Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe: Sweet, Savory, and Irresistible Bites
If you’re looking for a bite-sized treat that combines the rich flavor of cornbread with a sweet, buttery glaze, look no further than Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers. These tender, moist cornbread poppers are golden on the outside, soft on the inside, and smothered in a delicious honey butter glaze that makes each bite irresistible. Perfect as a snack, side dish, or party appetizer, this recipe brings comfort food to the next level.
For more delicious and easy-to-make snack ideas, check out Mini Cornbread Muffins and Honey Butter Biscuits.
Basic Recipe: Ingredients and Instructions
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Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe | Sweet & Savory Bites
- Total Time: 22-25 minutes
- Yield: 24 mini cornbread poppers (or 12 regular-sized poppers) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers are a bite-sized version of classic cornbread, perfect for snacking or as a side dish. These fluffy, slightly sweet poppers are baked until golden, then drizzled with a delicious honey butter glaze. They’re moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and absolutely irresistible!
Ingredients
For the Poppers:
- 1 cup (120g) cornmeal
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
- 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
For the Honey Butter Glaze:
- 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease a mini muffin tin (or a regular-sized muffin tin if you prefer larger poppers) with non-stick spray or butter.
2. Make the Poppers Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and egg.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
3. Fill the Muffin Tin:
- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a popper comes out clean and the tops are lightly golden brown.
4. Prepare the Honey Butter Glaze:
- While the poppers are baking, prepare the honey butter glaze.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, honey, and salt. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
5. Glaze the Poppers:
- Once the poppers are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes.
- Drizzle the warm honey butter glaze over the top of each cornbread popper. You can use a spoon or a pastry brush for an even coating.
6. Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve the Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers warm, and enjoy the delicious sweetness from the honey butter glaze.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of vanilla extract to the batter.
These poppers are best served fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
If you don’t have a mini muffin tin, you can also bake these in a regular muffin tin, adjusting the baking time to around 18-20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Snack, Side Dish, Dessert (Optional)
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini cornbread popper (approximately)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a mini muffin tin or popper pan with non-stick spray or line it with paper liners. This will ensure that your poppers don’t stick and make for easy removal after baking.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together until fully mixed and there are no lumps.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and egg until smooth. The buttermilk will add a subtle tang to the cornbread, while the oil helps make it soft and moist.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter to ensure your poppers remain light and fluffy.
5. Fill the Pan
Spoon the batter into the mini muffin tin or popper pan, filling each cup about ¾ full. This will give the cornbread poppers room to rise and become perfectly golden on top.
6. Bake the Poppers
Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the poppers are golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking, as these poppers cook quickly.
7. Make the Honey Butter Glaze
While the poppers are baking, prepare the honey butter glaze. In a small bowl, melt the unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stove. Once melted, stir in the honey and salt. Mix well until the glaze is smooth and fully combined.
8. Glaze the Poppers
Once the cornbread poppers are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool for just a minute. Then, while still warm, drizzle or brush the honey butter glaze generously over the top of each popper.
9. Serve and Enjoy
Serve your Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers warm and enjoy the irresistible combination of sweet and savory flavors. They’re perfect as a side for dinner, a snack, or a fun addition to any gathering.
Advanced Techniques
Tips for the Perfect Cornbread Poppers
- Use Fresh Baking Powder: Make sure your baking powder is fresh for the best rise in the poppers. Old or expired baking powder can result in dense, flat cornbread.
- Rest the Batter: After mixing the wet and dry ingredients, let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes before baking. This allows the cornmeal to absorb the liquid, resulting in a softer, more tender texture.
- Use Buttermilk: The tangy flavor of buttermilk is key to achieving that classic cornbread taste. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can substitute it with a mixture of 1 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice, left to sit for 5 minutes.
Make Them Extra Special
- Add Mix-ins: For added flavor, try folding in ingredients like shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeños, or crispy bacon before baking for a savory twist.
- Top with a Little Extra Honey: After glazing the poppers, drizzle a little extra honey on top for a sweeter finish.
- Use Flavored Honey: Experiment with flavored honeys, like cinnamon honey or lavender honey, to give your glaze a unique flavor profile.
See more advanced recipes, at Mobolux.
Storage, Shelf Life, and Maintenance Tips
How to Store Leftover Poppers
If you have any leftover Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate them for up to 1 week. Make sure they’re completely cooled before storing.
Freezing the Poppers
These cornbread poppers freeze well! To freeze, allow them to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply place them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through. Brush them with a little more honey butter glaze after reheating for that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.
Maintaining the Perfect Texture
To maintain the texture of your cornbread poppers, try reheating them in the oven rather than the microwave. The microwave can sometimes make baked goods soggy, while the oven helps keep the exterior crisp while warming the interior.
Dietary Adaptations and Substitutions
Gluten-Free Option
To make Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers gluten-free, simply swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend that measures 1:1 like King Arthur’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. Make sure to check that your baking powder is gluten-free as well.
Dairy-Free Version
For a dairy-free version, replace the buttermilk with a dairy-free milk (such as almond milk or coconut milk) and substitute the unsalted butter with a dairy-free butter alternative or coconut oil.
Sugar-Free Option
To make the poppers sugar-free, you can substitute the granulated sugar in the recipe with a sugar substitute such as stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Just be sure to use a 1:1 ratio of sugar substitute to sugar for the best results.
FAQs About The Recipe
Q1: Can I make the batter ahead of time?
It’s best to bake the poppers right after mixing the batter to ensure they rise and cook properly. However, you can prepare the batter the night before and store it in the fridge, then bake the next day.
Q2: Can I make these in a regular muffin tin?
Yes, you can make these in a regular muffin tin. Just be sure to adjust the baking time. Larger muffins may take around 18-20 minutes to bake, so check with a toothpick to ensure they’re fully cooked.
Q3: Can I substitute the honey butter glaze?
If you prefer, you can make a maple butter glaze instead of honey butter for a different flavor. Simply replace the honey with maple syrup and follow the same method to make the glaze.
Q4: Can I make these as regular cornbread in a pan?
Yes! Instead of making individual poppers, pour the batter into a greased 8×8-inch baking dish or round cake pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. After baking, glaze with the honey butter for the same sweet, savory finish.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
These Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers are a delightful treat that will become a crowd favorite. Their soft, moist texture combined with the sweet, buttery glaze creates an irresistible snack that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re serving them at a family dinner, holiday gathering, or just enjoying them as a snack, these poppers are sure to please everyone.
Make sure to customize them with your favorite add-ins and enjoy them fresh out of the oven or reheated with an extra drizzle of honey butter!