The Crumpet Controversy

Sometimes while doing research for 18th Century Cooking we run into a recipe that is a little confusing and sometimes controversial. Kevin joins Jon in the kitchen today to make a Crumpet recipe from 1769. This recipe could easily be mistaken for other "biscuit" dishes, but we assure you, this is a Crumpet. A very delicious Crumpet!
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[@MrJohnManifold]

I’m from the north of England. The term pikelet is widely used in the north, and the gentleman’s definition of the crumpet and the pikelet is accurate. Both are efficient and delicious methods of delivering butter into the human body. Excellent quality videos.

[@YoshLovesYou]

I miss the days when there were shows like this on tv.

[@octtubeinc3129]

Just watch PBS boo

[@dustjunky2000]

Old Indiana

[@Psychlist1972]

TV is for folks who don't have the internet :)

[@andrewaway]

I got rid of tv about 10 years ago. The food network became a game show channel.

[@YoshLovesYou]

@@andrewaway Yeah, alton brown best represents their prime. Sadly, even he is wasted by their reality tv agenda these days. You basically have these choices: - watch a rich bitch's overemphasized cleavage - watch a buffoon with frosted hair come up with zany food descriptions - watch people stress out cooking food until one wins - watch a guy eat craaaazy foreign foods - watch the standard "reality competition" except they're cooking

[@socketman]

I couldn't think of a more boring sounding topic than what technically comprises a crumpet, but your delivery and passion for everything covered on this channel is infectious and wonderful to watch.

[@ambers5207]

Revrant I thought that about a lot of topics he's presented. (My sister recommended the channel) But yes, the have a quiet passion and it shows!

[@TheGypsyVanners]

;)

[@Thalanox]

The recipie: 1 cup cold (or room temp?) Milk 1 cup very warm water 1 egg Mix together. End temperature should even out to "warm". Add 1 teaspoon of yeast Mix Add mixture to 2 cups of flour Mix Cover and let it sit for at least 1 hour (can let it sit overnight to develop sourdough flavour) Cook slowly over medium heat on a greased pan until the surface bubbles and appears dry. Flip and cook for a further 30 seconds. Allow to cool. Toast before serving. Serve with butter and jams on the side. I think I got everything. Edit on 2020-06-June-09: Changed "large spoon of yeast" to "teaspoon of yeast"

[@sylvialin6453]

I thought i heard 1tsp yeast?

[@ae5631]

about a teaspoon he said

[@zarax2707]

Thanks mate, I'm definitely gonna make it

[@DarkangaelBrokenwing]

Thanks interested in trying these

[@joetjoebie60]

Haha, I just love it, to discuss food, especially crumpets. It's such a funny word to say, for a Dutchy, like me. Also, the down-to-earth-ness of it is so very welcome amidst the madness of baking Pandemia-cake with black treacle, bitter as tar😅

[@seithiennyn]

The word ‘pikelet’ is said to derive from the Welsh term ‘pyglyd’ (a word meaning ‘pock-faced’). This describes the holes that appear in the griddle cake. The term became anglicized to pikelet. As already mentioned, the crumpet is a more refined, more posh version of the humbler pikelet. Both tasty and eaten often ☺️

[@J8D2]

Interesting. Id never even heard of pikelets until I heard a Mancunian reference them. Maybe its a more common food/ term in the west of England.

[@jamesgoacher1606]

@@J8D2 In my childhood I lived in Ilkeston which is about as far of the middle as you can get at that latitude.

[@CharGC123]

For me the taste, not the form, is the important factor!

[@darianroscoe1017]

If you allow the batter to bubble and sit longer, you will get more flavor. My bread batter/dough sits overnight for that sourdough taste. Try letting the batter sit 3 hours as an experiment. Excellent episode.

[@BrokenMonocle]

darian roscoe What you're doing there is basically making a biga. :)

[@robinlillian9471]

Before the 20th century & modern yeast, it was commonplace to let doughs soak for long periods to give the yeast a chance to grow.

[@peterforden5917]

before yeast was commonly available (as far back as the stone age apparently!) flour or its equivalent was tossed many times in a dusty environment and left over night before being used, the dust started the yeasty process so bread could be made even in the stone age! stone age ovens have been discovered in england and reproductions used to mke a very passable bread!

[@PaisleyRae]

darian roscoe i'm trying this next time.

[@billybareblu]

Using actual barm you would have had to do that anyway, since it doesn't have the same quick strength of modern bread yeast. So yeah would have much more complex flavor.

[@mikewhitby631]

I have only recently stumbled on your site and must say that I enjoy it immensely. I am from The East Riding of Yorkshire (England) and we have made our own breads and Pikelets for many years. My wife is from the West Riding of Yorkshire and she calls them crumpets. Almost everyone here uses the word crumpet so I was beginning to think that I belonged to a dwindling group who still used the word pikelet and then I hear you say it! You may be over 3000 miles away but it gladdened my heart to hear you say it. Thank you all for your efforts in bringing these videos to us and long may you continue so to do.

[@LyleKN]

No salt added. Have to add salt otherwise breads will taste flat, like there's some major ingredient missing and all it needs is a very small amount of salt. Makes all the difference.

[@gaylebrown5216]

Why on earth would you bastardize the true crumpet. Your toppings are what counts: melting butter & honey; home made jams & clotted cream. The choices are endless.

[@raygale4198]

Modern recipes I've seen usually call for just a pinch of salt. Maybe helps shelf life a bit as well.

[@cfnaround1585]

I was amazed how much just a pinch of coarse salt made. Really didn’t need much. Bread at the store today is salty cake

[@Aarenby]

Yeah salt is good but it's worth mentioning that period butter would have been really salty to help with preservation and crumpets/pikelets exist to soak up all the butter physics allows. They are a butter physics experiment

[@raygale4198]

@@Aarenby That is true, forgot about that.

[@Escreality]

I can't sleep so decided to make this recipe. Been binge watching all your videos in the past week and it was finally time to subscribe! lol I'm bad with commitment but you had me at crumpet ;)

[@harambo88]

so now relationship material.i mean dude, it´s only a yt abo on a cookingchannel, not marriage

[@EdelgardvonHresvelg8663]

@@harambo88hahahhahahha yea

[@Sisterfifi]

They are well known in Aust and NZ, but English muffins are different. The texture are totally different crumpets are sort of chewy texture, whereas English muffins are a fluffy texture like bread or cakes.

[@davidwarren7279]

I actually bought some crumpets the other day at Coles!

[@MaZEEZaM]

@@davidwarren7279 Muffins are also a bread dough whereas crumpets are a batter and both very different recipes, its also completely different to Pikelets in Australia/NZ.

[@sandybutt9898]

I was bored during the covid 19 lockdown so made my own crumpets this morning. They were much nicer than the rubbery ones you get in the shops, although the recipe I used didn't have an egg in it.

[@cris_balm7460]

Yes, agree… they are very different. Pancakes/pickletts are also sweeter. Crumpets a not sweet and are thicker and holier lol

[@CharGC123]

I never buy any scary breads or rolls from the store with their "recipe" of industrial chemicals and preservatives. I much prefer to make my own, but since I'm pretty lax and don't often plan ahead, I've been making this sort of crumpet-pancake as a bread stand in for ages, with a slight alteration... I can't eat eggs, so I just omit them and add a bit of baking powder for better lift and more holes. Instead of the hassle of trying to slice a ring raised muffin in half, or evenly slice a loaf of bread, each crumpet stands in for a slice of bread, or can be used as a pancake, depending on size. Sometimes I even fold in aromatic veggies and herbs/spices. Quick, easy and delish. I even keep a buckwheat sourdough starter on hand, and often mix up a batch of "crumpet" batter to last me a few days stored in the fridge. I can use any variety of whole grain flours milled in my blender. When I need "bread", I just proof some batter for a bit, add my baking powder till bubbly, and cook. In fact, I just mixed up a new batch for the weekend to sandwich some yummy bulgur-lentil burgers!

[@teasugarsalt]

Kind of plain. This may be the most devastatingly harsh review Jon has ever given a food on this channel.

[@Woody615]

Not surprised it's plain. Neither sugar nor salt was added. It's just a wheat flour paste. I wonder how much is presumed by the author about what to add. If she were here would she say, "Why didn't you add the salt and sugar? Of course you add it. Everybody knows to do that, that's why there is no need to mention it."

[@hattycattyz]

Perhaps that's why jam is so popular on it? I love blackberry jam on mine.

[@bcaye]

Needed some Vegemite.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Barbara Danley Yeah, because everyone wants a spreadable bread to be spread on their bread....

[@bcaye]

Abby Something, Vegemite is yeast extract, why you would equate that to bread is beyond me. The yeast in baked bread is dead, leaving behind only it's gift of leavening. In Vegemite you can taste the full force of the yeast, as well as the added veg and seasonings. Also, silly bint, anyone who knows anything knows that the most popular uses of Vegemite involve toast, crumpets, crackers and other forms of, yes, BREAD.

[@psammiad]

Crumpets are fantastic and still very popular in England, toasted and dripping with butter, with a good hot cup of tea! They are nothing like "English" muffins which are a bread: crumpets are made with a wet yeasted batter, which results in large holes and an open texture. They were often made in advance and heated on a toasting fork in front of an open fire. Modern crumpets are made in a metal ring - the flat formless kind are pikelets, a regional variety still found in the Midlands, which comes from the Welsh word for crumpet. (Australian pikelets today are more like American pancakes.)

[@LorJSR]

Goddamn I really want a crumpet now. Additionally: Yes, regional variation within England plays into this a great deal. Pikelets are _generally_ found in the north, and crumpets are _traditionally_ found in the south. (I use the terms generally and traditionally very loosely)

[@TheMimiSard]

Yes on the Aussie pikelet point! And they also tend to be leavened with baking soda too.

[@TheJamesRedwood]

And in NZ too, our pikelets are definitely small pancakes, leavened with baking powder and with a little sugar too.

[@grimeldasnodpocket]

Was just coming to comment that the pikelets I'm used to in Australia are made with a batter similar to American pancakes: with egg and baking powder, not yeast. Nothing at all like a crumpet. Funny how words change and evolve meanings over time and in different areas.

[@TheMimiSard]

It's like the cookies/biscuits difference between Australia and America - American biscuits are, arguably, virtually the same things as British/Australian/NZ scones, while "biscuit" and "cookie" are almost interchangeable to us. Britain has it's own mess of differing names across it's regions.

[@BillWiltfong]

My grandpa used to tell me about how much he enjoyed the various crumpets he had while stationed in the UK. He pronounced it differently though: "strumpet". I don't know why.

[@VileVeil]

Heeheehee! I think I can guess. Can't beat a hot English strumpet on a cold winters night!

[@DaneStolthed]

According to the Oxford Dictionary a "strumpet" is a female prostitute or a promiscuous woman. Hope this sheds a little light on ol' gramps Army days...

[@jamesmedina6277]

Strumpets!

[@Rob749s]

Strumpets with honey!

[@mikhailtabigay9910]

Bill Wiltfong the

[@MrMonkeyhanger]

Got halfway through typing "That's a pikelet" and then you covered it. This really is a good channel!

[@captainreggae99]

I love how the longer the video goes on, the more carbs just keep appearing in front of these two.

[@ezekielamaterasu3462]

Here in Australia (following UK traditions), the crumpet has yeast in it and sold commercially all year round. It's kinda hard to describe the texture it's unlike muffins and scone etc. As for the tip of a cube of butter wrapped in a cloth. My mother learned that from my Irish Granny who learned from her mother. I still do that today.

[@theantipope4354]

I learnt the butter trick from my Aussie grandmother too. :)

[@DonHavjuan]

I'm in Australia and made this recipe. These ones come out slightly more bready, compared to bought ones which are a bit more glutinous - but otherwise very close to bought ones. I also added a couple of teaspoons of raw sugar to the recipe to help them brown up when toasting, which worked out well. Also found flipping them didn't work out well and closed the holes, so I ended up cooking them right through from the bottom instead (you could also grill them for a minute to harden up the top). PS I eat my crumpets with butter and Vegemite.

[@lilyandrose8557]

Fellow Australian, and my favourite topping is butter and honey, yum! Am thinking of serving them as part of a Royal Wedding arvo tea (or it will probably be supper actually). With English Breakfast tea and Robert Timms Royal Blend coffee!

[@Albinojackrussel]

My mum always taught me to rub a paper towel on the butter and then rub that on the pan. Seems to do the same thing

[@Madas4876]

Piklet is also a mini pancake..

[@NetVoyagerOne]

"Controversial Crumpets" would be a fantastic band name.

[@lorashampine2454]

Back ground singers the pippets.

[@sonofeloah]

@Rotting Corpse: Or a randy bunch of punkers, eh?

[@lottatroublemaker6130]

Controversial Trumpets? ☺️

[@joec.9591]

When I was in my 20's I had a roommate from England. He used to make the best crumpets, always served with Devonshire Cream and blackberry jam. To die for.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

That sounds yummy!

[@beaulieuc8910]

wow, what a great roommate

[@Aarenby]

Devonshire cream... What the hell is that? It's bloody Cornish.

[@yorksrover]

Weird thing is, I'm British, and not a kid. Ive been familiar with Crumpets my whole life (uniform supermarket bought ones) and not once until now have I ever wondered about their recipe. I had no idea how simple they were, and now want to try and make some of my own. lol

[@AsterixKearn]

I want to live a life where crumpets can be considered controversial.

[@sophieoshaughnessy9469]

Be careful what you wish for😉

[@hoilst]

@@sophieoshaughnessy9469 "Man cannot live on bread alone; he must have a bit of crumpet."

[@MovingOndaisy]

Life in England without a crumpet is unimaginable! In childhood, toasted on an open fire with Granny. Of course Grandad would have cheese toasted on his. We would have Jam, Honey or Golden Syrup Nowadays, there are endless combinations that can be slapped on your hot and tasty TOASTED crumpet. If you don't have a crumpet ring, use an empty tuna tin or small fruit tin with the bottom and top removed, well scrubbed. The term "crumpet" is used for this year mixture COOKED IN A RING. without the ring it's not a crumpet, because Granny told me her Granny told her in the 1800's! I now have Great Granny's recipe book. Toasting fork and Crumpet Dishes.

[@jamesgoacher1606]

@@hoilst Wish I could put up several Thumb Up.

[@Amehana]

@@MovingOndaisy That's an awesome tip, thank you. I have some egg rings that work for neither crumpet nor egg due to the way they were made (with holes at the bottom, gasp). I like to recycle and upcycle thing too so this will cut down on my footprint a tad.

[@bobp3390]

Some of my earliest memories as a child growing up in the 50's ,was toasting crumpets over the fire . Stick the crumpet onto a long wire fork and hold it close to a coal or wood fire . Then butter & jam as usual .Sure plenty of other people will have similar memories

[@spacecase7566]

bob p - what a nice memory. I bet that smelled great!

[@linseypizzuto390]

The best way to do it

[@alisonsmith4801]

At my Nana's for tea, Sunday's in the Winter, toasting crumpets in front of a roaring fire, Strawberry and Bramble jam, Lurpack butter, you couldn't beat that, and another favourite was toasted teacake amazing.

[@Talkren]

Is Kevin going to be in more videos going forward? I think you two work great together on camera and he does a great job presenting his research.

[@thecrazyhobo]

I agree. He is very informative and keeps you interested. He also seems very comfortable in front of the camera. They make a great team.

[@MrKmoconne]

I believe he is the cameraman for most of their videos. There is also an early video of Kevin making pottery on a wheel in the basement of the JTAS business property.

[@bcaye]

Agree.

[@ShanerTheGrey]

I agree!

[@ridanann]

2 men avin abit of crumpet nothing wrong with that lol 😉

[@evanhadkins5532]

In Australia pikelets are like pancakes - no yeast, and smaller than pancakes. Crumpets are bigger than pikelets and thicker.

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

There are crumpets to be had in all UK supermarkets can not believe you don't have them there!

[@StuSaville]

You can buy them in any Australian supermarket too. Delicious with butter and Vegemite or honey.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Here in the U.S., we have English muffins in EVERY grocery store....I prefer crumpets, but our English Muffins fill the same culinary niche; an edible handle for butter and jams/jellies

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

J W McCabe I’ve bought English muffins on west coast, east coast, Virginia, Hawaii, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama......where in the south are you, cause I’ve seen English muffins in the 30 states I’ve traveled, and I’ve seen crumpets in a couple states but the English muffins were for sale in the same stores the crumpets were in?

[@tangle70]

English muffins are not the same as a crumpet (at least the the ones in England or Australia). Crumpets are fluffier and denser than and English muffin. They hold butter a lot better and of course Vegemite. Just a note. We have bought Crumpets at Publix's and Trader Joe's in Tennessee. I think sometimes they have them at Kroger's.

[@ekoms108]

They have crumpets in some stores in the US. I used to have as a kid a lot.

[@DonHavjuan]

I made a batch of these just as you showed on the video, but added a couple of teaspoons of raw sugar to help them brown and toast better. I also made rings out of strips of aluminum flashing (from the hardware store - I had a role from renovating an old house). Worked out perfect!

[@catherinetrimble4883]

Thank you for that trip down memory lane! That looked almost exactly like the crumpets my gran used to make me as a little girl. Even though that was in South Africa, she was descended from a family that came over during the 18th Century from the UK. She made hers over a gas stove, & added a pinch if salt & a little sugar, but my memories are otherwise very similar. No wonder the crumpets I can buy in the shops didn't seem right. 😸

[@leighsydneychina1]

Crumpets also with butter and honey....

[@theantipope4354]

Butter & Vegemite is great on crumpets too.

[@FaenumVena]

Leigh Hincks butter and a thin slice of blue cheese is also super tasty

[@SgtSteel1]

Some ham and a nice strong cheddar. mmmm

[@lwolfstar7618]

And pikelets in Australia are small pancakes to be served with jam and cream!

[@PD62155]

Lily Wolfstar where I come from in England m we call them Pikelets

[@ValeriePallaoro]

Yeah, Lily, I think most of their problem, and the problem with the conversation in the comments is about words. Crumpets as pikelets, English muffins not muffins, pikelets as pancakes. When the other guy says pikelets are like crumpets? What a noob.

[@Kajpaje]

hurray for pikelets!

[@MuttleyVonErich00]

Yer we call small pancakes pikelettes in NZ too

[@georgecrompton8663]

@@PD62155 Yes Crumpets are thicker but basicaly the same thing

[@DeltaDonnaLynn]

Those are absolutely crumpets! Up here in Western Canada, English Crumpets are found in all the grocery stores, and are kind of a normal thing! I completely agree with slathering them with lots of butter and jam!

[@LeahLaushway]

The Crafty War Crone Yup, they're over here in Eastern Canada too.

[@NIK4EVA]

Recently moved from Eastern to Western Canada, they have them and the brand names are the same, too

[@AJen912]

The Crafty War Crone I wish I could find genuine crumpets in my local grocery stores but I usually have to settle for an import shop. Very rarely do I find them.... but my an acquired taste....And I live in New England!

[@alexgrant948]

Golden Syrup, just saying...

[@jarmstrong1931]

Same here in Ontario Canada...yum!

[@georgemorgan794]

Others have said it before but I'll say it again. Thank You for all the work, study and knowledge put into these wonderful videos!

[@mondo73]

This is a daily eaten food in Australia, even today in 2019

[@SUNDRIEDTOMATOESBraydenOlson]

4:24 fiddle tune is Jackie Tar, if anyone is interested.

[@albertrasch4793]

Gentlemen, I can not for the life of me come up with a better way to spend my time than in your company on Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. channel! I've said it many times before, where is PBS, the Learning Channel, any one of those national shows to sponsor you? Well done! Entertaining, educational, and thought provoking! AAR

[@TheGypsyVanners]

The quality is amazing. Seems like there must be so sophisticated crew and location set.

[@is-be6725]

Albert Rasch, it’s been two years since your comment. Have you found a better way to spend your time? If not, I’d like to suggest day drinking.

[@jakeofiach5044]

IS - BE I too, would like to know if Albert has found better things to do? Day drinking is a great start, but may I suggest an opiate addiction? AAR to you too, me matey

[@thecornerplot7917]

Such a charming and eloquent pirate.

[@sammoore9209]

Everyone: hows your Corona vacation going Me: good, I'm watching a guy dressed like Mel Gibson in The Patriot argue about crumpets

[@DanielGBenesScienceShows]

Sam Moore Hahaha!

[@esthermtzr4546]

Hahahahahaha i know that feel bro

[@kents.2866]

As an 18th century living historian, no reenactments this year has been killing me. So I watch Townsend videos and documentaries while I hand sew 18th C. clothing.

[@PlayaSinNombre]

Crumpet Death Match, toasting irons at twenty paces, go!

[@bubbaguy4411]

Sorry...did you misspell "griddle cakes?"

[@RichardConnor1]

Thank you both for this lovely demonstration. I have the Elizabeth David book on bread baking that was mentioned and I can recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn about English bread baking. Thanks again.

[@razorcrow2945]

Thank you so much for the type on how long to wait before flipping the crumpet. This has finally, after years of flat and rubbery pancakes, allowed me to make fluffy gluten free pancakes! I feel like a big mystery has finally been solved for me! Thanks again.

[@nicolewooldridge9683]

We eat crumpets in Australia, they have holes in them. I still love them with melted butter and pepper.

[@MaZEEZaM]

Hmm, ive never tried them that way, for me, I generally toast them then add lots of butter and either vegemite or peanut butter.

[@darkmage35]

They go great with thinly sliced cheese.

[@amazinggrace392]

But best with Vegemite. Yum yum😀😀

[@carolcripps9056]

Mmmm, crumpets, slathered in butter, alongside a steaming cup of tea. The perfect breakfast. Add eggs and bacon, and you can hear angels singing.

[@arudegesture]

*"Add eggs and bacon, and you can hear angels singing."* That'd be your arteries clogging up.... ;-)

[@GonzoTehGreat]

​@@arudegesture Shallow fried lean bacon and eggs is reasonably healthy once or twice a week. You can grill the bacon to be healthier but it doesn't taste as good.

[@elisasophiagrace6547]

@carol cripps I agree with you. I first tasted crumpets about 5 years ago and fell in love with them. I have them with butter along side my coffee.

[@insertname1667]

@misa smith also I may be wrong here but isn't American bacon (belly bacon) far more saltier than British bacon (back/shoulder) bacon?

[@InsatiableCuriosity-q9s]

Breakfast? Lunch, tea....every meal is a crumpet opportunity. What you are making IS a pikelet though. But to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with them, they’re just thinner so they’re not as spongy and don’t hold as much butter. So, they’re diet crumpets.

[@Cissy2cute]

Serve with lemon curd and clotted cream. You will be in heaven.

[@Starolfr]

Ooo!! I thought clotted cream, as well. But lemon curd...? Yum! I think that would be excellent, as well!

[@andyoli75]

Cream and strawberry jam

[@shadowblack1987]

That's how we have it in France/England when ever i'm over sea. $5-$10 gets you REALLY good tea + crumpet and clotted cream/jam. Excellent. Closest i found was a VERY expensive place in the US that cost about $30 for similar but not quite as good.

[@teganl6032]

I wish we had clotted cream in Canada, its sooooo good!

[@francispotatohead300]

Sounds good

[@cgtravers]

Kevin you are the real deal and a delight! So knowledgable. Such an asset to this channel.

[@karenzaller9659]

I really enjoy the episodes that feature cooking and background information of root words related to how and where they’re formed.

[@meatystew5088]

Here in New Zealand a Pikelet is basically a Small and slightly denser Pancake And a Crumpet is much more what you cooked.... I love them with butter and Golden Syrup or Actual maple Syrup

[@kalliste01]

Pikelet and crumpet are the same thing? Over here (Australia) a pikelet is a smaller pancake and taste nothing like crumpets.

[@TheMimiSard]

As another thread said, it's probably all regional variation - some pikelets in some places in Britain probably have more crumpet-like pikelets, while Australia took to more pancake-like pikelets.

[@sambeanland4245]

Here in yorkshire,the batter tastes the same, but pikelets are baked without a mold and much thinner just like he says. Pikelets are much rarer not sure if any factory still makes them

[@theantipope4354]

Fellow Aussie here! Yes, you're right. I've gone into detail on my own comment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIGXoZivfMh_hrs&lc=z13ksxyr0papvze1p22jg1z43vunudrnd

[@theantipope4354]

In Australia, you can buy both crumpets & pikelets/drop-scones at most supermarkets. Although I notice that pikelets are becoming rarer these days, possibly because they're very easy to make at home compared to crumpets.

[@meatystew5088]

Sam Beanland here in NZ you can still buy them in the bread Isle next to the crumpets and English muffins

[@PrimalEdge]

I know this is not necessarily a holiday episode, but you guys really know how to get someone in the holiday mood. any plans on doing an 18th Century Christmas series? not just cooking, but traditions and decorations. Colonial Williamsburg (not far from where I live) goes all out at Christmas time.... it would be a great place to film on location - hint hint :) ATB ~Michael

[@mrdanforth3744]

They did a Christmas series last year, a series of episodes where they made a complete Christmas dinner with roast turkey, cranberry tart, and even a Twelfth Night cake.

[@Wendededed]

I love how you have had fun with the controversy. I watch this show to make me feel better. Thank you so much. (Also please ignore my username - its also just a bit of fun).

[@stefaniedoloreux1044]

I come from a town in Quebec where we still have the original buckwheat mill from the 18th century! Every year there is a buckwheat pancake festival and we service the pancakes with butter and molasses! Love love love it so earthy!

[@neonsashimidream1075]

"Butter and jam on that... that's fantastic" "It's..."

[@KickyFut]

Yeah, he needs to learn video editing, so he can properly end a video! It's very jarring.😅

[@TheLurker1647]

@@KickyFut It's an homage to The Sopranos

[@feralgrandad4429]

When i was a kid in Wales my Granddad made these each morning. Heaps of Jam, this took me back, thank you.

[@beaulieuc8910]

Wonderful, what a great memory

[@AlanFrance21]

My wife [English] makes crumpets with the same recipe she got off her granny. She uses steel crumpet rings with a little side handle to get the depth and tells me without a ring - it's a pikelet. We never eat them with anything but butter.

[@nope3263]

Thanks for the insight, very interesting!

[@janonthemtn]

Please, her recipe?

[@bridgets.6464]

Try golden syrup, or marmite. I love them with butter, but it gets boring after the second or third one...

[@wertyleigh]

Marmite, most definitely. Butter and marmite while the crumpets are still hot =D

[@fortbumper]

Probably crumpets and tea was a dainty affair. ONE crumpet, with a CUP of tea, not a giant "gulp" mug we have today!

[@sdfsdfsdfsdsdfsf8468]

Love your show any time dude Please keep them coming

[@jacksimper5725]

Nice clear instructions along with good history snippets and quotes . Ideal .

[@skullduggery1096]

I used to work at Tilleys crumpet factory Cheltenham UK,the place has closed down now,pity nice crumpets,used to make 1ft to 18inch crumpets which made wicked frisbes,light and floaty.Crumpet is also English slang for women,,ie, there's a nice bit of crumpet.

[@MrsOutlawCaliber]

When I grew up my mom would make something like that but add veggies to it and we had it for breakfast ....my parents are from portugal.

[@JW_Steed]

Here in UK we do, as you mentioned earlier, use rings to make crumpets. I think we'd all be slightly shocked if that came to the table - we'd never assume they were pancakes, through - our pancakes are very thin - not quite as thin as French pancakes (usually, though we have those too!) but much, MUCH thinner than US. Question - we only started getting English muffins here over last few years - they were never a thing here. Do you happen to know whether they came from here to you and then back to us, or if they were a US invention that was called 'English'?

[@mswoolysheep123]

Matdy James it was a little of both. The inventor of the English muffin, Samuel Bath Thomas, came to the US from England in the 1870's. He then opened a bakery and started making what he called "toaster crumpets". So the concept has gone full circle now.

[@ShaunshankRedemption]

yeah, i think mcdonalds is responsible for bringing muffins over here

[@JW_Steed]

ShaunshankRedemption Right?? I am pretty sure that was the first time I saw them - a MacD's advert.

[@JW_Steed]

Kristi Johnson Fascinating. Many thanks for the reply!

[@KairuHakubi]

"english muffins" were originally called muffins, they were invented in the US by a guy who had just recently come from england, and were obviously just a variant on crumpets made in a different way. but they have their own history too.. it's weirdly complicated.

[@missmaryh6932]

In England Crumpets are had with tea, and are a lovely treat. Ordinarily with butter soft cheese or Marmite. Sometimes preserves or honey or lemon curd. I love the video very well done.

[@beaulieuc8910]

I am just making some in the UK now. Our family has been brought up on 'supermarket' crumpets, so I am looking forward to seeing the difference. It was good to know about the buckwheat. I am adding some ginger, poppy seed and cinnamon for an autumn crumpet #england I don't know why crumpets are always so plain. We would have them normally for tea when the family get together, but because people at work during that time, we have them for breakfast too. We tend to have them with jam, but they are nice with Nutella.

[@lwolfstar7618]

They still are eaten in Australia, lovely with butter and honey or butter and vegemite, even peanut butter or jam ^_^

[@katblack]

And we use the term "pikelet" in AU for a small, soft pancake (no yeast), usually served cold and buttered.

[@moniquem783]

Lily Wolfstar love them with butter and Vegemite 😁🤤

[@kevinthomas4180]

I want to try some of those yeast extracts so badly. Apparently you either love it or hate it from what I have heard.

[@DiGi377]

Pikelets in Australia are made from a batter of eggs, self rising flour milk and a little sugar. Basically mini American pancakes but served cold spread with butter and sweet topping - honey/jam etc

[@moniquem783]

Damnpunk 78 I’ll have to buy some and try that! I love cheese and Vegemite so pretty certain it’ll be great!

[@Larry]

Love crumpets for breakfast, get them in a pack of 8 at the supermarket and throw them in the toaster, quick easy breakfast. They do giant ones now too!

[@kana22693]

Alternatively make some batter the night before and let it sit in the fridge, you can cook a crumpet in like 5 minutes so depending on how many rings you own you might actually finish cooking all of them in one batch.

[@beaulieuc8910]

you can make giant ones too.

[@jessicacanfield5408]

Where do you live

[@bluey1610]

The giant ones are so good

[@42paparia42]

Hello you!

[@theshevirgo]

I’ve only had a crumpet once and it was delicious. A friend had a Tea Party and had crumpets with clotted cream.

[@madgardener5820]

Just made some. They need salt and I put salted butter on mine. Probably too much salt for these days but it worked and they are good. Home made raspberry jam went well with them too. Thank you Kevin and John Happy new year

[@maggimadison9253]

For better results ALWAYS add your yeast to your hot water FIRST to activate it. You will curdle your milk and scramble that egg if you add it hot to the milk without slowly tempering it. Next time try slowly adding the hot water and yeast mixture into your milk and you’ll get lighter and fluffier crumpets or tea cakes. I love your channel but technique is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to baking lol. Happy cooking and thank you for all the videos

[@nurmaybooba]

that butter in a cloth will enter my kitchen was a genius idea! It is so like DUH!

[@akatsuki6371]

The equivalent: Oil and paper towel is another duh that you see in asian kitchens but I've never seen my family do it

[@kanethompson708]

👌

[@bobayala9376]

Great job guys, very fascinating. I think a little salt would have gone a long way to have made these taste better

[@ellenspear50]

I've been living in New Zealand for awhile, and their pikelets seem to me to be the same as a pancake, perhaps a smaller pancake.

[@cosettelewallen4281]

YES! Hello Kevin! You’re awesome! ...not that Jon isn’t lol but we see him more. I am not getting tired of watching the two of you at all. Keep it going.

[@joetjoebie60]

Thank you both. You're so British and Laurel and Hardy at the same time. I laugh about your kitchen show, the outfit and that little witch broom, used by Cook Townsends. I'm definitely going to bake crumpets and make the Dutchies around me salivate. Is that the right word for mouthwatering? By the way, my mother, born in Frisia, told us about the fields with buckwheat in the North of The Netherlands. It must've been used for livestock as well, for Frisia had cattle and agriculture to grow food for both animals and humans. I remember we were eating roughly ground buckwheat porridge, with milk, served with butter and molasses, called "stroop" in Dutch. The dish is called "Boekweitgrutjes met stroop" in Dutch. We children, made a heap of it, with a hole on top, like a crater, and the "stroop" was placed inside the caldera. Hahaha, I can't help laughing with this fond memory. The butter was placed on the side and I remember the delicious taste of the cold butter & the buckwheat served hot.

[@abdalhadifitouri131]

I liked adding Kevin in on this

[@nessynoonah]

We love crumpets Down Under ... With melted butter and honey! Mmmm :)

[@theantipope4354]

Try them with butter & Vegemite. I always make a couple that way, & another one or two with jam or honey.

[@stevenolan1047]

Butter, honey, vegemite and cheese. Don't buck it till you try it!

[@kettle2293]

Golden syrup.

[@misterkaos.357]

Crumpets with vegemite and cannabutter! Mmmm mmm!

[@crumpetgang1433]

Never put them down there Ness, its a real pain to get out. Check my channel for tips on getting the most out of your crumpet experience.

[@cmasailor]

Kind of an abrupt end there eh? Thanks for the vid guys, class act

[@looow]

I am probably the furthest person for this type of channel's demographic but for some reason I can't stop watching these. It feels so relaxing and authentic and pure and unsullied by the usual YT nonsense. I don't even really have an interest in history! I feel like I'm learning a lot, though.

[@HubsByG]

Crumpets and Pikelets have become one and the same. "Pikelet" seems to now be a regional term. But they are all labeled as Crumpets in the shops whether they are freeform, round or "toaster friendly" square. I love them with a good quality butter. Simple and perfect. Great video.

[@juantransportador]

I love this channel, is important for the next generation, I'm 48 years old and I tried some of this food, yes is different and the flavors are different but I love it.

[@royperkins3851]

Fighting over terminology is one of the funniest things about our language and culture, English in all of it's many forms never stops confounding it's practitioners .For those of us who love her she is our mother tongue who embraces us but never fails to lash out and confuse the hell out of us! Biscuit, crumpet,muffin all of these were mixed sometimes in short distance, love my language!

[@kristinvernon49]

I grew up in a part of West Virginia where we actually have a buckwheat Festival it's amazing

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

Something of an abrupt ending hahah, great video guys. I haven't sampled these old style ones, but yeah I love the modern crumpets we have today (I am from Somerset in England). The recipe doesn't use eggs or milk anymore, and are much taller due to being cooked inside the circular form.

[@douglasgrant8315]

Hi James I hope you will read this.. I tried the amounts that Kevin had prescribed and it all came out more like pancakes.. so I reduced the amount of liquid to half a cup of cold milk and also hot water and one egg..mixed well and then added the 2 teaspoons yeast.. Let set for an hour then the desired amount of flour.. in this case its almost 2 cups... the texture to be not a pudding but to be a sticky dough batter, but pour worthy... this method I believe what the original recipe is calling for... She does say to add flour to a more than a pudding consistency.. the best I can describe the consistency... Though the recipe says to let the batter run out to a small size pancake I used an egg ring to make it look more conformed... In doing all this it came out more like english muffins yet the hole pockets are still lacking... They still taste more like pancakes though

[@Songbirdstress]

Pikelet is what they call it in the North of England, it's a regional thing. My grandmother from Cheshire said crumpet, my grandfather from Lancashire said pikelet.

[@georgecrompton8663]

I'm from Lancashire and to me a Pikelet is a cruumpet made without a ring so it's thinner we have crumpets and pikelets.

[@KaosSchmoo]

I appreciate that crumpets aren't an American thing, but for the British and New Zealand and Australia that are a thing at every supermarket, very common and everyone knows what they are and they are entirely dissimilar to an english muffin, which is a kind of bread, whereas a crumpet is a kind of yeast pancake/pikelet.

[@tonyyoung6951]

Even in UK the same food will have different names in one region to another.

[@hellothere7553]

Today in New Zealand a pikelet is a thickish sweetish pancake batter with baking powder as its raising agent and dropped in spoonfuls onto a greased griddle and turned to cook both sides evenly. Wonderful freshly made with jam and whipped cream.

[@sadonion4378]

its so funny that things i eat on a weekly basis are completely new to you guys in the states, even though they have been around for hundreds of years and we share so much in common

[@donaldasayers]

Great with butter and Marmite.

[@rossuk123]

that's my favourite crumpet especially with a big glass of milk :)

[@RalphReagan]

Not marmite!

[@elliotvernon7971]

Marmite with a crumpet is a delight.

[@sevenandthelittlestmew]

Elliot Vernon to this day, the only way I can eat marmite is in small quantities on top of butter (on bread or muffins, obvs). Marmite and butter together are mmmmmm.

[@Nexus-ub4hs]

I love marmite but just no, no 😂

[@mickleblade]

in England any supermarket will stock round crumpets, and they're cheap too. I've made pikelets many times and it's the same damn thing! I'd like to buy a steel form and go upmarket...

[@jedi7up]

Use a wide mouth canning jar lid.

[@joannegray5138]

My mother and grandma always called crumpets pikelets. We used to toast them on our coal fire when I was little.

[@robinlillian9471]

Very clever & much cheaper.

[@nasse93]

make crumpets often and made myself stainless steel rings to cook them in, but, i find that the thicker they are the harder it is to get the correct bubbly texture, so now i stick to free form.

[@felixfrederickarchery877]

Loved the video, definitely will have to try this recipe and as a Brit, I love my crumpets

[@damatt9429]

Felix Freidrick Archery Loads of marmite and loads of butter 😂😂

[@TheMimiSard]

My mother has a tale from her 20s of a roommate who loved her crumpets with Marmite on them (Australian/NZ Marmite). The roommate thought Mum was weird for eating them with honey, while Mum thought her odd for eating them with Marmite.

[@felixfrederickarchery877]

Just Jill D I'm a butter man myself but I am partial to clotted cream and lemon curd/marmalade (I'm not a fan of jams)

[@jadedbelle4788]

golden syrup for me. mmmm so good

[@Robutube1]

...and the super indulgent, completely non-traditional butter and peanut butter combo for me! Deep in winter, on a Sunday afternoon, roaring fire and a cup of tea...mmmmm :-).

[@stell66]

I live in New Zealand, here a pikelet batter has sugar in it, enough to make it a sweet batter, the sugar and the egg are beaten until they are a thick foam, then milk and flour added, whereas a crumpet is made with yeast and has no sugar(or only enough to activate the yeast), and as you say is made with a ring to maintain an even shape and height. Thanks for the history lesson (we were settled by Europeans in the 1840’s onwards - wonder if that made a difference to our cooking traditions?

[@ehowiehowie7850]

Hello from the UK (southeast England) - crumpets are often eaten for breakfast with jam (strawberry)& butter

[@MikeBaxterABC]

Intersting!! ... I had NO idea regarding the "Lack of Crumpets" :) ... In Canada they are available every where ... even the local gas bar literally, has Crumpets in the bread section! :) Have to disagree though! ... An English Muffin (besides its round shape) is nothing like a Crumpet!

[@zochbuppet448]

Canada is a very big place, with no two regions alike

[@helenbrown8572]

I am called 'the crumpet fairy' in our family as I somehow make them disappear every time I go into the kitchen! Btw do u guys ever do videos on making the clothes u wear? Im loving the aprons...!

[@mr.somebody1493]

I love crumpets...and this channel...

[@od1401]

Crumpets are readily available in grocery stores here in the UK. I love the hell out of them. They're spongy and squidgy whilst being crispy on the outside toasted, and incredible soaker of melted butter. Also great is toasting or grilling them, and melting cheese on them with some pepper or garlic pepper and perhaps with a tomato slice on top.

[@leoniesableblanc]

Crumpets are very popular in UK. My local shop makes them in different shapes depending on the time of year, so hearts for valentines and bunnies for Easter. Lovely with honey on or if you like it, marmite for a savoury one

[@sammin101]

The Staffordshire Oatcake deserves a mention here too. As it and it’s relatives are flat and somewhat holey griddlebreads. Generally a savoury item, often picked up at a butchers, and a staple of my breakfasts. (Also id call what you made a pikelet)

[@johnpetley-jones9563]

It's its.

[@sammin101]

john petley-jones Sharing a passion for food is more fun than hunting errant apostrophes

[@zappawoman5183]

We call those thin, flat, crumpets "pikelets", at least in Birm, UK.

[@stefanpuszka8173]

And in Leicester

[@ValeriePallaoro]

If they're pikelets, it's not crumpets. Crumpets is what they end up with. Pikelets are teeny pancakes

[@janeemerson7879]

Yep these are pikelets crumpets have sides!

[@Abigail-hu5wf]

Pikelets in Australia are tiny pancakes, made with sugar in the batter

[@VampireJack10]

Grimsby too.

[@SirRobinDeSway]

In England crumpets are eaten basically at tea time and in the cold weather months only...eaten hot toasted with butter and jam and a big mug of tea. Try that on a dark december afternoon after a long walk! Crumpets are always made with "crumpet rings" (you showed one on screen) so they can remain round but be thick enough to split for toasting. Otherwise all commercial bakers make them too but sell them ready to toast. Hot, sweet, easy to make...no wonder in England "crumpet" is also a slang term for a sexy girl...sometimes a "bit of crumpet" etc. Brainy and sexy? "the thinking man's bit of crumpet" etc etc etc. NOT disrespectful, though

[@janebooth3751]

Why do you only eat them in the cold weather months? Most of us eat them all year round. Also, you don't split crumpets for toasting.

[@aussieauntynette6892]

Crumpets are a type of bread (ie: the yeast os important). Pikelets are a small pancake (no yeast) but slightly thicker batter) the flour is usually 50/50 plain flour and Self-raising flour (the one with baking powder in it). Not uncommon for them to be referred to as drop scones. Traditionally served with jam and cream, like scones. They taste TOTALLY different. You know that the pikelets are a sweet dessert, almost cake-ish taste but the crumpets are a definite bread type taste. We have been making these all our lives. When the crumpets are toasted, we butter them hot and often will put a drizzle of honey or a bit of jam on. Yummm. We do also use them for savoury spreads and sometimes have our eggs on top, when the runny bit goes into the holes, yum. Great with melted cheese on top. Most bread-type applications can be used for crumpets. Here in Australia, we love them with buttered hot with Vegemite spread on top. Love your channel, love the cooking, love all the other projects you've got posted. Currently making an outdoor bread/pizza/cooking oven and attempting a timber hut (you have some great hints). Thank you, God bless you all and stay safe 🙏🦘🇦🇺🦘

[@sightblack]

After watching this video, I can assure you there is a North American variation of this recipe with confidence. I grew up in Helenwood, Tennessee. My mother made this recipe, often to accompany a main entree of pinto beans. She called them "flitters". If you google flitter bread, I think we'll be on the same page. Awesome video, as usual!

[@KairuHakubi]

for the longest time I thought crumpets were the same as english muffins, then I found out the cooking process differs considerably.. though it's obvious they're meant to be similar

[@adelehammond1621]

its not they are incredibly different

[@duallove6909]

I lived in the UK for 4 years. I loved British breads and cheeses. I even got addicted to marmite. God I miss the UK 😔

[@crumpetgang1433]

yeah same soundcloud.com/crumpetgang/crumpalicious-prod-crumpet-gang

[@Hrafnhistorical]

You guys are pretty good, Crumpet Gang.

[@KryssLaBryn]

Marmite is fantastic on toast. :D I think where people usually go wrong with it is they put too much on, but it's so strongly flavoured you just want the barest scrape across the surface. One of those small pots will last you forever!! If you're anywhere near Canada, a lot of stereotypically British food is carried in stores here as well, including marmite. Come up for a shopping trip! :)

[@helenbrown8572]

Can you not come back to the UK?? I love living here 😊 born and raised!

[@JJtastic]

I like Kevin! he's really knowledgeable

[@nancyreid8729]

So glad he survived the preserved smelts.

[@AIRSOFTRAIDERS1]

Nancy Reid what

[@pesnevim1626]

When I was a student in Manchester we lived on potato cakes and crumpets with toasted cheese on top and then baked beans in top of that. Still like it now. Nice recipe. Thanks.

[@skullduggery1096]

I used to work in a very old established crumpet factory in Cheltenham,UK.They were called Tilleys crumpets,We used to make giant crumpets prattling about,they make wicked frisbees,very aero dynamic,crumpets,love them,especially with a slice of smokey bacon,and some black pudding,delicious..