The History of Crumpets

Crumpets date back to Britain in 1382, when theologian John Wycliffe first described them as a type of flat cake that was cooked on a hot stone. The word itself is reportedly based on a 14th century reference to a "crompid cake" and the Old English word for “crumpled.” Early recipies were generally made using buckwheat flour, but a fluffier, leavened version of crumpets emerged during the Victorian era. Around that same time, specific ring-shaped molds were introduced, allowing for crumpets to be made in their now-characteristic uniformly round shape for the first time. While they are often associated with upper-class characters on TV shows and in movies, crumpets have a long history of being enjoyed by people of all social classes. Today, they are a popular breakfast food in Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia and are often served with jam and clotted cream or butter. They are also frequently enjoyed during afternoon tea.