By Wendy Stoltz and Florina Dobre / Last Modified On February 19, 2023

Watch our instructional video on how to make these gluten-free English muffins:

Homemade Gluten-Free English Muffins are a million times better than anything you can buy in the store. Use this recipe to make them quickly and easily. 

GLUTEN-FREE ENGLISH MUFFINS RECIPE

A warm, toasted gluten-free English muffin spread with butter and jam is one of the little things in life that brings so much joy. 

It's like toast, but somehow more special. English muffins are dense and light at the same time, with craggy bits that crisp up in the toaster and pockets of air that hold on to every bit of that butter you spread on. It's the nooks and crannies that make a perfect English muffin for me! 

CAN YOU BUY GLUTEN-FREE ENGLISH MUFFINS?

You have a few options if you're looking to buy gluten-free English muffins at the grocery store or online. Plan to pay $5-9 for a six-pack. Some options include:

• New Grains Gluten-Free English Muffins
• Katz Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins
• Bedrock Bakers Allergen Free English Muffins
• Food for Life Multi-Seed Organic GF English Muffins
• Udi's Gluten-Free English Muffins

Making your own homemade English muffins with gluten-free flour, yeast, and a few other common ingredients is not only a less expensive option, but it's also the most delicious one. No store-bought muffin will ever taste as good as the ones you're about to make.  

If you've been looking, you probably noticed that there are a few different types of gluten-free English Muffin recipes available out there. The main difference that I notice is that some of them start with a loose batter and are cooked in molds, while others like this one are made using a heavier dough that is shaped by hand.

The recipes that use a batter are actually more of what I would expect a gluten-free crumpet recipe to look like. 

This easy-to-handle soft dough recipe means that you won't need any fancy equipment to make perfectly round and thick gluten-free English Muffins. You just need a rolling pin and a biscuit cutter. This recipe is super easy once you get the method down. 

This recipe for gluten-free English muffins is egg-free, and can be converted into a dairy-free one very easily. 

The best part about making English Muffins? You don't even need to turn on the oven! These are cooked entirely on the stovetop. 

INGREDIENTS IN GLUTEN-FREE ENGLISH MUFFINS

All-purpose Gluten Free Flour - We like to make these recipes so that you have options when it comes to the type of flour you use to make them. For breads, the flour that is going to give results most similar to wheat flour is a general all-purpose baking flour that is meant to be used in a 1:1 ratio. Some examples include Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour, King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour, and Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour. You can also mix up your own gluten free flour blend using our recipe. 

Xantham Gum - If your flour blend does not have this in it already, you'll want to add some. This is what gives gluten-free doughs stretch and allows them to hold together. 

Sugar and Salt - Flour doesn't have any flavor on its own, so we have to give it a little help. 

Instant Yeast - This recipe was developed using instant yeast, so that's what you should use. We haven't tested it with regular yeast. 

Milk - Using milk as the liquid in this dough is part of what gives these gluten-free English muffins their soft texture. You want the milk to be warmed to about 105°F, or slightly higher than body temperature. This will activate the yeast quickly. 

Melted Butter - To add richness and more flavor. Unsalted butter is best. 

Cornmeal - Adding this coarsely ground corn to the bottoms of the English muffins keeps them from sticking to the pan. 

To make this recipe dairy free, use your favorite plant-based milk and butter in place of the dairy items here. 

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. 

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE ENGLISH MUFFINS

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
2. Add the milk and melted butter, and mix using a hand mixer fitted with dough hook beaters for about 5 minutes, or until the dough comes together. You could also accomplish this in a stand mixer. The dough should be uniform, but fairly wet. This is exactly what you want!
3. Place the dough into a well-greased bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm area for 2 hours. 
4. Once the dough has doubled in size, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about a half-inch thick.
5. Use a round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, or a glass to cut out circles. You can press the scraps together and make circles out of them after your first round of cut-outs. 
6. Cover a sheet pan with wax paper and sprinkle the paper with some of the cornmeal. Place the dough rounds on top, and sprinkle with additional cornmeal. Cover the tray and let the English muffins rise for 30 minutes. 
7. Heat a large skillet (cast iron is the best for this) over medium heat. Grease the pan lightly with butter or oil and then sprinkle the surface with cornmeal. Add the English muffins and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown. You will need to cook these in batches, so be sure to clean out the pan in between. 
8. Remove the muffins from the skillet and allow them to cool fully before splitting with a fork and enjoying. 

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.

WHAT DOES FORK SPLIT MEAN?

To get "nooks and crannies" you want to fork split the English muffins rather than slicing them with a knife. Store-bought English muffins typically come like this already. Simply take a regular fork and poke deep holes into the side of each muffin, all the way around. Then gently tear through those perforations.

CAN I MAKE ENGLISH MUFFINS ON A GRIDDLE?

Yes, you can use any large skillet or griddle that you like to cook on. If you use a griddle, you may be able to cook the whole batch at the same time. I like to use seasoned cast iron to make these, as it retains heat really well and gives the muffins a beautifully browned crust. 

CAN THESE BE FROZEN? 

Yes, gluten-free English muffins freeze very well. Freeze them when they are fresh so that they'll be fresh when you enjoy them later. 

Fork split the muffins, then wrap them individually with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped muffins in a freezer bag or container, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

To thaw, remove the frozen English muffin from the wrapping and microwave for 15 seconds or so until it's no longer solid. Then toast it up and enjoy!

Did you make this Gluten-Free English Muffin recipe? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you thought!

Continue to Content

Yield: 6 muffins

Gluten-Free English Muffins

Print

Homemade Gluten Free English Muffins are a million times better than anything you can buy in the store. Use this recipe to make them from scratch quickly and easily. 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Proofing/Rising Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons xanthan gum (Only add this if your flour blend does NOT include it already)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 2 cups whole milk, warm
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• ¼ cup cornmeal, or more as needed

Instructions

1. In a large bowl whisk flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Using a mixer beat in the milk and melted butter for 5 minutes or until the dough comes together.
2. Place the dough into a well-greased bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Place the dough in a warm area for 2 hours. 
3. Once the dough is ready and has doubled in size, roll on a lightly floured surface to about ½ inch thick. Cut round with a cookie cutter or a round glass. Sprinkle the cornmeal on waxed paper and place the dough rounds on top. Dust the tops with cornmeal, cover, and let it rise for 30 minutes.
4. Heat a greased skillet over medium heat. Cook the muffins on the hot skillet until lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes per side, until they get golden brown. 
5. Remove the muffins from the skillet and allow them to cool fully before splitting and toasting.

Notes

• This should work with your favorite gluten free flour blend, but we suggest using a rice flour based one to get light and airy English muffins. Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour, King Aurthur Measure for Measure Flour, and Cup 4 Cup are good options, as are either of our DIY flour blends.
• Add xanthan gum to this recipe only if the flour blend you are using doesn't already have some in it. The options listed above include xanthan gum already. We have not tested this recipe using other gums or alternatives to Xantham.
• You will likely need to cook these in batches, depending on how many you can comfortably fit in your skillet. Plan for 15 minutes per batch.
• To get "nooks and crannies" you want to fork split the English muffins rather than slicing them. (store-bought English muffins typically come like this already. Simply take a regular fork and poke deep holes into the side of each muffin, all the way around. Then gently tear through those perforations.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  Checkered Chef Cooling Rack - Set of 2 Stainless Steel, Oven Safe Grid Wire Racks for Cooking & Baking - 8” x 11 ¾"
• 
  Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle, 10-Inch Barrel, White
• 
  HULISEN Biscuit Cutter Set (5 Pieces/ Set), Round Cookies Cutter with Handle, Professional Baking Dough Tools, Gift Package
• 
  Nordic Ware Two Burner Griddle, 10.3 x 17.4 inches, Non-Stick
• 
  Lodge L8SK3 10-¼-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet
• 
  Bobs Red Mill, Baking Flour 1 To 1 Gluten Free, 22 Ounce

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 English Muffin
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 437mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.