Recipe: Mini Corn and Bacon Muffins 🥓🌽

Description:

These delightful mini corn and bacon muffins are perfect for serving alongside a steaming bowl of soup or enjoying on their own as a tasty snack. They offer a delightful change from ordinary bread rolls or toast, adding a savory and satisfying element to any mealtime.

Recipe Overview:

Cook Time: 15 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Recipe Category: Quick Breads
Keywords: Breads, Lunch/Snacks, Corn, Vegetable, < 60 Mins, Oven, Easy, Inexpensive
Yield: 24 Mini Corn and Bacon Muffins

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon 🥓
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
Freshly ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper (optional for a spicy kick)
1 spring onion, finely chopped
1 cup sweet whole kernel corn 🌽
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup light olive oil
1 tablespoon honey 🍯
Poppy seeds
Toasted sesame seeds
Mustard seeds
Paprika

Instructions:

1. Preparing Ingredients:

Begin by frying the bacon until crispy, then chop or dice it into small pieces.

2. Mixing Dry Ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the self-raising flour, cornmeal, salt, and baking powder.

3. Adding Flavors:

Season the dry ingredients with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a hint of heat.

4. Incorporating Wet Ingredients:

To the bowl of dry ingredients, add the chopped spring onions, sweet whole kernel corn, chopped parsley, eggs, milk, olive oil, and honey.
Important: Gently fold the ingredients together until just mixed. Avoid overmixing to maintain a light and fluffy texture in the muffins.

5. Muffin Assembly:

Preheat your oven to a very hot temperature of 220-230°C (425-450°F).
Grease a mini muffin tin thoroughly to prevent sticking.
Spoon tablespoons of the muffin batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each about three-quarters full.

6. Flavor Variation:

For added visual appeal and flavor variety, divide the muffin batter into three portions:
- Top 8 muffins with poppy seeds 🌼
- Top another 8 muffins with toasted sesame seeds 🌰
- Top the remaining 8 muffins with mustard seeds 🌱
Sprinkle a little paprika over all the muffins for an extra burst of color and flavor.

7. Baking:

Place the filled muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Serving:

Allow the mini corn and bacon muffins to cool slightly in the tin before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve warm alongside your favorite soup or enjoy them as a standalone snack.

Nutritional Information (Per Mini Muffin):

Calories: 99.8
Fat: 4.9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2g
Cholesterol: 21.3mg
Sodium: 224.1mg
Carbohydrates: 11.8g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Sugar: 2g
Protein: 2.6g

These Mini Corn and Bacon Muffins are sure to be a hit at your next gathering or as a tasty treat for your family. Enjoy their savory flavor and fluffy texture with every delightful bite!