golden brown and perfectly baked.

Step 7 – Cool and Serve

Once your English muffin bread is done baking, remove it from the pan immediately and let it cool on a rack. Once it’s cool, it’s ready to be sliced and served. This bread is perfect for toasting and topping with butter, jam, or honey butter. Enjoy your homemade English muffin bread!

Expert Tips

Properly prep your loaf pan: Before adding the dough, grease your loaf pan and sprinkle it with cornmeal. This will not only prevent the bread from sticking but also contribute to the texture of the English muffin bread. 

Heat your liquids: It’s important to heat your milk and water to about 120˚ F before adding them to your dry ingredients. This helps the instant yeast to activate and makes the dough rise properly.

Stir with a whisk: Use a dough whisk to stir your batter. This tool makes it easier to incorporate all the ingredients and guarantees an even texture in your final product.

Let your dough rise: After spooning the batter into your loaf pan, let it rise in a warm place for around 45 minutes. This step is crucial in achieving that light, airy texture associated with English muffins.

Remove the bread immediately: After baking, promptly remove your bread from the pan. This helps to prevent the bread from becoming overly moist and maintains the texture of the crust. 

Recipe Variations

Make it Garlicky: If you’re a fan of garlic, this variation is for you. Simply add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the dry ingredients for an extra kick. This will give your English muffin bread a rich, aromatic garlic flavor that’s perfect for toasting and serving with a hearty soup.

Double the Loaf: If you can’t get enough of this English muffin bread, why not double the recipe and bake two loaves? You can freeze the second loaf in slices and toast them as needed. This way, you’ll always have delicious homemade bread at hand.

Try it with Jam: For a fruity twist, try serving your English muffin bread with your favorite jam. The sweet and tangy flavors of the jam complement the dense, crusty texture of the bread perfectly. This is a great option for a quick breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack.

What to Serve With

• Start your day on a sweet note with this English muffin bread recipe. Toast a slice of this homemade bread and slather it with a generous layer of butter and your favorite jam. It is a delicious combo of slightly salty butter and sweet jam that will make your morning!
• Looking for a hearty breakfast? Toast a slice of English muffin bread and serve it alongside a plate of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. The fluffy texture of the bread perfectly compliments the rich flavors of the eggs and bacon.
• English muffin bread is not just for breakfast. It can also be a convenient on-the-go snack. Slice it up, pack it in your lunchbox, and enjoy a delicious treat during your busy day. It tastes great with a hot cup of coffee!
• For a sweet and simple dessert, toast a slice of English muffin bread and top it with a dollop of honey butter. The creaminess of the butter and the sweetness of the honey are a match made in heaven with the crusty bread.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Reheating

Refrigerate: After letting your homemade bread recipes cool completely, store the English muffin bread in an airtight container. It can be kept in the fridge for up to three days, maintaining its delicious crusty texture.

Freeze: If you’ve baked more English muffin bread than you can consume within a few days, don’t worry. You can easily freeze your bread. Simply slice the loaf and freeze the slices individually. The bread can be toasted straight from frozen or let it thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy it. 

Thawing: To thaw frozen English muffin bread, remove the desired number of slices from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature. They’ll be ready to eat or toast in no time.

Reheating Instructions: If you prefer your English muffin bread warm, you can reheat it in the oven or microwave. For the oven, preheat to a low temperature, place the bread on a rack, and heat until it is warmed through. If using the microwave, place the bread slice on a microwave-safe plate and heat for a few seconds until warm. 

Serving Size

What to Expect: This recipe makes one English muffin bread loaf that’s enough for 6 servings.

How to Scale: If you want to make more than six servings, you can easily double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Make sure you use a large enough mixing bowl to mix all the ingredients properly.