Perhaps you're wondering what exactly is an English muffin. Muffins are quick breads, baked in an oven, and tend to be sweet. English muffins are yeast breads and are baked in a skillet or griddle (but most folks buy them already made). It may surprise you that English muffins actually originated in the U.S. and are called "American muffins" in the U.K. and Ireland.