Sausage Muffins with Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or sugar

• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

• 1 cup milk

• 1 egg

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• (optional) additional cheese, for topping

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Begin by cooking the sausage, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. Grease the muffin tins liberally with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

• In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar (if not using maple syrup). Stir in the cooked sausage and cheddar cheese.

• In a small bowl whisk together the milk, egg, and maple syrup (if using). Pour into flour mixture then add the melted butter. Stir to combine until flour is incorporated.

• Spoon into muffin tins, filling to the top of each tin. Sprinkle additional cheese on top, if desired.

• Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean and tops are golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan before transferring to a cooling rack. Serve warm.