Recipe Details
Rich and Buttery Corn Muffins
Recipe Overview
Total Time: 40 minutes
Rating: 4/5 (based on 1,373 reviews)
Number of Comments: 232
Description
These golden corn muffins, crafted with generous amounts of melted butter and sour cream, feature a moist, rich texture with a delicately crumbly finish. Their light sweetness is balanced by a deep, authentic corn flavor, achieved optimally with coarsely ground cornmeal (rather than fine cornmeal, typically found on supermarket shelves), which also contributes a pleasant, subtle grainy mouthfeel.
Key Ingredients
Coarsely ground cornmeal: 1 cup (critical for deep corn flavor and texture; avoid fine varieties).
All-purpose flour: 1 cup (stabilizes structure).
Melted unsalted butter: ½ cup (primary fat for richness and moisture).
Sour cream: ½ cup (adds tang and tenderness).
Large eggs: 2 (provide structural integrity).
Granulated sugar: ¼ cup (for mild sweetness).
Leavening agents: Baking powder (2 tsp), baking soda (½ tsp), salt (¼ tsp).
Liquid: Buttermilk (¼ cup, recommended for tang; substitute with milk if unavailable).
Preparation Steps
Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with silicone liners for easy release.
Dry Mix: In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until uniformly blended.
Wet Mix: In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, sour cream, and eggs. Whisk vigorously until emulsified. Add buttermilk (or milk) and mix again.
Combine: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently stir with a spatula until just incorporated—do not overmix (lumps are acceptable to preserve a tender crumb).
Fill & Bake: Divide batter evenly into muffin cups (filling ⅔ full). Bake 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. The tops will be golden-brown.
Cooling: Remove muffins from the tin immediately and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving.
Serving & Storage
Serving: Enjoy warm from the oven, slathered with additional melted butter. For a crispy exterior, slice in half, broil under high heat for 1–2 minutes, then serve.
Storage: Cool completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days. Freeze individually (wrapped in parchment) for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge before eating.
Featured In
A Muffin to Top Them All (a curated collection of premium muffin recipes).
Note: For best results, use freshly ground or specialty coarsely milled cornmeal to elevate the authentic corn aroma and texture.