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Maple Sausage Cheddar Muffins

  • Aug 1
  • 3 min read

Our Story

Some mornings need something you can grab with one hand on the way out the door, and these muffins are Gab's answer. Browned breakfast sausage, sharp cheddar, and green onion folded into a maple-sweetened batter, then brushed with more maple and finished with flaky salt while they are still warm. This one is inspired by Nicole Hampton of Dough-Eyed with Gab's own twists. If you loved our stuffed berry French toast, this is its savory weekday cousin, and fans of our strawberry date green smoothie finally have something to eat alongside it.

Quick Stats

  • Makes: 12 muffins

  • Prep: 20 min

  • Bake: 15-18 min

  • Total: 40 min

  • Difficulty: 2 / 5

  • Cost: $$

Ingredients

  • 1 lb breakfast sausage

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp kosher salt

  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, plus a little extra for brushing

  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  • Fresh cracked black pepper

  • Optional: flaky sea salt and chopped fresh chives for topping

Instructions

  1. Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease and let it cool slightly.

  2. Preheat your oven to 425. Grease or line a 12-cup muffin pan.

  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and garlic powder.

  4. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs with a few pea-sized butter pieces remaining.

  5. Stir together the milk and maple syrup, then pour into the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.

  6. Fold in the cooked sausage, shredded cheddar, and sliced green onions. Do not overmix, the batter will be thick.

  7. Divide evenly among the muffin cups, filling each almost to the top.

  8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  9. While they are still warm, lightly brush the tops with a little extra maple syrup. Finish with flaky sea salt, fresh chives, and cracked black pepper if desired.

Gab's tip: keep the butter COLD and stop mixing the second the flour disappears. That is what keeps these tender with flaky pockets, and the warm maple brush plus flaky salt is what makes them.

Brands We Used and Love

  • Organic pure maple syrup for the batter and the brush

  • Simply Organic garlic powder

  • Maldon flaky sea salt for finishing

  • Caraway non-toxic ceramic muffin pan (USA Pan makes a great budget one)

  • OXO Good Grips pastry blender for cutting in the butter

Browse everything in our cooking shop: https://shopmy.us/ajdillon/cooking

The Dillon Scorecard

  • AJ: 5/ 5

  • Gab: 5 / 5

  • Trey: 5 / 5

What We'd Change Next Time

Nothing major, these disappear fast. A pinch of cayenne in the dry mix is great if your crew likes a little heat, and hot maple syrup for brushing takes them somewhere special. They freeze beautifully: cool completely, freeze in a bag, and rewarm 20-30 seconds in the microwave for grab-and-go breakfasts all week.

FAQ

Can I make these ahead? Yes, they keep 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Rewarm before serving so the cheddar softens back up.

What sausage works best? Any breakfast sausage you love. A maple breakfast sausage doubles down on the sweet-savory thing, and turkey sausage works great for a lighter version.

Estimated Nutrition

Per muffin (1 of 12): roughly 350 calories, 11g protein, 24g carbohydrate, 22g fat. Honest estimates, not lab numbers.

Did You Make It?

Share a photo on Instagram and tag @diningwiththedillons (or use #diningwiththedillons). Seeing your version of Gab's recipes is our favorite part of this whole thing.

Get the Cookbook

Love cooking with us? Dining with the Dillons: A Recipe Collection has 30+ of Gab's recipes plus signature dishes from 12 Door County restaurants, and every copy supports the Dillon Family Foundation's fight against hunger: https://quest.build/dillon-family-foundation/dining-with-the-dillons/1559/70436/652/details

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