English Muffins

Step 1

Make the dough.

Step 2

Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the egg but don't stir it in yet.

Step 3

Heat the milk and coconut oil in a saucepan until a thermometer reads 110 degrees F. (If the milk is too hot when you add it to the flour mixture, it will kill the yeast.)

Step 4

Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Avoid pouring it directly on the egg-you don't want the hot milk to cook it.

Step 5

Using the dough hook, mix on medium speed until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, if needed. The dough will look a little irregular in texture.

Step 6

Knead the dough.

Step 7

Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, soft and elastic, 3 to 4 minutes. Shape into a ball and place in a large bowl lightly oiled with coconut oil; rub the top of the dough with a little more coconut oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.

Step 8

Form the muffins.

Step 9

Sprinkle 2 baking sheets with cornmeal and set aside. After the dough rises, punch it down and divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a 3-inch disk. Place the disks on the baking sheets.

Step 10

Cook the muffins.

Step 11

Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Coat the skillet with cooking spray and liberally sprinkle with cornmeal. Working in batches, cook the muffins until they are deep golden brown, 5 to 9 minutes per side. If they start to rise in a domed fashion, flatten them with a spatula. Let the English muffins cool completely, then split open, toast and serve with butter and jam.