- By Charlotte Brown
- October 09, 2024
FROM THE ENGLISH CLASSIC TO THE GENEROUS AMERICAN VERSION, THE MUFFIN IS A POPULAR PASTRY THAT CAN BE ADAPTED ALMOST ENDLESSLY.
Text by Mégane Fleury (Featured in the October 2024 issue of Pastry1 Magazine)
International cuisine
gourmet delights beyond our borders
The muffin has travelled across the continents, changing from one country to the next. From a kind of flatbread in England, it has become a soft, sweet dessert, often topped with fruit or chocolate, typical of the United States. This version is the best- known today.
How did the English muffin conquer the United States?
In the UK, the history of the muffin can be traced back to the 10th century. This was a bread eaten by the working classes. Eight centuries later, middle-class and wealthy families were eating a wider range of different breads and putting the muffin on their tables. At the time, the word was spelt moofin, from the German muffe, meaning a small cake. A British staple: tea served with cake or pastries. But the little cake remains popular, and muffin men start to appear on the streets, knocking on doors with baskets full of fresh muffins to sell to individual customers.
In the 19th century, the muffin conquered America. On her website 196 flavors, private chef Vera Abitbol links its arrival to that of Samuel Bath Thomas. This English immigrant arrives in New York. He took on several odd jobs when he arrived on the continent and discovered the bakery trade.
In the United Kingdom, the history of the muffin dates back to the 10th century
After a few years, he decided to open his own bakery. He then chose a recipe from his homeland as his store's flagship product: the muffin. He bakes these small breads on trays placed in a brick oven. Traditionally, the English muffin is baked in this way: on baking trays or in a frying pan. But this English tradition was soon taken over by American bakers and pastry chefs. The recipe quickly evolved from a bread to a small cake. Its dough is more like a pancake batter, made using baking powder.
The Cupcake, “Cousin” of the Muffin
The Americans also decided to make it more colorful, and pastry chefs began covering them with icing and decorating them: this was the birth of the cupcake. In the 2010s, the cupcake enjoyed a surge in popularity, eclipsing the muffin as a bakery staple.
The American version of the muffin presents one major advantage: it can be eaten anytime of day. From a morning snack to a lunchtime dessert or afternoon sweet treat, it's a product that sells all day long.
It's always been eaten with sweet or savoury toppings
English muffin vs the American muffin: two different recipes
Technically, the American-style muffin presents no particular difficulties. For baking, there are two possible options: use disposable baking cases or reusable silicone molds. In both cases, make sure they are filled to no more than 3/4 of the size of the mold, so the cakes can rise properly. The dough can be baked the same day, or frozen for later use.
As for the English muffin, closer to a bread dough, it's made with baker's yeast or sourdough starter. It should be left to rest for at least two hours to ensure a soft interior. It is cooked the same day.
Sweet or savoury: the muffin calls for creativity!
One of the characteristics of the muffin is its adaptability. Historically, or since the English version, it has always been eaten with savoury toppings, such as fromage frais or pickled vegetables, or sweet ones, like honey or marmalade.
The American version is also suitable for variants: remove the sugar from the recipe and add the savoury topping of your choice. This can be a version with bacon and Emmental cheese, goat's cheese and honey, or vegetables such as peas. In 2020, in an article in GQ, Chef Mauro Colagreco, 3 stars in the Michelin guide, proposed a recipe for avocado muffin, accompanied by poached eggs. From a popular dish to a Michelin-starred chef 's recipe, the muffin continues to evolve.
Sources : https://www.196flavors.com/fr/royaume-uni-muffin-anglais/ ; https://www.cnewyork.net/cuisine/recette-muffins-anglais/; https://www.cnewyork.net/cuisine/ recette-muffins-anglais/; https://www.histoirede.eu/2016/08/17/retour-sur-les-origines-du-muffin/