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WedApr 23

National English Muffin Day – April 23, 2025

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

1600s
Breakfast Becomes a Thing

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.

1783
The Industrial Bakery Revolution

Christopher Potter opens the first chain of bakeries in Westminster.

1861
Breakfast for the Working Man

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.

1906
An Important Company is Formed

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. Everyone loves them

    In 2020 in the U.S. alone, 171.77 million English muffins were consumed.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.’

  5. 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

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

  3. 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