Gluten-Free English Muffins

Step 1

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup (180 ml) of the warm water (100-110 degrees F / 38-43 C) and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Whisk in the yeast and let it bloom on the counter for 10 minutes until frothy. If it doesn’t foam, start over — your water may have been too hot or the packet of yeast was expired.

Step 2

Once the yeast has bloomed, whisk in ground chia seeds and let the mixture gel for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, 1/3 cup (30 g) of the oat flour, and salt.

Step 3

Add the wet ingredients to the center of the dry and stir together with a wooden spoon — it should turn into a thick and dense bread dough. You can knead with your hands for a few minutes to thoroughly combine. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for one hour in a warm spot.

Step 4

Once the dough has risen, measure out the remaining 1/4 cup (60 ml) of warm water (100-110 degrees F / 38-43 C) and add the baking powder to the warm water to dissolve. Add the water mixture to the dough and mix with a wooden spoon or hand mixer until all lumps are broken up. It should be thick and sticky. Let this mixture rest again for 30 minutes in a warm spot covered with a kitchen towel.

Step 5

While the dough rests, prepare a baking sheet by sprinkling 1 Tbsp (19 g) of cornmeal evenly across it, and preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C). Once rested, add the remaining 1/3 cup (30 g) of oat flour to the dough and stir with a wooden spoon. It should be thick and semi-sticky, but not so wet that it sticks badly to your hands. If it is too sticky, add oat flour 1 tsp at a time until you can handle the dough. At this time, you can choose to make your English muffins right away, or transfer the dough to the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.

Step 6

To make the muffins, divide the dough into 6 even pieces and shape them into flat, round English muffin shapes, about 3 inches wide and 1/2-inch thick. Place the prepared dough onto the baking sheet on top of the cornmeal. When all the dough is shaped into English muffins, sprinkle the remaining 1 Tbsp cornmeal over top of them, aiming for even distribution.

Step 7

Add 1 tsp avocado oil to a cast iron skillet, griddle, or non-stick pan and turn on medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, turn it down to medium heat and add as many English muffins as you can. It is helpful to use a metal spatula to quickly pick up the English muffin dough from the baking sheet and flip it into the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side, being careful not to burn. Flip and cook for 3-4 minutes on the second side, then remove from the skillet and place back on the baking sheet. Repeat until all muffins have been cooked in the skillet. Place the baking sheet of cooked muffins in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the outside is very firm and crusty and they sound somewhat hollow when tapped.

Step 8

Remove the English muffins from the oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Instead of cutting the muffins, use a fork to poke into the side of each English muffin all the way around until it can be easily pulled apart. Serve immediately with jam and butter of choice, or toast for extra crispy goodness! Leftovers keep well in an airtight container for 2 days at room temperature and reheat best in a toaster.