Buttermilk Corn Muffins
Tender, delicious Buttermilk Corn Muffins with enough sweetness to make them irresistible! So versatile and quick to throw together.
Cornbread Muffins are an easy side when serving a game day bowl of chili or a speedy breakfast smeared with butter and jam.
Why You Must Make
- This is an old Ina Garten recipe from before she had a TV show. It was published in House Beautiful magazine many years ago. It is not in any of her nine cookbooks.
- Ina made it in a casserole dish, but I love preparing muffins so I can freeze the leftovers for other meals, a quick breakfast, or a snack.
- The buttermilk makes these tender and moist.
- These sweet corn muffins pair delightfully with chili, soups, and even casseroles.
I bake up a batch of these buttermilk corn muffins whenever the moon and stars are aligned, meaning chili is on the menu and buttermilk is in the fridge. Sweet and tender, these corn muffins are a perfect side for a fall meal.
But sometimes I find other excuses to bake up a batch. They were excellent with tonight’s fajitas. I first baked these corn muffins years ago and never looked for another recipe. They’re so wonderful fresh out of the oven with a cold pat of butter.
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Flour, Sugar, Salt, Milk
- Butter – Salted is OK, melt to use in this recipe.
- Buttermilk – In a pinch, you can make buttermilk at home. Put a cup of milk in a liquid measuring cup. Remove 1 tablespoon and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, stir then measure and use in your recipe. You can store leftovers in your refrigerator for a few days.
- Egg – Use a large egg. Have it at room temperature for easier incorporation.
- Yellow Cornmeal – I use Quaker brand cornmeal.
- Baking Powder – Baking powder has a much shorter shelf life than baking soda. If it’s expired, your muffins won’t rise properly. So check the date before using. To test, put a spoonful in a cup of hot water. If it’s fresh, it will bubble vigorously. If it doesn’t, replace it before baking these muffins.
How to Make
Recipe Tips
- Cornbread is a quick bread, meaning it uses baking soda, baking powder, or both as leaveners instead of yeast.
- PRO-Tip: Make sure your baking powder has not expired before starting this recipe. Old baking powder will not leaven properly.
- This recipe calls for baking powder, not the more frequently used baking soda. Baking powder needs an acid in the batter for the best results. Both milk and buttermilk contain lactic acid.
- When making quick bread, it’s best to mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another, then combine the two.
- This helps prevent over-mixing which will make your muffins develop peaks and tunnels. Instead of rounded domes, the top of your cornbread will look pointed, a sign of overworked gluten.
- PRO-Tip: Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to make the batter. Do not use a hand mixer as most likely, you will overbeat the batter.
- Use a large scoop to divvy up the batter to ensure the muffins are consistent in size.
- Check using a toothpick inserted in the middle to see if your muffins are done baking. There should be no batter on the toothpick when it’s pulled out of the cornbread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some popular additions to cornbread include:
– Diced jalapenos and sharp cheddar cheese
– Corn kernels, minced red pepper, fresh basil
– Chopped Bacon or Ham Cubes and your favorite shredded cheese.
– Dried cranberries or other dried fruit.
– Chopped and steamed spinach, scallions, and cheese.
Yes, these muffins freeze beautifully. Place the muffins you’re not going to eat soon into a freezer-safe Ziploc bag, remove excess air, and place them in the freezer.
My kids liked to pull one out of the freezer and zap in the microwave for a quick breakfast before rushing to school.
These and most recipes for corn muffins call for wheat flour which contains gluten. Unless the packaging or baker tells you it was made with gluten-free flour, assume it has gluten.
With the ingredients in this recipe, each muffin has approximately 188 calories. To make healthier cornbread, consider decreasing the amount of sugar in the recipe, replacing the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour (or half all-purpose and half whole wheat), and/or adding in corn kernels, chopped red bell peppers, or jalapeno peppers.
You May Also Like:
- Pumpkin Muffins from Snappy Gourmet
- Refrigerator Bran Muffins
- Zucchini Muffins
- Double Cherry Muffins
- Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins
- More Easy Breakfast Recipes
The next time you plan to make chili or a spicy soup, add a batch of these buttermilk corn muffins to your menu! This fabulous cornbread recipe is also wonderful for breakfast with butter and jam!
Buttermilk Corn Muffins
Sweet and tender corn muffins made with buttermilk
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (4 ounces), melted
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º. Grease or put paper liners in a 12-count muffin tin.
- Combine melted butter with buttermilk, milk, and egg.
- Sift dry ingredients and add to the milk mixture.
- Stir until just combined.
- Fill muffin cups about ⅔ full with batter.
- Bake for about 22 minutes or till firm and golden.
Notes
To test for doneness, press the middle of the muffin with your fingertip. If it pops right back, the muffins are done. You can also use the toothpick test. Insert and remove a toothpick in the middle of a muffin. If it comes out clean, the muffins are done.
Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Unlike baking soda, it usually expires before you use it all.
Adapted from Ina Garten.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1 muffinAmount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 388mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g
24 Comments on “Buttermilk Corn Muffins”
I love cornbread, and I do love the idea to turn it to muffins (bonus: individual servings are also cute!) They look and sound great – would like some for my breakfast.
I think the planets have realigned as we have chili on the menu tonight and will your quick and easy homemade buttermilk recipe- we are on it!
I love anything baked with buttermilk, Your recipe looks delicious and easy to make too.
Simple and quick to prepare, and very delicious looking too!
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
Hands down the best cornbread muffin recipe I’ve ever tried.
Hello Fall! I am welcoming it with welcome arms (laugh). Chili or any stew, and corn bread muffins are the bomb.
Happy Fall to you.
Velva
These are the best! Always love your delicious recipes Liz!
This is so good! Such a delicious breakfast idea!
These are perfect alongside a bowl of chili! They’re so tender and delicious!
These muffins went to perfectly with the chili I made for game day the other night! We all loved it. Thank you.
They really are the perfect chili side dish! Easy and delicious, these muffins are right up my alley. I think I will try the leftovers tonight with a big bowl of potato bacon soup that is on the menu!
Fantastic. Bookmarking to try a low carb version. Thanks, Liz.
Thanks, Susan…she just hovers when I bake!
I love the picture with Lambeau in the background.
They look great Lizzy! I love Ina’s recipe…I also use the recipe off the cornmeal container…
Jake’s favorite muffin!
Thanks, Paulette!!!
Liz, I was just thinkging that it’s time to make some chili and corn muffins soon. These look really nice and moist. I don’t the dry cumbly kind. I will definitely make these. Love the pictures will Lambeau!
Jeanne, you posted!!!
Carole, the house is full of treats, so I’m going to have to take a breather!!!
Ina has some winner recipes, for sure. Liz, you are a baking machine of late!
Liz
The corn muffins look delicious. I will try them real soon!
Yes, she did, Erica…I shouldn’t have sampled standing up at the counter! Hope you enjoy these 🙂
I agree, Leef…it’s so nice when you find the ultimate recipe and can stop searching. I know the boys will have these for breakfast…they’d be wonderful toasted with butter and jelly.
Love corn muffins. I’ve been using a recipe off the side of the Albers cornmeal box for years. Perfect and moist. It looks similar to your recipe (I think a little less butter and no buttermilk). Isn’t it great when you find a recipe that works? These are so good split and toasted the next day, too.
Ohhhh….I can’t believe this I just bought some cornmeal and was hunting for a recipe for muffins or cornbread and here now I will copy yours. They look real yummy…..:-)and your recipe looks good, most items I always have on hand.
Did Lambeau get some crumbs????? She’s so cute.