The other day I awoke with one burning question in my mind: what is a crumpet? I know it’s a strange question, and I’ve no idea where it came from, but nonetheless I was consumed with the desire to know what exactly a crumpet was, and more importantly, what it tastes like.
I knew it was English. I knew it was something bread-y. I knew it was served with tea. I knew that it was impossible to say the word “crumpet” without adopting a fake English accent. Some words have that effect on me, like “badminton” and “Harry Potter”.
I wondered if, on the other side of the Atlantic, anyone is ever consumed with the question, “What is a tortilla?” Answer: a corn flatbread, tender and soft, hot off the comal, slathered with refried beans and cheese, ahh… I miss Mexico!
At any rate, I couldn’t get crumpets off the brain. I consulted every cookbook in the house. No luck. I asked my little sister. “It’s a crumpled trumpet.” She’s 15, so she says things like that sometimes. I asked my mother, who told me it was like a teacake. Well what is a teacake? I’m Alaskan, remember? I don’t know these things.
Finally I asked Martha. Martha knows everything, including how to make delicious crumpets. So I gathered all the necessary accoutrements, and got to work.
You cook them on a griddle like pancakes, but they taste nothing like pancakes.
Luckily it didn’t overflow.
Browning the other side. Aren’t they pretty?
The finished product, and various toppings.
Triple berry jam, lemon curd, marmalade, and honey butter.
My very first crumpet! It’s in between an English muffin and an Australian muffin, at least the American versions of English and Australian muffins. It was also my first time trying lemon curd, and OMG, lemon curd! Where have you been all my life?! I will definitely be making these again. As you can see from the photo, I’m very happy to have solved the crumpet mystery. If you’d like to join in the crumpetition, you can find the recipe here.