Spelt Crumpets with Salted Honey Butter Recipe

Name: Fluffy Spelt Crumpets with Salted Honey Butter
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 300 g whole spelt flour; 350 ml whole milk; 100 ml water; 2 tsp instant yeast; 1 tsp caster sugar; 1/2 tsp fine salt; 1/4 tsp baking soda; 2 tbsp neutral oil; 115 g unsalted butter; 3 tbsp honey; 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt

Yeasted spelt batter, cooked in rings until bubbly and full of holes

Crumpet batter bubbling inside metal rings on a nonstick skillet, small holes forming across the pale, matte surface

Spelt crumpets with salted honey butter start with a yeasted batter that rests until it turns light and bubbly.

The spelt flour keeps the crumb soft, with a faint nutty taste that plain flour doesn’t give.

You cook the batter in metal rings on the stovetop, so each crumpet holds its shape and rises straight up. The surface fills with small holes as it cooks, the classic sign a crumpet is ready to flip.

The salted honey butter takes three ingredients and five minutes. It melts into the warm holes and pools at the edges, so every bite carries some sweetness and some salt.

You can mix the batter the night before and let it rise slowly in the fridge, or cook a full batch and freeze half for a weekday breakfast.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Batter rests once, then cooks in under 25 minutes
Cooks in rings for neat, even shapes
Salted honey butter takes five minutes to make
Cooked crumpets freeze well for quick breakfasts

Ingredient Notes

spelt flour: Whole grain spelt gives a nutty flavor and soft crumb. White spelt flour works too, for a lighter texture.
milk: Warm to lukewarm before mixing with yeast. Oat milk works as a dairy-free swap, though the crumb turns slightly denser.
instant yeast: No separate proofing needed, just whisk it straight into the warm liquid with the sugar.
baking soda: Folded in after the first rise, it gives the batter extra lift and helps open up the holes.
honey: Raw or set honey both work well here. Set honey gives the butter a slightly firmer texture once chilled.
flaky sea salt: Use Maldon-style flakes for the butter. Table salt dissolves too fast and can taste sharp instead of balanced.

Print Recipe

Easy

Fluffy Spelt Crumpets with Salted Honey Butter

Difficulty: Easy Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 25 mins Rest Time 60 mins Total Time 1 hr 40 mins

Cooking Temp: 160 C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 0.90 Calories: 594

Best Season: all_year_round

Dietary:

C Contains Dairy C Contains gluten (spelt) V Vegetarian

Description

This crumpet batter rests for an hour so the yeast can build bubbles, giving spelt crumpets their signature holes and soft chew.

Instructions

Make the Batter

Warm the milk and water together until lukewarm, about 37 C / 100 F. Whisk in the yeast and sugar, then let sit for 8 to 10 minutes until foamy on top.
Whisk the spelt flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and whisk until you have a smooth, thick batter, similar to pancake batter.
Cover the bowl and let the batter rise at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes, until it looks bubbly and has roughly doubled.
Dissolve the baking soda in 2 tablespoons of warm water and fold it into the risen batter. The batter will loosen slightly and look aerated.

Cook the Crumpets

Heat a 30 cm / 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and brush lightly with oil. Grease the inside of 3 crumpet rings (8 cm / 3-inch) with oil and set them in the skillet.
Ladle about 60 ml of batter into each ring, filling it halfway. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the surface is covered in small holes and looks matte and set, not wet.
Lift off the rings, then flip each crumpet with a spatula. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the top turns pale golden.
Transfer the cooked crumpets to a wire rack. Regrease the rings and repeat with the remaining batter, cooking in batches of 3 so the skillet isn't crowded.

Make the Salted Honey Butter

Beat the softened butter with the honey and flaky salt in a small bowl until smooth and pale. Taste and add a touch more salt if you like a sharper contrast.

Serve

Split or toast the crumpets lightly. Spread with the salted honey butter while warm, so it melts into the holes, and serve right away.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories 594kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g19%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Cholesterol 30mg10%
Sodium 465mg20%
Potassium 400mg12%
Total Carbohydrate 58g20%
Dietary Fiber 6g24%
Sugars 7g
Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 240 IU
Calcium 120 mg
Iron 2 mg
Vitamin D 10 IU
Vitamin E 1 mg
Vitamin K 2 mcg
Thiamin 0.15 mg
Riboflavin 0.2 mg
Niacin 2 mg
Vitamin B6 0.1 mg
Folate 20 mcg
Vitamin B12 0.2 mcg
Phosphorus 200 mg
Magnesium 70 mg
Zinc 1 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Additional Notes

Let the batter rest a full hour for the deepest holes.
Test heat with one crumpet before cooking the full batch.
Grease rings between every batch to stop sticking.
Cook only 3 rings at a time so the skillet isn't crowded.

Keywords: spelt crumpets, salted honey butter, spelt breakfast, homemade crumpets

Equipment

8 cm / 3-inch crumpet rings
30 cm / 12-inch nonstick skillet
mixing bowls
whisk
ladle
wire rack

Tips

Warm the milk and water to lukewarm, about 37 C / 100 F, since hot liquid kills the yeast before it works.
Grease the crumpet rings well each time, since a dry ring sticks and tears the crumpet when you lift it off.
Wait until the batter looks fully bubbled and matte on top before flipping, since a wet surface means it needs more time.
Cook over medium-low heat only, since too hot a pan burns the base before the holes fully set.
Soften the butter fully before mixing in the honey, or the two won't blend into a smooth, even spread.

Variations

Swap 2 tablespoons of the flour for cocoa powder and add a pinch of cinnamon for a spiced version.
Stir orange or lemon zest into the honey butter for a citrus lift instead of plain salted honey.
Use white spelt flour instead of whole grain for a lighter crumpet with a milder, less nutty taste.

Storage and Reheating

Store cooled crumpets in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze cooked crumpets in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months.

Reheat crumpets straight from the fridge or freezer in a toaster or under the grill for 2 to 3 minutes, until the holes turn golden and the center feels warm. Keep the salted honey butter in the fridge for up to 1 week and let it soften at room temperature before spreading.

Serving Suggestions

Serve spelt crumpets warm, straight from the toaster, with the salted honey butter melting into the holes.

Add a soft-boiled egg and grilled tomatoes for a fuller breakfast plate, or pair with fresh berries for something lighter.

For afternoon tea, cut crumpets into quarters and serve plain alongside a pot of tea.

File under homemade crumpets salted honey butter spelt breakfast spelt crumpets

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:

Why don't my spelt crumpets have holes on top?

Holes form when the batter has enough gas from the yeast and baking soda, and the skillet sits at the right heat. If your crumpets came out flat, the batter may not have risen long enough, or the heat was too high and set the surface before bubbles could rise. Rest the batter a full hour and keep the skillet at medium-low.

Can I use plain flour instead of spelt flour for crumpets?

Yes, plain flour works if you don't have spelt, though the crumb tastes milder and slightly less nutty. Spelt flour also holds a bit more liquid, so you may need 1 to 2 tablespoons less milk with plain flour to keep the same batter thickness. The holes and texture stay much the same either way.

Can I freeze spelt crumpets after cooking?

Yes, cooked crumpets freeze well for up to 2 months in a sealed freezer bag. Cool them fully first and freeze in a single layer so they don't stick together. Reheat straight from frozen in a toaster for a few extra minutes, until the holes turn golden and the center feels warm.

What goes well with spelt crumpets besides honey butter?

A soft-boiled egg or grilled tomatoes turn spelt crumpets into a fuller breakfast plate. Fresh berries or a spoon of yogurt work if you want something lighter. For afternoon tea, cut the crumpets into quarters and serve plain alongside a pot of tea.

Are spelt crumpets gluten-free?

No, spelt crumpets are not gluten-free. Spelt is a wheat relative and contains gluten, so this recipe isn't suitable for anyone avoiding gluten completely. If you need a gluten-free version, swap in a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend, though the holes may turn out smaller.

What's the difference between crumpets and English muffins?

Crumpets are cooked only on one side in a ring, giving a flat top full of holes and a spongy underside, while English muffins are flipped and baked through on both sides. Spelt crumpets stay soft all the way through instead of forming the drier, more bread-like crumb of a muffin.

Fluffy Spelt Crumpets with Salted Honey Butter

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ingredient Notes

Fluffy Spelt Crumpets with Salted Honey Butter

Description

Ingredients

Crumpet Batter

Salted Honey Butter