Description
These Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers are bite-sized morsels of pure Southern comfort! With a golden, crispy exterior and tender, honey-sweetened interior, these mini cornbread bites feature sharp cheddar and optional bacon for irresistible flavor in every two-bite morsel. Perfect alongside chili, barbecue, or as an appetizer that’ll have your guests reaching for “just one more, darlin’!”
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cornbread Poppers
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup buttermilk (whole or low-fat)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (plus extra for greasing)
- 2 tablespoons honey (plus extra for drizzling)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2–3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (optional, but oh-so-good!)
For the Honey Butter Drizzle
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly grease a mini-muffin tin with butter or nonstick spray—these little poppers love a slick surface to slide right out!
- Dry Mixin’:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Give it a good toss so everything’s evenly distributed—no clumps allowed, darlin’.
- Wet Mixin’:
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg, then stir in the buttermilk, melted butter, and honey.
- Pour that golden loveliness over your dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined.
- Don’t overmix; we want tender poppers, not hockey pucks.
- Cheese & Bacon Love:
- Fold in the shredded cheddar and crumbled bacon (if using).
- You’ll see that cheesy, bacon-y goodness peeking through—promise, it’s worth every bite!
- Fill ‘Em Up:
- Spoon the batter into the prepared mini-muffin cups, about ¾ full.
- That way they puff up just right without overflowin’.
- Bake to Golden Perfection:
- Slide your tin into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.
- Honey Butter Drizzle:
- While the poppers rest for a minute, whisk together the softened butter, honey, and a pinch of sea salt in a small bowl.
- Drizzle over warm poppers right before servin’.
- Serve & Enjoy:
- Serve warm, straight from the tin, with extra honey on the side for dunkin’.
- These poppers make a stellar snack, side dish, or potluck show-stopper.
Notes
- For a spicy twist, stir a pinch of cayenne into the batter for a little Southern kick.
- Make ’em ahead: You can bake poppers, cool completely, then freeze on a tray. Once frozen, tuck ’em into a zip-top bag. Warm in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes when you’re ready.
- For maximum tenderness, be sure not to overmix once you combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- These poppers are at their absolute best when served warm, but they’ll still charm your taste buds at room temperature.
- Try different cheese variations – pepper jack adds a nice kick, while smoked gouda brings a lovely depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 poppers
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 28mg