National English Muffin Day, celebrated on April 23 every year, brings attention to one of the most beloved breakfast foods in the world. It’s a small, round bread, roughly four inches in diameter and about 1.5 inches tall. Yeast is added to the mixture, which helps the little bread rise, and it’s usually sliced through horizontally and toasted on both sides before being served. They are loved for their versatility, with people around the world using them as a base for almost any food item, which is usually some form of breakfast food.
History of National English Muffin Day
Known simply as a muffin in the United Kingdom, the English muffin is reportedly the first to have emerged from Wales in 900 A.D. A derivative of Bara brith bread, which is a tea-flavored dough mix, the English muffin was and still is a common and cheaply manufactured food. It has fast become a favorite amongst the people.
In 1880 Samuel Bath Thomas opened his bakery in New York City. He emigrated from Plymouth, England, in 1875. Using his mother’s recipe, he began baking the delicious breakfast sides and sold them to hotels and grocery stores. From the 1800s, the manufacture and appeal of the English muffin rose, and locally they became known as the American Muffin, even though there is nothing that separates the two muffins except their names. Through the 1990s, the English muffin received incredible popularity, and many people, not just in The U.S., began to bake and produce their own.
The debate around who is responsible for the baked delicacy is a point of contention as many believe that the English muffin is a completely foreign baked good to the U.K. While historically, Thomas was an immigrant and did use his mother’s recipe to create the muffin, the term ‘English muffin’ was coined in the U.S. after Thomas began baking them. It is believed by some, that the English had no experience of the muffin before 1990, which was the year Thomas’ English muffins were imported to the U.K. from the U.S.
National English Muffin Day timeline
According to the chef Clarissa Dickson Wright, under the reign of King Charles II, breakfast becomes a part of daily life, but only for the rich.
Christopher Potter opens the first chain of bakeries in Westminster.
Isabella Beeton writes, “The Book of Household Management,” and within its pages, she suggests that every household’s day should begin with a breakfast buffet.
The Kellogs Breakfast Company is founded, and the popular and now proverbial phrase, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is coined.
National English Muffin Day FAQs
Can I eat an English muffin for dinner?
Yes, although a very popular breakfast food, English muffins are extremely versatile and tasty, making them a great addition to any meal, at any time.
Where can I find them?
English muffins are very popular, making them an item that most grocery stores would keep. If you don’t have any luck at your local supermarket or bakery, try making them yourself. There are many recipes online.
I prefer American muffins, are they the same thing?
Yes, they are the same thing. Americans were the first to name their “muffins” English, which is why the U.K. and U.S. simply call them muffins.
National English Muffin Day Activities
Have a breakfast party
Invite friends and family to your home for a great breakfast party. They bring all the fillings they want, cook them, and provide the English muffins.
Spoil your coworkers
Take a decent supply of toasted English muffins to work with you. A little butter and jam is also a tasty way to enjoy them.
Sit down to a great breakfast
Treat yourself, get your favorite breakfast food items, cook them all, and place them lovingly inside your very own English muffin. Enjoy.
5 Facts About English Muffins
Everyone loves them
In 2020 in the U.S. alone, 171.77 million English muffins were consumed.
They’re everywhere
Since the mid-1950s, English muffins have been exported around the world and are enjoyed in almost every major metro in the world.
More like a crumpet than a muffin
The English muffin, and the process in which it is made, leaves its closest baked cousin, the crumpet.
McDonald's takes it global
In 1972, McDonalds introduced one of its staple breakfast items, with an English muffin as its delivery system, the ‘McMuffin.’
English muffins are good for you
While moderation is at the center of any healthy diet, whole wheat English muffins are low in calories and have high amounts of fiber.
Why We Love National English Muffin Day
It's breakfast food
Everyone loves breakfast food, and the English Muffin is most definitely the centerpiece of a spectacular breakfast food experience. Have a muffin already!
It's interesting
The spread of the English muffin throughout the world is interesting, and the debate around who is responsible for its creation is even more so. We are grateful to its originator.
It’s fun
Any day that lets you try something new and enjoy a new experience is great. National English Muffin Day is one of those moments where you have an opportunity to do exactly that.
National English Muffin Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | April 23 | Wednesday |
2026 | April 23 | Thursday |
2027 | April 23 | Friday |
2028 | April 23 | Sunday |
2029 | April 23 | Monday |