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

  • At what temperature please? I see the time: to bake for 17-20 min but not the temp. Thanks so much!

    • — Nikki on November 17, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Nikki, They should be baked at 350°F/175°C. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on November 17, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi, this recipe looks so good and easy. I personally do not eat cornbread, however my family loves it. I have to take some “bread” or dinner rolls (whatever) to a family dinner tonight and I know they are serving Irish Stew. Will the muffins go well with Irish stew or should I consider another choice? Thanks

    • — Marilyn J Marczynski on November 8, 2023
    • Reply
  • Jenn,
    Ok I’m sure you get this a lot, but I very rarely comment on recipes, not even sure if I ever have, but just had to with THIS recipe, fabulous! I’ve tried corn bread and corn muffin recipes in the past and literally thrown out ALL of my efforts, ugh! This recipe is amazingly easy, fast and most of all delicious!! Thank you for providing a recipe that restored my faith in corn bread recipes!!

    • — Claudette Mullen on October 30, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made these for the first time (half recipe) just as shown and they were delicious! I used an ungreased silicone muffin pan and they popped right out. Will make again. 🙂

    • — Kathy Wurster on October 29, 2023
    • Reply
  • Jen: Can buttermilk be used in place of whole or low fat milk?

    Thanks.

    • — Pamela on October 20, 2023
    • Reply
    • I wouldn’t recommend it – sorry!

      • — Jenn on October 23, 2023
      • Reply
      • I love that this recipe does not call for buttermilk. That’s always an obstacle to me with cornbread recipes – an ingredient I will have to go out and buy and won’t use up; or if making buttermilk from scratch, it doesn’t seem as good as real buttermilk. These muffins are delicious without the buttermilk, easy, and made from ingredients I always have on hand. My new go-to.

        • — Ellen Mac on November 20, 2023
        • Reply
        • Little tip – I always freeze my buttermilk in 1 cup portions in zip lock bags. I lay the bags flat on a plate to freeze and then they don’t take up a lot of space in the freezer and thaw quickly. My grandmother used to drink buttermilk. Eesh… baking only for me!

          • — Cathy V on February 23, 2024
          • Reply
          • What a great tip Cathy V! Thanks for sharing.

            • — Kathy R on March 19, 2024
  • I halved the recipe to make 6 muffins. They were tasty and with a nice texture, but a little sweet for my taste. I was serving them with chili, and they seemed a bit desserty. I think I’d cut out some of the sugar next time. I do appreciate that this recipe calls for regular milk instead of buttermilk… one less thing to worry about. (I only had soy milk on hand, and I don’t know if you can make buttermilk with soy milk and vinegar like you can with dairy milk.)

    • — Rachel on October 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • Excellent! I will never use another recipe again. Super easy to make. I did add 2 tablespoons of extra flour for high altitude.
    These are a must if you want easy, fast no fuss corn muffin’s. You will never buy a box of Jiffy Mix again in your life! YUM

    • — Deb S on October 4, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi! Is it ok to double this recipe? Or will something go wrong?

      • — Ally on November 22, 2023
      • Reply
      • Hi Ally, You can double with recipe without any problems. 🙂

        • — Jenn on November 22, 2023
        • Reply
  • My first time making anything with cornmeal. As it was to accompany beef chili, reduced sugar to 2 tablespoons and added a small amount of grated cheddar. One percent milk and agave instead of honey as it is what I had on hand. Good texture and flavor, will add more sugar next time.

    • — Susan on September 18, 2023
    • Reply
  • Would you please list these under
    “Cornmeal Muffins” instead of “The Best…”. Always have a hard time findingthem! So good!!!

    • — Jane on September 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • Let me tell you, this recipe is perfect. My picky family loveeed them and my hubby almost ate the whole pan. Thank you! This is my go to now

    • — Melissa on September 6, 2023
    • Reply

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