METHOD

Preparing the batter

1. Mix the yeast, sugar and 100 ml (3.5 floz) of the water in a large jug or bowl. Let it stand for 10 minutes, until it’s foamy, then add the remaining water.
2. Mix the flour and cream of tartar in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture gradually to the flour, mixing well. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes until the batter is thick but smooth.
3. Cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm spot for about an hour, during which time the batter should rise, then start to fall again. If it hasn’t done this, your spot is probably not warm enough. 
4. Add the salt and beat for another minute. Re-cover and put the bowl back in its warm spot for another 20 minutes.
5. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the milk, then stir into the batter, which by now should look like this:




Adding flavours

It's really easy to create some culinary excitement by adding flavours to your batter before cooking. Because you add the flavours right at the end, you can create small portions of each.

Here are some ideas:  Making your own: adding flavours

Cooking the crumpets

You’ll need rings in which to cook the crumpets - and it’s really important that they are non-stick. If the mixture starts sticking to the rings, it’s a total pain to get them out, and it makes them look a mess.  


1. Smear the insides of the rings with butter before you start cooking.
   
2. Put a large frying pan on a low (not very low) heat. You don’t need oil – the crumpet mixture won’t stick to a non-stick pan.
   
3. Ladle the batter into the rings, leaving about a quarter of the ring visible at the top (leaving the crumpets with room to rise).
4. Cook until the tops of the crumpets are solid and the bubbles have stopped bursting – which takes a good 10-15 minutes. This can seem like an eternity but don’t turn up the heat – you’ll end up with a solid top but a soggy middle.
   
5. Take the crumpets out of the pan and encourage them out of their rings. The rings are obviously hot, so use oven gloves. The crumpets should just fall out, but use a knife if you have any sticking issues.
   
6. Put the crumpets back in the pan, hole side down, and cook for about 3 minutes.
   
7. That batch is ready and will happily sit in the oven at 100 degrees centigrade while you move onto the next one.
   
8. If you’ve had any sticking issues, wash the rings – otherwise just start again at 1.

Making shapes!

You can make crumpets in any shape for which you can find a mould - and this can add a lot of fun to the whole exercise.


Here are some ideas:  Making your own: making shapes!