Sometimes you’re going about life, minding your own business and following your daily routine…when you have a thought. A thought that’s so utterly beyond the standard procedure that it demands attention be paid. Before you know it, your ho-hum corn muffin recipe is transformed into something nonsensically delectable.
Today was that day. I was standing in the supermarket, pacing around the produce department and wondering how I could jazz up our yearly Thanksgiving bread basket. As I stalked past the fall squash for the upteenth time (hovering around those cardboard bins of pumpkins had to have elicited some autumnal inspiration, right?), it hit me:
Corn muffins.
[*Glances at supermarket’s array of squash…again.*]
BUTTERNUT SQUASH corn muffins.
Wait. Butternut squash corn muffins with FRIED SAGE.
And BACON.
Ooh! And CHEESE!
Hmm…still not autumnal enough…
……………………
MAPLE SYRUP instead of honey.
If I haven’t got you hooked by now, you’re probably the Thanksgiving Grinch, because basically these corn muffins are about as festive and as delicious as they come. The sweetness of the butternut squash compliments the corn perfectly; the sage and bacon add that crunchy saltiness that will satisfy all of your cravings; the cheese makes everything delightfully gooey; and the maple syrup ties it all together.
Mission accomplished.
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. (Note: We’ve edited this recipe since posting to adjust the baking time from 400 to 375 degrees. We found that the bottoms were getting just a bit too browned at 400 degrees.)
On a parchment-lined baking sheet, toss the butternut squash cubes with 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, until tender and caramelized. Set aside.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, butter, and ¼ cup maple syrup.
Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. Gently fold in the cooked butternut squash cubes…
Chopped bacon…
3/4 cup grated cheese…
And herbs…
Fold everything together thoroughly.
(You can save some of the squash, bacon, and herbs to top the muffins with later as well).
Line your muffin pan with paper cups and fill the cups about 2/3 of the way full.
Top the muffins with the remaining ½ cup of cheese and any of the reserved squash, bacon, and herbs.
Bake for 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Savory Maple Corn Muffins with Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups butternut squash (cut into very small cubes)
- ¼ cup maple syrup (plus 1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon fried sage (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 4 oz. bacon (cooked crisp and chopped)
- 1 1/4 cups grated cheese (cheddar, jack, gruyere, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- On a parchment-lined baking sheet, toss the butternut squash cubes with 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, until tender and caramelized. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, butter, and ¼ cup maple syrup. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until combined. Gently fold in the cooked butternut squash cubes, herbs, chopped bacon, and 3/4 cup grated cheese. (You can save some of the squash, bacon, and herbs to top the muffins with as well).
- Line your muffin pan with paper cups and fill the cups about 2/3 of the way full. Top the muffins with the remaining ½ cup of cheese and any of the reserved squash, bacon, and herbs. Bake for 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Hello, the recipe calls for buttermilk..if we can’t find it in the grocery store is it possible to substitute with a plant based milk or make buttermilk itself? TIA (:
Hi Vicky, yes you can make a buttermilk substitute using regular milk (whole, 2% skim, whatever you’ve got. Even milk powder and water will work.) and white vinegar or lemon juice. This recipe calls for 1 cup of buttermilk, so you’d just use 1 cup of regular milk, mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Stir it together and let it stand for 10 minutes to thicken, and it’s ready to go.
This recipe looks amazing and I just wanted to say that I’m so glad I discovered your site :) ! Is it possible to make this with corn flour or rice flour?
Hi Lulu, we have not tried that, but I don’t think it would work. If the goal is to make these gluten-free, i would substitute an all-purpose gluten-free flour for the all purpose flour.
These look wonderful! I need to try them!
Thanks, Michelle! They’re really good! We just made them for our second, “non-food-blogging” Thanksgiving!
I can’t even begin to say how amazing these look! I need to make these soon.
Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays.
Thanks, Audrey!! Let us know how they turn out :)