Cornbread Muffins

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These tender cornbread muffins are the perfect side to any Southern or Southwestern dish. You can whip up the batter in no time!

Cornbread muffins on a wire rack.

These tender and sweet cornbread muffins are the perfect side to BBQ chicken, ribs or beef chili. My kids love them so much that I’m constantly swatting their hands away from the bread basket so they don’t fill up before the main course. I know that baking at dinnertime might seem a little ambitious but these muffins are super-easy to prepare. You can whip up the batter in ten minutes, and I usually serve them instead of a starch. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast, reheated and slathered with honey butter or jam.

“Let me tell you, this recipe is perfect. My picky family loved them and my hubby almost ate the whole pan.”

Melissa

What You’ll Need To Make Cornbread Muffins

ingredients to make simple cornbread recipe.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by whisking the eggs in a medium bowl.

whisking the eggs

Add the honey and milk and whisk to combine.

adding honey and milk to the eggs

In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

combining the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl

Whisk to combine.

whisking the dry ingredients

Add the egg mixture and the melted butter to the dry ingredients.

adding liquid ingredients and melted butter to dry ingredients

Whisk until just combined.

mixed cornbread muffin batter

Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin pan, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

cornbread muffins ready to bake

Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the tops are set and golden. Note that they will not dome.

baked cornbread muffins

Cool the muffins for a few minutes in the pan, then serve warm with softened butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cornbread muffins be frozen?

Yes, the muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to three months. Thaw for 3 for 4 hours on the countertop before serving.

What is the best way to store cornbread muffins?

The muffins are best served fresh from the oven, but leftover muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

How do I reheat cornbread muffins?

To reheat, wrap them in aluminum foil and warm in a 350°F-oven until hot. Alternatively, you can heat muffins in the microwave at 50 percent power for 30 to 45 seconds, or until just hot; do not overheat or muffins will get tough.

Can I bake the batter in a baking dish?

Yes, see my simple cornbread recipe for instructions.

Cornbread muffins on a wire rack.

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Cornbread Muffins

These tender cornbread muffins are the perfect side to any Southern or Southwestern dish. You can whip up the batter in no time!

Servings: 12 muffins
Total Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ¾ cup milk (preferably whole but low-fat works too)
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray. (I prefer to use non-stick cooking spray so the muffins get nice and crisp on the edges.)
  2. In a medium bowl, break up the eggs with a whisk. Whisk in the honey, and then the milk. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the milk mixture and the melted butter to the dry ingredients. Whisk until just blended. Do not overmix; it's okay if there are a few lumps. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup about ¾ full. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are set and golden. (Note that the muffins will not dome.) Cool the muffins for a few minutes in the pan, then serve warm.
  4. Note: If you'd prefer to make this as cornbread rather than muffins, spray an 8-inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
  5. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Cornbread muffins taste best when served right out of the oven but can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 for 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap them in aluminum foil and warm in a 350°F oven until hot. Alternatively, heat muffins in the microwave at 50 percent power for 30 to 45 seconds, or until just hot; do not overheat or muffins will get tough.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Serving size: 1 muffin
  • Calories: 216
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated fat: 5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Sodium: 305 mg
  • Cholesterol: 53 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • I love this! I didn’t have any honey, though, so I used 2 tablespoons of molasses! It was amazing!
    P.s. If you do this, it will smell like way too much molasses. You smell it more than you taste it. It’s perfect! 🥰🥰

    • — Anonymous => on August 28, 2023
    • Reply
  • How long can I store these in room temperature, before putting in the fridge or freeze?

    • — FG on August 21, 2023
    • Reply
    • These are best right out of the oven, but will keep on the countertop (in an airtight container) for a few days. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on August 21, 2023
      • Reply
  • I was invited to spend the week of the 4th of July at my S-I-L ‘s lake house. I plan to bring a pre-prepared meal. These muffins will be part of it. My S-I-L hates honey. Do you think the honey has a distinct flavor in these muffins? (like will she know honey is in the recipe?). She always substitutes Agave Syrup when a recipe calls for honey. Would that work here? Personally, I hate substituting ingredients but want to be a thoughtful guest. One additional question: you stated in another comment that the dry and wet ingredients could be mixed before hand and then combined together right before baking. Since I will need to refrigerate/put on ice the wet mix will that do-ahead suggestion still work?

    • — SEB on June 27, 2023
    • Reply
    • The muffins definitely don’t have a distinct honey flavor but if you’d prefer to use agave syrup, that should work. And yes, you can still make the wet mix ahead. Hope everyone enjoys!

      • — Jenn on June 28, 2023
      • Reply
      • I made the recipe mixing the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in separate containers. (I did not include the melted butter in the wet ingredients, I melted it in less than 30 seconds when I mixed it all together at the lake house.). I decided to use the honey as called for in the recipe and everyone loved them. Lots! As a side note, we served them warm with butter and hot honey. So good. Thank you.

        • — SEB on July 11, 2023
        • Reply
  • I have made this numerous times and every time they are perfection! Thank you for this recipe.

    I am having a large group over for dinner and trying to prep what I can ahead of time. Could I prep the batter before people arrive and bake muffins off just before dinner? Can the batter sit at all — or is it best to just do it all right before we eat? Thanks!!

    • — Ashlea on June 4, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Ashlea, so glad you like these! I don’t recommend making the batter in advance as the muffins won’t rise well when you go to bake them. If you’d like, you can mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another and then combine them and proceed with the recipe when you’re ready to bake it. Hope the dinner goes nicely!

      • — Jenn on June 5, 2023
      • Reply
      • Thank you so much for the reply! Will do that. 🙂

        • — Ashlea on June 5, 2023
        • Reply
  • OMG…YUMMMMM! My first time making cornbread and not my last! Thank you!

    • — Peter B on May 28, 2023
    • Reply
    • Jenn just another fabulous recipe! These are so quick and easy. My grands loved them with your turkey chili recipe! I just added a salad (basically Israeli salad with corn and peppers) with a cumin-lime vinaigrette and wow!
      I actually doubled the recipe and made 18 muffins and a round 9″ pie plate that was so attractive. I was out of honey so I made maple butter. It was fantastic.

      • — Paula on August 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • Took this cornbread to a potluck. Everyone loved them!

    • — Laurie on May 22, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made these for the first time today. Excellent. If I wanted to use a jumbo muffin pan, could I just add twice the batter to 6 muffins holes? Would you recommend changing the cooking temperature or time?

    • — Susan on May 16, 2023
    • Reply
    • So glad you liked them! Jumbo muffins will work here. They’ll take 5 to 10 minutes longer to bake, but I’d start checking after 5.

      • — Jenn on May 17, 2023
      • Reply
  • if we are dairy free, what milk alternative is best to use?

    • — Brooke Lewitan on May 4, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Brooke, You can use whatever you have on hand – any non-dairy milk will work here. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on May 4, 2023
      • Reply
  • Can these be made in a cast iron skillet? I like a crispy edge.

    • — Simone on May 1, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sure, Simone, that should work. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on May 1, 2023
      • Reply
  • This is thee best corn bread recipe I have ever made. Good bye Jiffy. I always get compliments each time I make this.

    • — Quartey, s. on April 21, 2023
    • Reply

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