Corn Bread Muffins Recipe
Browned and crispy cast iron corn bread muffins with hot honey butter
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Ingredients
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Cornbread Muffins
Hot Honey Butter
For the Cast Iron & Serving
Method
Cornbread Muffins
- 1
- 2
Combine dry ingredients
In a large bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and fine salt until evenly distributed.
- 3
Mix wet ingredients
In a separate bowl whisk the buttermilk, egg, melted unsalted butter, and vegetable oil until smooth and slightly frothy.
- 4
Combine wet and dry
Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Do not overmix; some small lumps are fine. Scrape the bowl to ensure there is no dry flour at the bottom.
- 5
Heat fat in skillet
Carefully remove the preheated cast iron skillet from the oven using oven mitts. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or melted butter and swirl to coat the bottom and sides. The fat should shimmer but not smoke.
- 6
Portion batter and bake
Spoon or pour the batter into the hot skillet. For roughly 10-12 standard muffins, use an ice cream scoop or 1/4-cup measure to portion batter into the skillet, keeping a little space between scoops if using a larger skillet (alternatively, divide between two 6-cup muffin tins). Return skillet to the oven and bake for 12-16 minutes, or until the tops are golden-brown, edges are crisp, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. If you used a single skillet and made a large one-pan cornbread, bake until a deep golden crust forms and a tester comes out clean (about 18-22 minutes).
- 7
Finish and cool briefly
Remove the skillet from the oven and let the muffins rest in the hot pan for 3 minutes to crisp the bottoms. Use a spatula to loosen and transfer muffins to a wire rack for 5 minutes so they finish setting but remain warm. If desired, sprinkle coarse sea salt lightly over the warm muffins.
Hot Honey Butter
- 8
Prepare butter mixture
While the muffins bake, in a small bowl combine the softened unsalted butter, honey, hot sauce, smoked paprika (if using), and 1/8 teaspoon fine salt. Mix with a fork until smooth and fully incorporated. Taste and adjust heat/honey balance — add a little more honey if you want sweeter, or an extra 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce for more heat.
- 9
