There’s something quietly magical about these French Breakfast Muffins—lightly spiced with nutmeg, rolled in warm butter, and dusted in cinnamon sugar. They’re soft and tender on the inside with just the right golden crunch on top. This easy muffin recipe was inspired by a vintage cookbook my dad recently gifted me, and it’s become a beloved Friday morning ritual in my cottage kitchen here in the Virginia countryside. Made with just a few pantry staples, these rustic muffins come together in about 30 minutes—perfect for slow breakfasts, weekend brunch, or when you're in the mood for a cozy bake.
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ingredients you'll need
For the Muffins
- 1 ½ Cup Flour
- ½ Cup Sugar any kind!
- 1 ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- ⅓ Cup Oil (any kind!)
- ¼ Cup Melted Butter
- 1 egg
- ½ Cup of Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For the topping
- For the Topping
- ¼ Cup Melted Butter Melted (or more)
- Cinnamon Sugar Mix
how to make these French breakfast muffins
- Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add, the milk, oil, melted butter, and egg then mix well.
- Fill greased or lined muffin tins ½ full.
- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes.
- Once finished, and while still warm, roll in melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix.
Easy Ingredient Swaps for these French Breakfast Muffins
One of the best things about this French Breakfast Muffin recipe is how flexible it is. You can use whatever you have on hand—brown sugar, granulated sugar, or even coconut sugar all work beautifully. Out of butter? Just use all oil instead (yes, even olive oil will do!). No sugar? A splash of maple syrup makes a lovely natural sweetener. These muffins are truly forgiving, making them the perfect pantry-friendly treat! Which is why I whip them together every Friday morning.
how to make cinnamon sugar coating
Making your own cinnamon sugar is as simple as stirring together the two ingredients: cinnamon and sugar. For a classic mix, combine ½ cup of granulated sugar with 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon, depending on how spiced you like it. I also sometimes reduce the sugar, and add more cinnamon Give it a good stir or shake it in a jar until evenly mixed. You can store any leftovers in a small airtight container for future use! This is something my mother taught me long ago, and I always love having this mix around.
equipment you'll need
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- Mixing bowls (I love these versatile glass stacking bowls)
- Measuring cups & spoons + Liquid Measuring Cup or a Kitchen Scale
- Rubber spatula & whisk
- Muffin Pan
- Liners for Muffin Pans
- Cooling rack
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Mixing bowls (I love these versatile glass stacking bowls)
- Pastry brush (for greasing pans or applying syrups or glazes)
As one of their ambassadors, like to recommend Maison Gabrielle's Cinnamon, pictured above! The source from Sri Lanka, but curate in Paris, France
Easy French Breakfast Muffins (Cinnamon Sugar Coated)
Ingredients
Muffins
- 1 ½ Cup Flour
- ½ Cup Sugar any kind!
- 1 ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- ⅓ Cup Oil any kind!
- ¼ Cup Melted Butter
- 1 egg
- ½ Cup of Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
For the Topping
- ¼ Cup Melted Butter Melted (or more)
- Cinnamon Sugar Mix
Instructions
- Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add, the milk, oil, melted butter, and egg then mix well.
- Fill greased or lined muffin tins ½ full.
- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes.
- Once finished, and while still warm, roll in melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix.
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