Midwest Mary

When we have a recipe that stands the test of time, it becomes the go-to recipe for all occasions. French Breakfast Muffins is an old Betty Crocker recipe that I’ve been baking since the 1970s. My children loved it, and now my grandchildren do too.

These muffins are everything we long for. They are fluffy, sweet, and tasty–almost doughnut-like. My sister asks me to bring them every year to her holiday brunch.

When the muffins are sampled, tasters often ask what is in them that makes them so special. The secret ingredient in these muffins is just a touch of nutmeg, so don’t omit it! This spice makes all the difference. Of course, who also doesn’t love melted butter and sugar?

The recipe isn’t difficult, but it does require the extra step of rolling muffins hot out of the oven in butter and then cinnamon sugar. If you let the muffins cool before this step, the butter and sugar mixture won’t set on the muffins properly.

I recently baked this recipe in small bread loaf pans rather than muffin tins, and it was just as yummy. So, if you prefer bread over muffins, or don’t want to take the extra step of rolling hot muffins in butter and sugar, you can simply pour melted butter over the hot baked loaves and sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar.

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you think. I have no doubt you’ll find it to be a winner.

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French Breakfast Muffins

1/3 cup shortening
½ cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup milk

½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup butter, melted

Heat oven to 350. Grease 12-15 medium muffin cups. Mix shortening, ½ cup sugar, and the egg together thoroughly. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg alternately with milk.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Mix ½ cup sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Immediately after baking, roll the muffins in melted butter, then in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Serve warm or cool.

**Take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones, Inspired Caregiving. Weekly Morale Builders.

©2024, Mary K. Doyle