Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (can substitute with whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (can substitute with vegetable oil)
- 1–2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped (leave seeds in for more heat)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional but highly recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners. This step is crucial because it helps the muffins release easily and keeps them looking perfect for serving.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Taking a moment here to mix dry ingredients well ensures every bite has balanced flavor and texture.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter until smooth. My secret? I always crack eggs into a small bowl first to avoid any shell surprises in the batter.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently just until combined. Overmixing can make muffins tough, so I stop as soon as I don’t see any flour.
- Fold in the chopped jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese. This is the fun part—seeing those flecks of green and orange peek through the batter always makes me smile.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. This helps the muffins rise nicely without spilling over.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I like to start checking at 15 minutes to avoid overbaking—nothing dries out a muffin faster than that!
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This little pause helps them set up perfectly and keeps the bottoms from getting soggy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International