Yogurt + Flour = The BEST English Muffins You've Ever Had!


These muffins are one of the easiest things to make that I've ever made, use only 2 ingredients, and are ready in less then an hour.  What can be better then that????  While I don't know that I can actually call them "English muffins" because there is definitely a difference in ingredients, they look like them but they taste sooooo much better.

I stumbled upon a recipe that wasn't in English but looked intriguing.  I figured out the measurements and made it.  While it was definitely very good, I knew it could be even better.  I adjusted the ingredients just slightly, made them a bit bigger, and ta-da!  It resulted in some superb little muffins.


I thought this recipe may be especially important right now, while much of the country is quarantined and trying to make do with the food they have in their house.  There is no kneading, no complicated instructions, and no experience making bread required.

Honestly, anyone can make these.

If you want to make more than 8 of these muffins, I don't think I would double the recipe because it could get difficult to work with since it's quite sticky.  Instead, I would make 2 separate batches.




How To Eat
They are their absolute best the day you make them.  If you eat one shortly after making them you may not be left with any leftovers....

That being said, what we've discovered is that once they are a day or more old they are a bit more dense (no yeast = no air pockets) making them hold up beautifully for breakfast sandwiches, breakfast pizza or mini pizzas.  Toast or grill them first and then top and enjoy!

Some ideas to use them include:
  • Toast them - If they happen to last longer than once you remove them from the skillet, you can cut them in half and toast them just like an English muffin.
  • Sliced and any topping added - jam, nut butter, nutella, cinnamon & sugar, butter, whatever your heart desires.
  • Sandwich - They would be perfect for making a breakfast sandwich out of.
  • Breakfast Pizza - almost like an open faced breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, chunks of cooked ham or sausage, and topped with cheese put under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
  • Eggs Benedict - they would be the perfect bread to add the poached egg, Canadian bacon, and bechamel sauce to.
  • Mini Lunch Pizza - a little tomato sauce, a few pizza toppings and topped with cheese put under the broiler until the cheese is melted.

On to the recipe!


2 Ingredient Homemade English Muffins
Makes 8 muffins
  • 3 cups self-rising flour (alternatively, use 3 cups all-purpose flour + 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1 teaspoon salt and whisk together)
  • 2 cups yogurt (as mentioned above, dairy or non-dairy regular yogurt)
  • 2 Tablespoons oil (only needed if not using a non-stick skillet)
Add the yogurt to a microwave-safe mixing bowl.  Microwave 35-50 seconds, or until warm.  Stir with a spoon or spatula.

Sift the flour (or flour mixture) into the yogurt.  With a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, carefully stir the flour in, working the outside of the bowl to the inside of the bowl.  The dough will look shaggy and be sticky.  Once the flour is almost completely incorporated, using your hand, turn the dough a couple of times in the bowl and then dump out onto a lightly floured counter.  Mold and turn a couple of times just until you can mold it into a fairly smooth log about 11 inches long.

Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half.  Cut each half in half and then again, cut each of those in half so you have a total of 8 pieces.  (the dough is very forgiving - if you accidentally make some too large you can remove a piece and add it to a smaller one to create uniform pieces)  Gently roll each piece into a little ball, using a little flour if needed, but don't add too much.  Lay the ball on the counter and press it down lightly, creating flat sides on the top and bottom (see photo below).  Repeat with each piece.  Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Pre-heat an uncovered skillet over low-heat for 4-5 minutes.  Once it's ready, brush with a teaspoon of oil if not using a non-stick skillet (use a silicone brush or even a cloth or piece of paper towel).  If you are using a non-stick pan, oil is not necessary.  Add as many muffins as will fit in the pan without touching.  They do rise a little and need some space to do so.  Cover and cook for 12 minutes.

Remove the lid, with a spatula flip the muffins, cover and cook an additional 12 minutes.  Once the 12 minutes is up remove the muffins to a wire rack to cool.  Continue with the remaining muffins.  **there may be a little moisture in the pan from the steam that builds up, it's fine.  it will not affect the muffins.**

Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before eating.  If you cut them open too soon they may be a bit doughy.  (not a bad thing....)

To store, once cool place in a Ziploc bag or covered container and leave on the counter for up to 5 days or freeze in a freezer safe bag or container for up to a month.

the dough is a little shaggy once mixed

create an 11-inch long log from the dough

slice the dough into 8 pieces and gently roll each piece into a ball, flatten slightly

flip the muffins after 12 minutes



20 comments

  1. I wonder if you could freeze or refrigerate the dough so you could make fresh muffins daily. Just starting to bake, so next time I get a grocery delivery, I will try this out.

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  2. Hi Carrie - great idea! Let me know if you try it!!

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  3. That's a similar mixture to our flat breads we make. We use 1 cup of SR flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of greek yoghurt. They look great Staci.

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  4. Kathy - I had no idea! So kind of like naan I'm thinking? I tried the 1 to 1 flour to yogurt and it was way too sticky and I didn't get a good rise to it. I'm definitely going to give it a try as flatbread. Thank you so much!!!

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  5. But it doesn't have the holes like yeast English muffins. The texture is like a coarse biscuit.

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  6. Cockeyed Jo - that's correct. That's why I mentioned that because there isn't any yeast they aren't light and airy. When freshly made they do taste similar but better. :)

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  7. These work great as I have a yeast intolerance

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    1. Anonymous, that's fantastic - I'm happy they will work for you! I hope you like them!!

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  8. Mine didn't rise much if at all; I only used 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 2 tips baking powder and salt.
    It suggested 5 mins to rest it, I wonder if 15 mins as you said might make a difference. I've looked at a few recipes. No one mentions the temperature of the skillet or oven ( some recipes put the muffins in an oven--again, temperature not mentioned. The issue is the correct temperature so the muffin is cooked through but the outside isn't burnt. Any suggestions? Jim G

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    1. Hi Jim. Well, I would guess a few things could be wrong. Your flour to yogurt ratio is off. It shouldn't be 1:1 so it's likely too much yogurt. You need closer to 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder. I would also make sure your baking powder is still active. That could cause it to not rise. And yes, you do need to let the dough rest the full 15 minutes so that the flour has time to fully absorb the liquid from the yogurt and the baking powder is activated. I don't cook them in the oven so I could not help you with that. Low heat on the stovetop in a covered pan works every time for me. I hope this helps!

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  9. I halved the recipe and followed all of the directions and they came out perfectly! I had the heat (gas stove) on the lowest setting and after the first 12 minutes I lifted the skillet cover and they were puffed up and when I flipped them they looked just like real English Muffins. Perfect for egg sandwich or just jam :)

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    1. Oh I'm so happy you like them! Aren't they so simple and delicious? Thank you for sharing your success!!

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  10. Can I use non fat Greek yogurt? Thanks

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    1. I think that would work. You will likely have to thin it out a bit with milk or water. I would only add a teaspoon or two to start. Let me know if it works!

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  11. I made these with King Arthur gluten free all purpose flour and they turned out great! The only changes I made were—I increased the baking powder and added a little xanthan gum. Love them lightly toasted with PB&J!!

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    1. That's fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing that information here.

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  12. I made this with gluten free flour and increased the amount of baking powder. They turned out great! Love them toasted with peanut butter and jelly!

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  13. These are extremely dense and inended up throwing the whole batch out. I like two ingredient dough but much prefer to bake. It provides a much softer texture.

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    1. I'm sorry to hear they didn't work out for you. They've always been very tender for me and many others who enjoy them.

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