French Breakfast Puffs

I finally broke down and watched Julie & Julia last night and this morning I woke up with the incredible urge to bake something French and then blog about it! I'm not sure how "French" this recipe is, but let me tell you these part muffin, part cupcake, breakfast puffs go great with a cup of tea first thing in the morning!

French Breakfast Puffs

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Topping

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups or line cups with paper muffin liners. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, cream together 1/2 cup sugar and shortening. Beat in egg. Stir flour mixture into shortening mixture alternately with milk. Beat well. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. While muffins are baking, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Remove muffins from oven and muffin pan. Immediately, dip the tops of the muffins into the melted butter, then into the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Repeat with each muffin, until all muffin tops are covered. Serve warm.