Amber Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe

Sweet & Crispy Southern Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe

Southern kitchens buzz with excitement over these honey butter cornbread poppers that promise pure comfort in every bite.

Small golden nuggets packed with sweet and savory flavors will make your taste buds dance.

Crispy exteriors give way to tender, moist centers that melt deliciously on your tongue.

Cornmeal combines with rich honey and creamy butter to create an irresistible snack perfect for gatherings.

Southern hospitality shines through these bite-sized delights that offer warmth and richness in each morsel.

Simple ingredients transform into something magical when mixed with love and traditional cooking techniques.

Whip up these poppers and watch everyone around you smile with pure culinary joy.

Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers That Taste Like The South

  • Quickly Satisfying: These bite-sized cornbread poppers deliver maximum flavor in minimal time, perfect for busy home cooks seeking delicious results.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Versatility: Ideal for potlucks, game day gatherings, or casual family dinners, these poppers appeal to both kids and adults with their sweet and savory profile.
  • Simple Kitchen Magic: Requiring basic ingredients and minimal baking skills, this recipe transforms everyday pantry staples into golden, honey-glazed delights that taste like Southern comfort.
  • Convenient Portion Control: Mini muffin-sized poppers allow easy serving, reduced waste, and guilt-free snacking without compromising on taste or texture.

Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers What Goes In

Dry Ingredients:
  • Cornmeal: Provides the classic Southern cornbread texture and golden color.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps bind the batter and create a soft crumb.
  • Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors.
  • Baking Powder: Ensures the poppers rise and become light and fluffy.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the cornbread.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Buttermilk, Egg: Creates a rich, tangy base for the batter with moisture and binding properties.
  • Melted Butter: Brings richness and a smooth, tender texture to the poppers.
  • Honey: Adds natural sweetness and contributes to the golden glaze.
Glaze Ingredients:
  • Butter, Honey: Combines to create a sweet and glossy coating that makes the cornbread poppers irresistibly delicious.

Honey Butter Cornbread Popper Baking Directions

Step 1: Whip Up the Cornbread Batter

Fire up your oven to a toasty 375°F.

Grab your mini muffin tin and give it a friendly coating of cooking spray.

In a mixing bowl, toss together:
  • Cornmeal
  • All-purpose flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
In a separate bowl, get those wet ingredients dancing by whisking:
  • Buttermilk
  • Melted butter
  • Egg
  • Golden honey

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined – don’t go crazy with mixing!

Step 2: Fill and Bake the Poppers

Scoop that sunshine-colored batter into each mini muffin cavity, filling them about three-quarters full.

Slide the tin into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.

You’ll know they’re ready when the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 3: Create the Liquid Gold Glaze

While the poppers are getting gorgeous in the oven, whip up a quick glaze by stirring melted butter and honey together in a small bowl.

Step 4: Drench in Sweet Goodness

Once the poppers are out of the oven, let them chill for five minutes.

Then, using a pastry brush, lavish each popper with the honey butter glaze while they’re still warm.

Step 5: Serve and Devour

Plate these little Southern gems while they’re hot and watch everyone’s eyes light up with joy.

These cornbread poppers are about to become your new favorite bite-sized treat!

Cornbread Popper Tips with Honey Butter Sweetness

  • Use standard measuring cups and spoons to ensure the perfect balance of dry and wet ingredients for consistent, fluffy cornbread poppers.
  • Stir ingredients just until combined to prevent tough, dense texture and maintain a light, tender crumb.
  • Spray mini muffin tin generously with cooking spray or butter to ensure easy removal and prevent sticking.
  • Start checking poppers at 10 minutes to avoid overbaking, as mini muffins cook faster than traditional cornbread.
  • Brush honey butter immediately after baking to help poppers absorb maximum flavor and create a delicious, glossy finish.

Reheat Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers

  • Store leftover cornbread poppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ensuring they remain fresh and moist.
  • Wrap individual poppers tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Keep frozen for up to 2 months for later enjoyment.
  • Warm refrigerated or thawed poppers at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, restoring their original crispy exterior and soft interior.
  • Quickly reheat poppers for 15-20 seconds, adding a small drizzle of honey butter to maintain moisture and revive their delicious flavor.

Toppings for Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers

  • Savor Southern Comfort Pairings
  • Pair Honey-Glazed Cornbread Poppers with Crisp White Wine: Chardonnay's buttery notes complement the sweet honey glaze, creating a delightful flavor harmony that dances on your palate.
  • Match with Smoky Southern BBQ Pulled Pork: The cornbread's sweetness cuts through the rich, tangy meat, balancing the robust flavors and adding a delightful textural contrast to your meal.
  • Serve Alongside Spicy Jalapeño Jam: The poppers' subtle sweetness perfectly offsets the jam's fiery kick, creating an exciting taste experience that celebrates traditional Southern cuisine.
  • Cool Down with Sweet Tea Cocktail: A spiked sweet tea with bourbon provides a refreshing companion that echoes the cornbread's honeyed warmth and southern charm.

Cornbread Poppers with Southern Twists

  • Gluten-Free Cornbread Poppers: Replace regular flour with gluten-free cornmeal or almond flour to create a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same delicious texture and flavor.
  • Vegan Honey Alternative Poppers: Swap buttermilk with almond milk, use coconut oil instead of butter, and replace honey with maple syrup or agave nectar for a plant-based friendly recipe.
  • Spicy Jalapeño Cornbread Poppers: Add finely chopped jalapeños to the batter for a zesty kick that brings extra heat and southwestern flair to the traditional Southern recipe.
  • Low-Sugar Cornbread Poppers: Reduce sugar content by using stevia or monk fruit sweetener, and opt for a sugar-free honey substitute to create a more diabetic-friendly version of the classic poppers.

FAQs

  • What are cornbread poppers?

Cornbread poppers are bite-sized, mini muffin versions of traditional cornbread, made in a mini muffin tin for easy, portable serving with a sweet honey butter glaze.

  • Can I make these poppers ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the batter in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Alternatively, bake the poppers and reheat them in the oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes before serving.

  • Is buttermilk necessary for this recipe?

Buttermilk is recommended as it adds tanginess and helps create a tender texture. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute with regular milk mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.

  • How do I prevent my cornbread poppers from sticking to the pan?

Generously grease the mini muffin tin with butter or cooking spray before adding the batter. Using a non-stick pan also helps ensure easy removal of the poppers.

Print
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Amber Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe

Amber Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers Recipe


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4.6 from 10 reviews

  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Nestled in Southern comfort, honey butter cornbread poppers deliver a delightful bite-sized explosion of flavor and warmth. Crisp exterior, tender center, and sweet honey butter glaze make these irresistible morsels perfect for sharing with friends and family.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Sweeteners:

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup honey (for poppers)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (for glaze)

Dry Seasonings and Leavening:

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Honey Butter Glaze Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

  1. Craft the foundational cornbread mixture by blending dry ingredients in a medium mixing vessel, ensuring an even distribution of cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  2. Create a silky liquid base in a separate container by whisking buttermilk, melted butter, egg, and honey until the consistency becomes uniform and glossy.
  3. Delicately merge the wet and dry components, stirring with minimal agitation to maintain a light, airy texture without overmixing.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a mini muffin tin with a light coating of cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.
  5. Carefully distribute the cornbread batter into each muffin cavity, filling approximately three-quarters of each compartment to allow room for rising.
  6. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until the edges transform into a golden-brown hue and a toothpick emerges clean when inserted.
  7. While the poppers are baking, rapidly whisk together melted butter and honey to create a luxurious glaze with a glossy, rich appearance.
  8. Once baked, allow the cornbread poppers to rest for a brief 5-minute cooling period.
  9. Brush each warm popper generously with the honey butter glaze, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
  10. Serve immediately to capture the optimal temperature and texture, presenting a quintessential Southern-style culinary delight.

Notes

  • Adjust the sweetness by reducing honey for a less sweet version or using alternative sweeteners like maple syrup or agave for different flavor profiles.
  • Ensure ingredients are at room temperature to help create a smoother, more consistent batter and prevent overmixing.
  • Customize the cornbread poppers by adding jalapeños, crumbled bacon, or shredded cheese to the batter for extra flavor and texture variations.
  • Use a light hand when mixing to keep the poppers tender and prevent a dense, tough texture that can happen with overmixing.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern (American)

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 160 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
James Walker

James Walker

Lead Recipe Developer & Culinary Educator

Expertise

Southern Cuisine & Farm-to-Table Cooking, Recipe Development & Testing, Culinary Education & Instruction​

Education

School: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations

Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern culinary techniques, kitchen operations, and farm-to-table practices. ​


James didn’t learn cooking from a TV show, he learned it from busy kitchens, family gatherings, and long afternoons spent testing recipes the hard way.
After training at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, he brought his love for real, down-to-earth food to every dish he makes.
At Dining At Home, James loves building recipes that feel familiar but still have something special, like adding a twist to a classic or making a slow Sunday dinner feel brand new.
When he’s not in the kitchen, you’ll probably find him swapping garden tips at the farmers’ market or teaching his daughter how to flip pancakes without a mess (almost).

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