Did you make this recipe in Home Ec?? It’s been around awhile, and with good reason because holy cow you dip the entire muffin in butter and then roll it all in cinnamon sugar. According to Betty Crocker, they are called French Breakfast Puffs. (…I think somebody in their test kitchen was feelin’ fancy!)

cinnamon and sugar muffins

Today was a butter-on-the-couch day. Except this time it wasn’t butter on the couch (that was actually my sister’s kid). Today was a milk-seeping-under-the-computer day (not to be confused with the lotion-smeared-on-the-computer incident.)

french breakfast puff with a bite

Of course I’m referring to the things our children do (or destroy) that we have to clean up, when we would rather be doing something else. Such is motherhood! Somehow it’s all worth it! This morning as I finally finished putting on my mascara and left the bathroom, I realized it was 10am. Midmorning, and barely dressed! What did I do all morning?? Oh yeah, mopped up spilled milk. (This milk was less spilled, and more artistically spread about, I would say. A true joy!)

My BFF Sarah had another good one a while back:

“Sometimes I stare at my to do list and wonder how I got nothing done, and then I remember: it’s because I didn’t put “clean jello out of dollhouse” on it.”

 

overhead shot of snickerdoodle muffins

Raise your hand if you’ve tried these muffins!! The first time I had them was in college when Sarah would make them all the time.  It’s an absolute classic (that I had never had before!) If you go to the original Betty Crocker recipe, you can read comments from ladies talking about how they made this in Home Ec back in the 70s. It’s been around a while!

They are called French Breakfast Puffs but I don’t really know why. They’re basically Snickerdoodle muffins. I imagine some cook in the Betty Crocker test kitchen feeling like ‘muffin’ was too common a word for these delightful things–“I know, I’ll call them a puff! A French puff, even!” Oh so fancy.

muffin that looks like a donut

Honestly, these taste like doughnut holes but with none of the work (read: no frying). Because you are dipping the entire muffin in butter, it creates this delightful little crust, made even crunchier because of the cinnamon-sugar coating. It really does imitate that blessed outer-edge-of-the-donut-crackle. I’ve never made these as mini muffins before, but have heard that it’s delicious. I bet it would make them even more perfectly pop-able. The recipe as written makes 10 muffins; I imagine you could get 20-24 mini muffins out of one batch.

mixing butter and flour in a bowl

muffin batter in a tin

french breakfast puffs

There is nothing fussy about this recipe. It comes together dangerously fast. I did change up the original a bit. Instead of shortening, I used butter, and I doubled the nutmeg because I love the stuff. I used ground nutmeg, but if you have fresh nutmeg that would be amazing! You might want to add a bit less than 1/2 teaspoon if using fresh. (Unless you are like a mega nutmeg person.)

dip in cinnamon and sugar

muffin dipped in butter

Later this week I am heading to a blogging conference at the Googleplex! That’s Google headquarters. (I know, what? Like, they aren’t all just working at home in their jammies?) My husband Eric visited Facebook headquarters for work one time, and found out that all the food is free. Like, all of it. Sign me up for that, dude. (Google? Free food pls?)

stack of 3 cinnamon muffins

P.S. Some exciting changes are coming to The Food Charlatan soon! I cannot WAIT to share! It will be several more weeks but stay tuned for updates and sneak peaks!

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One year ago: Chewy Brown Sugar Snickerdoodle Blondies
Two years ago: Gruyere-Crisped Potatoes Au Gratin
Six years ago: Gnocchi with Carrot and Zucchini Red Sauce

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Snickerdoodle Muffins (French Breakfast Puffs)

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 10 muffins
Did you make these muffins in Home Ec?? It's been around awhile, and with good reason because holy cow you dip the entire muffin in butter and then roll it in cinnamon sugar. According to Betty Crocker, they are called French Breakfast Puffs. (I think somebody in their test kitchen was feelin' fancy)

Ingredients

For the muffins

  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, use fresh if you have it!
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour

For dipping

  • 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2-3 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease a muffin tin with butter or nonstick spray (we're making 10 muffins)
  •  In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat 1/3 cup butter until smooth. (I use the measurement on the wrapper to see where 1/3 cup is.)
  • Beat in 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy.
  • Add 1 egg and beat until smooth.
  • Add 1 cup flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg, but don't stir. Use a small spoon to stir the dry ingredients together, and then gently beat the dry ingredients into the wet.
  • Before the flour is fully incorporated, add the milk. Beat until almost incorporated.
  • Add the 1/2 cup of flour. Beat very gently (or use a spoon) to mix until everything has just barely come together. 
  • Use a spoon or small measuring cup to divide the batter between 10 greased muffin tins. 
  • Bake the muffins on the center rack for about 20-23 minutes. The tops of the muffins will just barely start to be golden when they are done. You can also insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin, and if it comes out dry, then they are done. 
  • When the muffins have cooled for a couple minutes, use a knife to release the muffins from the pan. Remove to a cooling rack. 
  • Melt 1/2 cup butter in a small bowl. In another small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup sugar and 2-3 teaspoons cinnamon (to taste). 
  • When the muffins are cool enough to handle but still hot, dip each one in the butter (all of it! Top and bottom!) and then roll it in the cinnamon sugar. Some people say you should just dip the tops of the muffins. Those people are wrong. 
  • Eat hot! Share! 

Notes

 You can totally make these in a mini muffin pan. I would guess it would make between 20-24 mini muffins. You will have to take a guess on the baking time, it will definitely be less time, start with 10 minutes. They are done when they are golden on top. 
Source: I adapted this from Betty Crocker.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 521IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, French
Calories: 298
Keyword: Breakfast, Muffins, puffs, snickerdoodle
Did you make this? I'd love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

More muffin recipes to love!

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Muffins with Maple Syrup  <<why don’t we always drizzle syrup on our muffins?? I mean…

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Muffins with Maple Syrup from The Food Charlatan

 

Raspberry Lemon Glazed Muffins << these are perfect for spring!

Raspberry Lemon Muffins from The Food Charlatan

 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins << These are such a popular recipe!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from The Food Charlatan

 

Other recipes for “French” Breakfast Puffs!

French Breakfast Puffs from The Pioneer Woman
Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs from Smitten Kitchen <<neeeed to try this with browned butter!
French Breakfast Puffs from 365 Days of Baking

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Just looking at these pictures brings back fond memories of making these when I was a kid from some like, Better Homes and Gardens or Betty Crocker stained, pages-falling-out cookbook. And we definitely called them French Breakfast Puffs too. They were easy enough for a ten-year-old to make but delicious enough that we gobbled the whole batch in minutes. I should make these for my kids, they would LOVE them!

    1. Isn’t that always how the best cookbooks look–totally destroyed? That’s how you know they’re legit :-)

  2. I made these for my family and my dad said they were the best muffins he’s ever had! Everybody loved them! Definitely best to dip the whole muffin and not just the top.

    1. Woohoo! That’s awesome Tori! So glad you guys liked them! And yeah, dipping all the way is the only way to go! <3

  3. I CAN NOT WAIT TO MAKE THESE. WILL TAKE FOR THANKSGIVING TO MY DAUGHTERS.
    I WILL BE THERE 3 DAYS.THANK YOU FOR THE RECIPE.

  4. These look delectable would be so great for a brunch buffet! I’m so jealous you made these in Home Ec, all we learned to make was choc. chip cookies with Crisco. -shudders-

    1. Hey don’t knock Crisco too hard, I love going half and half with butter in some recipes!! But all butter is def better when you’re eating the dough :) Thanks for stopping by Krystle!

  5. Yes, we made something similar to this is Home Economics but had no idea it’s called Snickerdoodle muffin. Love the name. It’s intriguing and interesting.

    Would love to make a fresh batch this weekend. Thank you for sharing this brilliant idea.

  6. Not sure I’ve ever made these, but now I really want to!! Perfect for when you’re crying over spilled milk.

  7. We make these quite often, but I put a tsp. of raspberry preserves in the middle (little batter, tsp. jelly, more batter) and they make like little jelly filled cake doughnuts! Soooo good!

    I love your stories of motherhood. They speak to my soul. I have been struggling to feel like I get anything done but between 4 kids, 2 of which I homeschool, if I’m still standing at the end of the day, it’s a win.

    1. Oh my goodnesssss!!!! Like a jelly doughnut! That you made at home in 30 minutes and didn’t have to fry!!! You my friend are a genius. MAJOR props to you on homeschooling, I would have such a hard time managing that! Thank you so much for reading, and for telling me you like my stories! Seriously means so much to me. Soldier on, mother warrior!

  8. Sugar muffins (as my family calls them)!! These have been a family staple for as long as I can remember and I actually posted a recipe a couple of years ago! As kids they were saved for special occasions like birthdays, but now as adults – bwahaha… – special occasion no longer required (which, come to think of it, is probably a bad thing…) ;)

  9. I made these all the time for the kids for breakfast growing up. I had a Better Homes & Garden’s Quick Breads Cookbook that I used so much it fell apart and all the pages are stained with butter and batter. These are delicious and so easy! Thanks for posting Karen!

  10. I love your recipes! They are always very easy to make with ingredients i already have in my pantry. And always delicious! These Snickerdoodle Muffins (French Breakfast Puffs) are no exception, they are to DIE FOR! So easy, so delicious. Even my picky eating husband loved them.

    I used almond milk instead of regular, and they turned out just fine. I’m definitely making these the next time i have guests for brunch!

    1. I’m so happy you got to try them out Debbie! Who doesn’t love a muffin dunked in butter, right :) Thanks so much for sharing your review!!

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