This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

When it comes to all-around baked good performance, it’s hard to beat Cornbread Muffins. Moist, fluffy, and made with healthy ingredients, these easy cornbread muffins are appropriate for any and all times of day.

a basket of fluffy and moist cornbread muffins with applesauce

Mega-moist (far from your average crumbly cornbread muffin), and made with better-for-you ingredients, these Southern cornbread muffins are a twist on my mother’s classic cornbread batter.

The best part? You can enjoy them in both sweet and savory applications.

Dunk one with a bowl of Vegetarian Chili or enjoy it drizzled with honey beside a scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt.

(I bet they’d even double as an unconventional base for this Peach Shortcake recipe.)

No matter how you choose to gobble up these muffins, they’re sure to become an instant hit with your friends and family.

Plus, they’re so simple to make, you don’t need a box!

a healthy cornbread muffin with whole wheat flour cut in half and spread with butter

5 Star Review

“These are the best cornbread muffins! We ate them for breakfast and with dinner. Whole batch gone in a day.”

— Patricia —

How to Make Cornbread Muffins

This deceptively healthy and easy cornbread muffin recipe is a smart, tasty way to begin (or end) your day.

Like many of my favorite healthy muffin recipes, they use simple swaps to up the nutritional value, without compromising flavor or moisture texture.

These cornbread muffins are sweet but only subtly so.

You can smear one with Strawberry Chia Jam for breakfast, then enjoy another at lunch beside a bowl of Healthy Turkey Chili.

If you’d like 100% savory cornbread muffins, I suggest baking this Mexican Cornbread in a muffin pan.


The Ingredient

  • Cornmeal. Lends these wholesome cornbread muffins their quintessential flavor and the special texture that makes them soft on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside.

Ingredient Note

For the best textural contrast that isn’t *too* crunchy, use medium-grind cornmeal.

  • Flour. A 50/50 blend of all purpose and whole wheat pastry flour is the perfect combination of fluffy and nutritious.

Substitution Tip

You can make these muffins with white whole wheat flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour OR use entirely all purpose flour.

  • Sugar. Sweetens the muffins a touch and improves the tenderness of the crumb. (And yes, I like sugar or honey in my cornbread! Don’t object until you taste one.)
  • Applesauce. Adds moisture to the muffins without extra fat (just like in these Applesauce Muffins).
  • Baking Powder. Our leavening agent that gives these southern cornbread muffins their perfect rise.

Ingredient Note

It may seem like a lot, but the recipe does, in fact, call for 2 tablespoons of baking powder. It’s what makes these muffins rise sky-high.

  • Eggs. Our star muffin binder.
  • Butter. For moisture, softness, and classic butter taste baked right into every bite. We are using melted butter that has been cooled.
  • Skim Milk. I decided to skip the buttermilk (and save it for these Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins) and sour cream and reached for skim milk to make these cornbread muffins healthy.
Savory cornbread muffins without corn for breakfast spread with butter

The Directions

  1. Combine the dry ingredients. Set aside.
a mixing bowl of wet ingredients whisked together for cornbread muffins
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
a glass mixing bowl of southern cornbread muffin batter with applesauce
  1. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Do not over mix.
  2. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
a muffin tin filled with batter for the BEST cornbread muffins
  1. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each well to the top.
  2. Bake cornbread muffins at 350 degrees F for 23 to 25 minutes, until the tops are lightly crisp and golden brown. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

This old-fashioned cornbread muffin recipe is the perfect base for corn muffin creativity. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Blueberry Cornbread Muffins. Add 3/4 fresh or frozen blueberries to the batter (if using frozen, no need to thaw first).
  • Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread Muffins. Add 1/4 cup diced fresh jalapeno and 1/2 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese to the finished batter (or bake this cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread or Mexican Cornbread in a muffin panin a muffin pan).
  • Jam-Stuffed Cornbread Muffins. After baking, fill each muffin with your favorite raspberry, blueberry, or strawberry jam. To do so, spoon 3/4 cup of seedless jam into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Push the tip into the top of the muffin and squeeze 1-2 tablespoons of jam into the center, until you fear it may burst. YUM.

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Leftover muffins will keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  • To Freeze. Place muffins in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen muffins to an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired.

Storage Tips

For more muffin storage tips, check out this post: Healthy Muffins – Easy Recipes, Storage Tips, and More!

honey and butter spread on an old fashioned cornbread muffin

What to Serve with Cornbread Muffins

With breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack—anytime is a great time for a batch of healthy cornbread muffins.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

  • Muffin Tin. This standard 12-cup muffin tin is my go-to for baking muffins and cupcakes every time.
  • Mixing Bowls. I love this nested glass mixing bowl set because it saves precious cupboard space.
  • Wooden Spoons. To prevent overmixing the batter, I typically prefer to mix by hand rather than using a mixer when making muffin recipes.
Non sweet cornbread muffins without buttermilk or sour cream

A muffin you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND dessert? Sign me up!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Cornbread Muffins Gluten Free?

Swap the all-purpose and whole wheat flours for a trusted 1-to-1 gluten-free flour that you have had success with in the past. Cornmeal is naturally gluten free (just check your labels to confirm the brand you buy is processed in a gluten-free certified facility if necessary).

Is Cornbread the Same as Cornbread Muffins?

Essentially. Many cornbread recipes made in a cast iron skillet can often be adapted into muffins and vice versa by playing around with the oven temperature and baking time.

Can I Use These Cornbread Muffins to Make Cornbread Stuffing?

Sure! While I have not used them myself to make Cornbread Stuffing, I imagine they would work. The stuffing may be more crumbly, since the muffins are a little more tender than classic cornbread. If you try these in a cornbread stuffing recipe, I would love to hear your results.

Cornbread Muffins

5 from 4 votes
The BEST cornbread muffins recipe. These healthy cornbread muffins are fluffy, moist, and tender. Made with whole wheat flour!

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients
  

For the Corn Muffins

  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal (suggested: medium grind, but do not use coarse)
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 1 1/2 cups skim milk

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, whole wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, eggs, applesauce, and melted, cooled butter.
  • Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir with a wooden spoon, until they are just blended. Do not over mix. Allow the mixture to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with cooking spray. Spoon the batter into the tin, filling each one just to the top.
  • Bake the corn muffins for 23-25 minutes, until the tops are lightly crisp and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely…or enjoy them warm right away.

Notes

  • RECIPE VARIATION: I originally shared this muffin recipe with a jam filling. After the muffins cool, spoon 3/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Push the tip into the top of the muffin and squeeze 1-2 tablespoons of jam into the center, until you fear it may burst. Repeat for each muffin.
  • TO STORE: Leftover muffins will keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  • TO FREEZE: Place muffins in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen muffins to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 12)Calories: 252kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 7gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 38mgPotassium: 386mgFiber: 3gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 225IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 2mg

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.

Sign Me Up

Related Recipes

Making stealthy healthy muffins is a passion of mine. Here are more of my favorite healthy muffin recipes:

Did you try this recipe?

I want to see!

Follow @wellplated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!

You May Also Like

Free Email Series
Sign Up for FREE Weekly Meal Plans
Each includes a grocery list, budget, and 5 healthy dinners, helping you save time, save money, and live better!

Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

Learn more about Erin

Leave a Comment

Did you make this recipe?

Don't forget to leave a review!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





14 Comments

Leave a comment

  1. These are the best cornbread muffins! We ate them for breakfast and with dinner. Whole batch gone in a day.5 stars

  2. These look amazing! Can’t wait to try them. If I cut the amount of sugar, will that effect the consistency?

    1. Hi Christy, it might. I’ve only tested the recipe as written so your final version won’t be like the one here on the site. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!

  3. I made these muffins last night for Halloween with a pot of chili and they were great! I’ve been making corn muffin since I was 12 years old, but this really is a great recipe. But as a Southerner, I did have to use buttermilk, but did not make any other substitutions. I will definitely be making these throughout the winter. Thanks, Erin!5 stars

  4. I made these muffins twice now and they are the best! But as as a Southerner, I have to use buttermilk. ☺️5 stars

    1. Bonnie, this allows the gluten in the flour to relax and the wet and dry ingredients to better absorb, giving you a more tender muffin. Baking science!

  5. I’m going to make these in a couple of days. Do you think white monkfruit would work in place of the regular sugar, or would it be a total disaster? Or should I just try it and report back? 😊

    1. Hi Cynde, I haven’t tested it myself so you’ll to experiment but keep in mind, depending on the brand of monkfruit that you use will depend on if it is a 1:1 substitute or you’ll have to reduce the amount some. Let me know how it goes!