She Strengthens

The Ultimate Muffin Top Recipe

Why Muffin Tops Reign Supreme

Who can forget the iconic muffin top episode of Seinfeld? It’s no wonder they’re a fan favorite – crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for dunking in your favorite bisque.

Getting Started

Before you begin, make sure you have the right equipment. Specialty kitchen stores carry muffin top pans, but if you can’t find one, a standard 12-well muffin pan will do the trick. This recipe was featured in our Festivus menu, and it’s sure to become a staple in your kitchen.

Recipe Overview

Yield: 12 muffin tops
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 35 minutes
Active Time: 10 minutes

Gather Your Ingredients

• 6 ounces cooked, crumbled bacon (1/2 cup) with reserved drippings
• 1 cup fine stone-ground yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), melted and slightly cooled
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk, well shaken
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves

Let’s Get Baking!

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Pans

Heat your oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat the wells of your muffin top pans or standard muffin pan with bacon drippings or vegetable oil.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda to aerate and break up any lumps.

Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, buttermilk, eggs, and thyme until smooth and incorporated.

Step 4: Bring it All Together

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring just until incorporated – about 1 minute. Divide the batter evenly among the wells, and sprinkle about 1 heaping teaspoon of bacon over each muffin top.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Bake the muffin tops until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean – about 15 minutes. Let them sit in the pans for 5 minutes before removing and serving. Enjoy!