Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan with butter or cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until it turns a nutty brown color, swirling the pan occasionally. This should take about 4-5 minutes; remove the pan from the heat.

Stir the flour, corn meal, cheddar, baking powder, chile powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper together in a medium bowl.

In the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together until pale and thickened, about 3 minutes. Alternatively in five additions, add the dry ingredients and browned butter, stirring each addition into the batter before adding the next. Stir in the scallions.

Divide the batter between the mini muffin cups, about 1 tablespoon per cup, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. The muffins should be springy to the touch. Let the muffins cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing and serving warm.