Dirt Bombs


I LOVED these little cinnamon sugary buttery muffins, however, I HATE the name!

"Dirt Bombs"? Really?
The name comes from the original dirt bomb confection made at Bantam Bread Bakery in Connecticut.

There is a bakery in my town, Summit, NJ that also makes these, but they call them "duffins", much cuter than "dirt bombs", don't you think?

Dirt Bombs were derelict teens in my high school back in the 80's, who wore long denim coats and smoked cigarettes out back in the smoking lounge (can you believe my high school had a smoking lounge?).

Come to think of it, we actually had 2 different cafeterias in my school, one for the "jocks", and one for the "dirt bombs".

My, how things have changed.
Political correctness was not in vogue back in 1980.

Well, despite the goofy name, these are the BOMB! So easy to make, and truly amazing.

I had to give them away for fear of eating them all.


Duffins or Dirt Bombs, whatever you want to call them: (adapted from Oui Chef & Bon Appetit)

For the muffins:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 cup whole milk

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter


Mix the flour, baking powder, salt & nutmeg in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix the butter, sugar and egg together until fluffy. Gradually add in the milk in 3 additions.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to make a nice yellow batter.

I like to use an ice cream scoop these days for plopping batter into muffin tins, it makes it neater and each muffin comes out the same size (and I don't use the scoop for ice cream anyway, I just eat it out of the container!).


Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray (PAM), and plop the batter into the tins.

Bake for 23-25 minutes in a 375F oven.
The original recipe calls for 35 minutes, but mine were done at 23.

Mix the cinnamon sugar topping in a bowl and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter on low heat.

Once the muffins are cool enough to handle (I have iron hands, so did it right away), dip each muffin top in the butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar.


Set on a rack to cool.


These are best the day you bake them (like a fresh donut), however, you can plop them in the microwave for 15 seconds the next day and they will be nice and fresh again.

DIVINE.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I've had the CT ones, and they're wonderful (not so great for the start of bathing suit season, however)! I"m going to give them a try this weekend - thanks!
Katie C. said…
They look fantastic! What kind of kosher salt do you use? Diamond and Morton's do not measure the same...
SarahBTT said…
my mom would make these most Sundays after church. I LOVED them!!!!
Stacey Snacks said…
Katie C.

I ONLY use DIAMOND Kosher salt....the original from the 1800's...in the red/white box.

I use Morton's Iodized salt, but their kosher salt is not the real deal.

Lena said…
we used to call the derelict kids in h.s. "dirt bags", not very nice, but if the shoe fits....I like the name "duffins" for these scrumptious looking muffins better! ha!
France said…
My high school also had a smoking area. It was a patio off of the cafeteria and if you went out there you were know as part of the "patio crowd." I've seen this type of muffin also billed as baked "donuts" and cinnamon sugar puffs. Divine!
Anonymous said…
Which cafeteria did you hang out in, Ms. Snacks? ps cinnamon sugar, YUM!
Ciao Chow Linda said…
Yes, readers want to know which cafeteria you frequented. Send a few of these my way next time you don't want to eat all of them.
Stacey Snacks said…
Anon,
I'll give you a hint......

I don't smoke cigarettes!

:)
Shirley M said…
Hi Stacey...I've been making these for 40+ years, not TOO often mind you, they are called French Breakfast Muffins in my world...often made for Sunday brunches for weekend houseguests, and always by my adult children for their families on Christmas morning.
Melodie Monberg said…
Woke up this memorial day and saw these. They are now in the oven baking. Thanks for always great recipes.
I'm with you Stacey, these puppies need a new name, hey how about that... puppies, I mean Sugar Puppies. Just a thought ;-)
Anonymous said…
Just want to report back: I made these, following your recipe exactly - they're wonderful, and so easy! Thanks!!!
oui Chef said…
Duffins! Love the new name...wish I had thought of it. They ARE good aren't they?