These cornbread muffins are quick, easy, tender, and delicious! Lightly sweetened with honey, they are a favorite with soups, chili, stews, BBQ, and more!

Closeup photograph of stack of cornbread muffins on a white background.

Cornbread makes the best side to go along with so many dishes, especially some of our Southern favorites like BBQ pork roast, Brunswick stew, vegetable soup, chili, and so much more. These tender cornbread muffins are lightly sweetened with honey and are perfectly balanced so that they are not too sweet to serve with a variety of meals. They always seem to be the first thing to disappear when I serve them. 😉

How to Make the Best Cornbread Muffins

To make these cornbread muffins, you’ll just need six ingredients. These ingredients are staples in my house which makes this a simple, quick recipe to mix together for busy weeknights and weekends.

Photograph of cornbread muffin ingredients.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

  • Cornmeal – Made from ground yellow or white corn ranging in texture from finely ground to coarse. I prefer to use a stone ground cornmeal as I believe it is the perfect texture in recipes.
  • Self-rising flour – If you do not have self-rising flour on hand, you can easily make your own in just a few minutes. [Resource: How to Make Self-Rising Flour]
  • Buttermilk – Likewise, if you do not have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make your own. [Resource: How to Make Buttermilk Substitute] You can also substitute with your favorite milk – whole, low-fat, oat milk, or another plant-based milk.
  • Honey – This recipe is balanced and lightly sweetened to go with numerous dishes. If you would like it less sweet, reduce or omit the honey. Like it a little sweeter? Simply increase the honey to your preference. If vegan, you can substitute with maple syrup or sugar.
  • Butter – The melted butter adds so much flavor to these muffins. If vegan, substitute with your favorite plant butter.
  • Eggs – The ratio between the eggs and the flour helps these cornbread muffins to rise beautifully. If you are vegan, use your favorite egg substitute suitable for baking.
Photograph of cornbread muffin batter in a clear bowl.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep. Preheat the oven to 425º F. Line the muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease with vegetable oil. Set aside as you are preparing the cornbread muffin batter.

Prepare the batter. Whisk together the dry ingredients, cornmeal, and self-rising flour, in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the wet ingredients, buttermilk, honey, melted butter, and eggs, until smooth in a 2-cup measuring cup or another bowl. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Photograph of cornbread muffin batter distributed in a muffin pan.

Bake. Evenly distribute the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until the cornbread muffins have risen and the center springs to the touch, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

Serve. Serve warm. They are delicious with a smear of butter and a drizzle of honey!

Closeup photo of stack of cornbread muffins on a white plate and white background.

Storage Tips

To make ahead. Bake and cool the cornbread muffins. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve.

To freeze. Bake and cool completely. Store in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat and serve.

Other Favorite Quick and Easy Bread Recipes

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Easy Buttermilk Biscuits

Cream Biscuits

Skillet Cornbread

Banana Muffins

Photograph of cornbread muffin with a pat of butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you store cornbread muffins at room temperature overnight?

It is best to store them in the refrigerator; however, you can store cornbread muffins at room temperature overnight if you properly store them. Line the storage container with a paper towel and then place the cornbread muffins in a single layer on top of the towel to absorb any moisture. The muffins may be sticky or a bit soggy the longer they are stored.

Here’s my favorite cornbread muffins recipe. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Cornbread Muffins Recipe

5 from 1 vote
These cornbread muffins are quick, easy, tender and delicious! Lightly sweetened with honey, they are a favorite with soups, chili, stews, BBQ and more!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions 

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 425º F. Line muffin pan with paper liners, spray with baking spray or lightly grease with vegetable oil. Set aside.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients. Whisk together the cornmeal and self-rising flour in a large mixing bowl.
  • Whisk together wet ingredients. Add the buttermilk, honey, butter and eggs to a 2-cup measuring cup or another mixing bowl. Whisk together until the egg is well combined.
  • Combine and Bake. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Spoon the cornbread muffin mixture evenly into the prepared muffin pan, until each is filled 3/4. Bake until the cornbread muffins have risen and the center springs to the touch, about 15 – 20.
  • Serve. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for a few moments and then run a knife around the edge of the muffin to release them from the pan, if needed. Serve warm.

Notes

Adjust Sweetness:
If you would like your cornbread muffins less sweet, reduce or omit the honey. If you would like it sweeter, simply increase the honey to your preference. If vegan, you can substitute with maple syrup or sugar.
Vegan Cornbread Muffins:
To make these muffins vegan-friendly, use maple syrup instead of honey, use your favorite plant-based milk and butter, as well as your favorite baking-friendly egg substitute. 
To make ahead. Bake and cool the cornbread muffins. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve.
To freeze. Bake and cool completely. Store in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




6 Comments

  1. I plan to make your cornmeal muffins to go with a bowl of white beans and apple pepper relish plus fresh tomatoes and celery on the side.

    1. Thanks so much, Janice. I really appreciate this. I always hope other people enjoy my recipes as much as I and my family do.

  2. I plan to make these to go with some chili. They will be different from my usual pan of cornbread. Hope y’all are doing well!