These Gluten Free Corn Muffins have only 7 ingredients and come together so quickly. Bonus? They're totally dairy free as well!
I love cornbread! Growing up, my mom used to make Jiffy cornbread and serve with ham and beans. I’ve developed a cornbread recipe that’s gluten-free (Jiffy is not!). I also use olive oil (Jiffy uses partially hydrogenated lard). But the result is just as delicious.
This recipe also makes a great base for gluten-free Cornbread Stuffing if you're looking for healthy Thanksgiving recipes.
Gluten Free Corn Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornmeal
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400F.
- Stir together in large bowl cornmeal, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together 2 eggs, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup olive oil, and 1/4 cup honey.
- Add wet to dry ingredients and stir well to combine.
For muffins:
- Pour into a 12-cup, well-oiled muffin tin (option to line muffin tin w/ papers).
- Bake at 400 F for 16-20 minutes, or until tops bounce back when pressed. Cool completely, cover and store at room temperature. Yields: 12.
For bread:
- Place in 9×13” pan sprayed w/ oil.
- Bake 400 F for 18-20 minutes. Store at room temperature, covered. (if using for stuffing, do not cover and allow to become dry)
Notes
Are these healthy cornbread muffins?
Yes! In addition to being just as tasty as the corn muffins you ate as a kid, these are indeed healthy cornbread muffins. Why? Let's take a look at the nutritional content:
Cornmeal (Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium)
Cornmeal is made simply by drying and grinding corn. While corn is mostly carbohydrates, it ranks low-medium on the glycemic index, so won't spike your blood sugar as much as some carbs. It's also naturally gluten free.
Eggs (Vitamin A, Folate, B Vitamins, Selenium, Lutein, Choline)
An egg contains 7 grams of protein and is full of lutein (good for your eyes) and choline (good for your brain). You've likely heard that eggs are high in cholesterol and that's true. However, studies show that eating foods containing cholesterol does not actually raise cholesterol in most people. Furthermore, eating eggs can help raise HDL, also known as “good cholesterol”.
Olive Oil
Due to the type of fat it contains, olive oil may reduce inflammation. It also reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, stroke and heart disease. Make sure to get high quality extra virgin olive oil, as it retains more antioxidants and nutrients.
Honey (Antioxidants)
Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which are strongest in darker honey. Buy raw local honey when possible as filtering the honey can diminish its nutrients.
Easy Variations on Gluten Free Corn Muffins
There's not much better than classic cornbread in my book. That being said, these gluten free corn muffins are flexible and you can certainly experiment and make them your own!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Stir some fresh blueberries into the batter for more of a breakfast / brunch muffin
- For a spicy kick, add some chopped pickled jalapenos before baking
- Add fresh corn kernels to the batter
- Swap pure maple syrup for the honey for a slightly different flavor
- Add some shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese to the muffin batter
Can I freeze muffins?
Yes! Muffins are great for meal prep because they freeze so well.
If you'd like to freeze some or all of your gluten free corn muffins, first bake them and let them cool to room temperature.
For best results, you'll then want to flash freeze them. Simply place the muffins you wish to freeze in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes to an hour. This prevents the muffins from sticking together.
Lastly, place the frozen muffins in a freezer bag or storage container in the freezer and enjoy over the next 2-3 months as you please!
What is your favorite way to serve cornbread? Share your ideas and pictures on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as @prepdish in all 3 places, or leave a comment below.
Want to stock your freezer with more healthy muffins? Try my Chai Spiced Zucchini Muffins or my Very Berry Muffins!
What to Serve with Healthy Corn Muffins
Wondering what to serve with these healthy corn muffins? They're super versatile so it's hard to go wrong, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Crockpot 3-Bean Chipotle Chili: Cornbread and chili is a classic combination, and for good reason. My 3-bean chili is vegetarian as written, but you can easily add some ground beef or ground turkey if you prefer a meatier version.
Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs: These healthy corn muffins are the perfect tool to sop up my addictive homemade bbq sauce!
Green Shakshuka: Cornbread shouldn't be limited to the dinner table, it's great for breakfast or brunch too! And if you keep some of these corn muffins in the freezer, it's super easy to pull some out, even on a week day. Serve these muffins with shakshuka or any version of eggs you love!
Black Bean Chili Mac: This black bean chili mac is just as good over cornbread as it is on noodles!
these are pretty good! it’s hard to find gluten free muffins and I only have coconut flour so I used this recipe. I replaced oil with butter, water with milk, honey with maple syrup, and added 1 tbsp coconut flour.
this recipe is my go-to for corn bread or corn muffins