The History of English Muffins

Small circles of leavened bread have been known as muffins in England since the 18th and 19th centuries, when they were sold on the streets by “muffin men” (a term that lives on in the children’s rhyme, “The Muffin Man”). Notably, muffins sold in England are nothing like the sweet muffins that are so popular in the United States (although “American muffins” have begun to gain popularity in the UK in recent years). Although muffins in England are somewhat similar to what Americans think of as English muffins, they are not the same; for example, the truly English version is typically much denser. English muffins as we know them in the United States were invented by English ex-pat and baker Samuel Bath Thomas at his New York bakery, which opened in 1880. Thomas’ recipe was inspired by the muffins made in his native England, but the signature texture filled with nooks and crannies was his own unique invention. Thomas initially marketed his creation as “toaster crumpets” and although the baked goods had little in common with actual English crumpets, they caught on. In 1902, the name shifted from toaster crumpets to English muffins. Thomas’ English muffins were not just beloved on their own, but also inspired famous dishes like eggs Benedict, which may have been invented at the Waldorf Hotel in 1894. Today, Thomas’ English Muffins is the most famous brand of English muffins in the United States. Manufacturing secrets are still closely guarded to this day, and so while many imitator brands have cropped up, the original brand remains unique and very popular despite being a centuries-old invention!