Cornbread Muffins

Tested & Perfected Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.

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.

You May Also Like

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.

See more recipes:

Comments

  • Love these muffins. I do get them to dome nicely by following Sally’s baking addiction muffin strategy. I fill them to the top, cook at 425 for 5 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 (while the muffins are still in the oven) and cook for about 10-12 more minutes. It only makes 9 muffins (or 18 with a double batch), but they look really nice!

    • — Anna on October 20, 2024
    • Reply
  • I don’t have unsalted butter. Can I used salted butter and omit the salt?

    • — Kathy Woodsum on September 27, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Kathy, you can use the salted butter, but instead of omitting the salt, I’d reduce it to 3/4 teaspoon. (Most butter has about 1/4 teaspoon of salt per stick.) Enjoy!

  • Can masa be used in place of cornmeal?? has anyone tried? — do you have to adjust liquids or baking powder? realized I only have masa in the house

    • — Gram on September 9, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Gram, I think it will work, but the muffins won’t have the same cornbread-like texture. They will be cakier. Please LMK what you think if you try it!

  • This recipe was easy to follow for a novice baker like myself and got perfect muffins.

    • — Chantal on August 18, 2024
    • Reply
  • This truly is a perfect recipe, and I have gotten compliments on it whenever I’ve shared them with other families. Thank you so very much!

    • — Sarah on June 15, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn… quick question I noticed that you wrote a few times that buttermilk won’t work. But it worked perfectly for me this evening and for Jen in January 2024 and for Lauren in February 2024. May I ask why you suggest not to use buttermilk?? Thanks for your time!

    • — Kathleen on June 12, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Kathleen, Buttermilk is more acidic than regular milk which can react with the baking powder in the batter and and cause the muffins to rise differently. In general, you stick with the regular milk, you’ll get more predictable results. Glad that the buttermilk worked well for you though!

      • — Jenn on June 13, 2024
      • Reply
  • Sooo fluffy and moist. Perfect texture!!!! Awesome melt in the mouth texture with or without butter spread on. I made a 1/2 batch, got 7 muffins. Worked perfectly . I followed the recipe to the letter except I used buttermilk which I wanted to use before it expired. I used ‘regular’ (not stoneground) medium yellow cornmeal. Love this recipe 👍👍👍👍👍😁

    • — Kathleen on June 12, 2024
    • Reply
  • Made these and they came out great, only thing is I had to bake mine for double the amount of time for them to turn golden and be done. Not sure why…super yummy though.

    • — Janelle on May 13, 2024
    • Reply

Add a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.