Dirt Bombs

Name: Dirt Bombs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients: 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 cup whole milk; TOPPING:; 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Total Time Prep: 10 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling

Yield 12 muffins

Test Kitchen Approved

When you can't decide between making doughnuts or muffins, why not have both? Dirt bombs are baked like muffins but taste just like delicious cinnamon-sugar cake doughnuts.

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 cup whole milk
TOPPING:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until combined. Reduce speed to low; alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture, being careful not to overmix.
Divide batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make topping, melt butter in a shallow microwave-safe bowl. In a separate small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger. Dip the entire muffin into the melted butter, then roll in the spiced sugar mixture. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

1 muffin: 322 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 258mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

This dirt bomb recipe is inspired by the pastries served at Bantam Bread. My version gets an extra dose of warm spices on the inside and the outside. I love to serve them with hot apple cider as a sweet, autumn-inspired treat. —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Recipe Creator