Healthy cornbread muffins made with applesauce and honey are moist and delicious! This easy cornbread recipe has no butter, oil, or sugar.
Cornbread Muffins
Cornbread muffins are a great compliment to so many meals. This cornbread recipe is healthier than regular cornbread recipes since I did not use any butter, oil, or sugar to make them. I used organic applesauce to keep the muffins moist and organic honey to sweeten them. I also used organic whole wheat flour instead of regular flour. These tasty cornbread muffins are also super quick and easy to make!
While these muffins are delicious just as they are, you can also get creative and add your own personal touches. For example, you could add some corn kernels or jalapeño peppers for additional flavor and texture. You could even add both, just limit your add-ins to 1 cup total. These healthy cornbread muffins are great served plain or you can spread them with some butter or a little extra honey. They also pair perfectly with a hearty bowl of Crockpot Turkey Chili or BBQ Chicken Skewers! However you decide to serve them, I hope that you enjoy the cornbread muffins!
Note: The printable recipe is located at the end of this post. Please visit The Scoop for my latest posts or you can search or browse my Recipe Index.
Healthy Cornbread Muffin Ingredients
- yellow cornmeal
- whole wheat flour – or regular all-purpose flour.
- baking powder
- kosher salt
- unsweetened applesauce
- honey
- milk – or dairy-free alternative.
- eggs – beaten
- Optional: Add-ins such as corn kernels or jalapeño peppers. You can also use Roasted Corn for more depth of flavor. No more than 1 cup of add-ins.
How to make Cornbread Muffins
First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray your muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or you can use paper liners.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the “dry” ingredients, the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt, then mix. Then add all of the “wet” ingredients, the beaten eggs, honey, applesauce and milk to the mixing bowl. Mix well to combine all of the ingredients.
Once the cornbread batter is mixed, now is the time to gently fold in any additions, such as corn kernels or jalapeño peppers. You can use roasted corn kernels as an add-in for more depth of flavor. I would add no more than 1 cup of add-ins total for a full batch.
This recipe should fill 12 muffin cups. Fill each cup or liner to just below the top of the cup, about 3/4 full. Place the muffin pan into the preheated oven, on the middle rack, and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Once finished baking, allow the muffins to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. 
Note: This recipe was originally published on January 23rd, 2018, and has been updated with a new recipe card.
Healthy Cornbread Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or regular all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup milk or dairy free alternative
- 2 eggs beaten
Optional:
- 1 cup add-ins such as corn kernals or jalapeño peppers
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray your muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or you can use paper liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the “dry” ingredients, the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt, then mix. Then add all of the “wet” ingredients, the beaten eggs, honey, applesauce and milk to the mixing bowl. Mix well to combine all of the ingredients.
- This recipe should fill 12 muffin cups. Fill each cup or liner to just below the top of the cup, about 3/4 full. Place the muffin pan into the preheated oven, on the middle rack, and bake for 15-18 minutes. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
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If you make these Healthy Cornbread Muffins, please leave a comment in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you and I truly appreciate your feedback! I will always do my best to respond to every comment ASAP. Thank you so much!
Please visit The Scoop for my latest posts or you can search or browse my Recipe Index to find more yummy recipes. Happy Cooking!
Love this recipe, make it on a regular basis! I use Almond flour instead of whole wheat and they are delicious.
Thank you, Maria! I love baking with almond flour since it is gluten free and low-carb. I appreciate you sharing!
Hi Christi,
I just recently made some of the healthy corn muffins. I wanted to make them a little sweeter so I added some extra honey. Instead of just 1/4 cup, I add it another 1/8 of a cup. I was wondering if that would upset the balance of the other ingredients. To make the corn muffins somewhat more moist, should I add more applesauce or more milk?
Hi David,
Changing ingredient amounts can alter the muffins’ flavor and texture. If you want to make them moister, add a little bit more applesauce instead of more milk.
Hi Christi,
Thank you so much. I’ll add a bit more applesause and leave the honey as stated in the recipe.
You are so welcome, David! I hope you enjoy the cornbread muffins!
I really love this recipe. The cornbread muffins really turned out delicious. I was wondering, however if I could use gluten free flour and this recipe?
Thank you for the compliment, David! You can use a gluten free flour. What kind of flour were you thinking of using? I have experimented with several types of gluten free options. The difference will be in the texture and moisture level.
I was thinking of using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour. I am making some cornbread muffins for about 40 people. Some of them require gluten-free food.
I have actually used that exact flour with a few of my bread recipes and it worked with a few adjustments. However, I have not tried it with any of my muffins yet. Since you are making them for so many, I highly recommend making a test batch first to ensure they turn out the way you want them to. I would love to hear how they turn out! I hope they are a success and happy baking!
I’ve made this recipe several times with different 1-to-1 gluten free all-purpose flours, and it’s always delicious.
As a side note, I prefer the flavor when I use pumpkin instead of applesauce, but both yield great results!
What kind of pumpkin?
Could I use something else instead of milk in this recipe to make it dairy free or does it need something in real milk?
Yes, you can use a dairy free milk as a substitute.
Hi there!
Is it possible to use less honey? What is the least amount o could get away with?
Hi Hayley!
Yes, you can cut it down to 2 tablespoons.
Hi, can I sub vegetable oil for the applesauce? I so, how much vegetable oil should i use?
Thanks!
Yes, you can substitute the same amount of vegetable oil.
Could I use almond flour or chickpeas flour instead?
Hi Luiza,
I have not tried it, so I cannot say for sure, but I think almond flour would work.
I’m so excited, I love the taste of apple with cornbread but all the recipies I’ve found include cut up apples which never taste right to me, anyways, I am going to add Cinnamon and tell you how it goes, thank you!
I love cinnamon! Please let me know how they turn out. I hope that you enjoy them.
I made it again, and this time with 1/2 a cup silan instead of honey and apple sauce (because that’s what I had), and I made it in a tin instead of muffin. Complete success!
That’s great Ayelet! I’m so glad it was a success!
Just made them and will make them again!
Turned out fully and a bit moist, but fully cooked!
The only thing that didn’t work was the corn karnels, which I was expecting to fail (I only put them in have the batch just in case).
Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you so much Ayelet! I am so glad that you liked them! But I am
sorry that your add-ins did not work. I personally like mine plain. You
were smart to only put kernels in half the batch.
Regarding the corn kernels, I am curious what kind and how much you
used. Were they canned or frozen? Did you use 1/2 cup? I truly appreciate your feedback.
Also, you might want to try my “Healthy Oatmeal Muffins”, they are my
favorite!
Thank you and have a great day!
Christi
Hi Christi,
Well now I feel silly!!
I used dry ones, hoping they would pop – oh I feel ridiculous.
Oh well, now I know for the next what I should not do.
But, to answer your questions, I only put 4 kernels each in 6 muffins, leaving 6 plain (again, I had a feeling it wouldn’t work so now I know I need to bite carefully and remove the kernels).
I would love to try your Healthy Oatmeal Muffins, can you please send me a link?.
Thanks,
Ayelet
So you used dry popcorn kernels? Oh no! To be clear, you need to use real cooked corn, not popcorn. Please do not feel silly! I should have been more clear. Please be careful with those popcorn muffins, I don’t want you to break a tooth!
Here is the link for the oatmeal muffins: https://sumofyum.com/recipe/healthy-oatmeal-muffins/
Just made these and they came out very good! Nice and moist even though there is no oil in them and I like the fact that the recipe uses honey (and apple sauce) to sweeten them instead of white sugar like most other recipes. Thanks for this great recipe!
Thanks so much Jen! I am so happy that you liked them! I am also glad that you appreciate the healthy qualities… Makes me smile.