french breakfast puffs

When I was growing up my older sister, Alice, made French Breakfast Puffs on special occasions – and heavens, I loved them. I mean, who doesn’t love muffins with cinnamon sugar stuck to melted butter on the tops? Mmmm, muffin tops. Have you seen that episode of Gilmore Girls when Sukie brings Loralei a basket full of muffin tops to request a favor? I bet they were so good . . . I just confessed that I have seen every episode of Gilmore Girls . . . well, actually NOW I have.

ANYway.

Even though I planned on making cinnamon rolls during General Conference this weekend (and then realized I only had 3 cups of flour left) I decided to make these. They did not disappoint. It’s been a while and this isn’t the original recipe my sister uses but I personally love the tanginess of the buttermilk.

French Breakfast Puffs


7 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the heavenly TOPPING:
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease 12 standard muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.

To make the muffins, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well until pale and smooth.

In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Add to the butter mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the buttermilk and vanilla. Stir just until evenly moistened. The batter will be slightly lumpy. NOTE: Never overmix muffin batter – just barely wet or incorporate the ingredients. Overmixing is the biggest mistake for “cone shaped” muffins.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each three-fourths full. Bake until the muffins are golden, dry and springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Unmold the muffins and let stand until cool enough to handle.

To make the topping, in a small, shallow bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon (I usually do extra cinnamon because that’s how I like it). Put the melted butter in another small bowl. Holding the bottom of a muffin, dip the top into the melted butter, turning to coat it evenly. Immediately dip the top in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, coating it evenly. Transfer the muffin, right side up, to the rack. Repeat with the remaining muffins. Let cool completely before serving.

Makes 12 muffins.