Whole Wheat English Muffins

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 3 cups whole wheat flour, plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup nonfat milk
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal, as needed

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle yeast over warm (about 105°f is ideal) water and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• 2 in a large bowl, mix flour(s) and salt.
• 3 in a separate bowl, mix milk, oil and honey. add egg and stir until well blended. stir in the yeast mixture.
• 4 add liquid to about half of the dry ingredients and mix well, with a stand mixer or by hand. mix in remaining dry ingredients. dough will be soft and somewhat sticky.
• 5 turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead for several minutes. if too sticky to knead, add flour, a tablespoon at a time.
• 6 put dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let rise in a warm place (see tip) until doubled in size. rising time will depend on temperature; allow about 1 hour.
• 7 turn risen dough out onto a work surface that has been liberally dusted with cornmeal and pat or roll to about 1/2" thick. cut into approximately 3 inch rounds with a cookie cutter, tin can, or jar lid. if you wish, combine the scraps of dough into more muffins, handling as little as possible. cover the muffins with a towel and let rise for 20-30 minutes.
• 8 heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. sprinkle with corn meal. using a spatula, carefully transfer muffins to hot griddle. cook about 5 minutes on each side, turn and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. outsides should be golden brown and crusty, insides should be soft, but not gooey. you might need to sacrifice a muffin or two as doneness tests.
• 9 remove to cooling rack as they finish cooking. cook the rest in batches.
• 10 english muffins are traditionally split open with a fork, rather than cut, and then toasted, but they will be good however you do it.
• 11 tip: to create a warm place for rising dough, microwave a glass of water for 2 minutes then put the bowl of dough into the microwave with the hot water. heat from the water will provide an appropriate temperature--and the dough does not need to be covered, since it will not dry on the surface in this humid environment.