Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with cup liners and set aside.
Cook the bacon until crisp in a large skillet. Drain on paper towels, then crumble when cool enough to handle. Remove the hot drippings from the heat and add the chives. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, paprika and cayenne. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. Stir in the cheese, crumbled bacon, chives and drippings. Add to the flour mixture and blend thoroughly. Evenly divide among the muffin cups, filling ⅔ full. Bake 20–24 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe by The Tennessee Magazine at https://www.tnmagazine.org/gift-baskets/