Jazzed-Up Jiffy Cornbread Muffins

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Jazzed Up Jiffy Cornbread muffins with butter

The debate about sugar in cornbread is a fierce one.  I’ve had several comments like: “No true Southerner would ever put sugar in cornbread” and “Real cornbread only has cornmeal, buttermilk, and egg.”

And while I’ve got some strong opinions about it myself, I’ll share the short version with you… Cornbread and sweet cornbread are two different beasts.  

It really depends on what I’m serving it with that defines whether I want it sweet or not. For me they’re totally different and not interchangeable.

Jazzed Up Jiffy Cornbread Muffins with butter

 

A big pot of beans, peas, or greens requires the savory version with no sugar… at least at my house.  Cornbread dressing is the same way.  But sweet cornbread – most often in the form of muffins – is served with other meals where the bread is more of a complement rather than an integral part of any particular dish like it is with beans and greens.  

Now, I grew up with sweet cornbread and being that my family is nearly all in the South and has been for generations, I’m pretty sure that means we’re Southern. So stop with that nonsense.  

But here’s the thing.  You should make whichever you want.  The world is filled with much more important things than arguing about whether sugar makes something “Southern” or not.  If you like sugar in your cornbread, you make sweet cornbread.  If you think adding sugar is blasphemy, well you just keep on making it without.

See. Pretty simple, right?   

Jazzed up Jiffy Cornbread in muffin pan

For as long as I can remember, Mom has served Jiffy Corn Muffins with certain meals. And while I love the classic “back-of-the-box” recipe, I happen to think you can make them just a little better. 

My recipe calls for 2 eggs, some melted butter, and mayonnaise.  Yes, you read that right… mayo!  Since mayo is made with eggs and oil, it adds some great consistency and flavor – without tasting like mayo.  I just love the texture of these things.  And quite often not all 6 of these babies make it to the table  -I just love them piping hot right out of the oven.

If you’re totally opposed to mayo, you can swap it out for sour cream – like my buddy Mandy over at South Your Mouth.  But, I sure wish you’d try it with the mayo first. Trust me.  Just keep in mind we’re talking mayo – not Miracle Whip.  And I don’t recommend light or reduced fat mayo here. The results made with the lightened-up stuff just aren’t the same.

Y’all enjoy!    

Jazzed up Jiffy Cornbread in muffin pan

Jazzed-Up Jiffy Cornbread Muffins

4.67 from 68 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 muffins
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 (8.5-ounce) box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup butter, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400° and lightly spray a 6 well muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients and mix to combine. The batter will be lumpy and thick. Fill the muffin pan about ⅔ full.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

To make a pan of cornbread rather than muffins, pour the batter into an 8x8-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  

* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.


Jazzed Up Jiffy Cornbread for Pinterrest

Supper Made Simple Cookbook

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193 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Used this recipe as the batter for cornbread waffles at camp. They turned our great. I offered chili as a topper for the savory version and strawberries and whipped cream as the sweet option. Most campers ended up trying both. Big success.

  2. 5 stars
    I love the way these come out. Nice and moist. Of course, I only have 12-muffin pans, so I double the recipe.

    How the heck do I end up with 19? Not that I’m complaining, of course. haha

  3. 3 stars
    This recipe definitely fluffed up the muffins and made them more moist but I could taste the mayo. I did use Hellmans real mayo( regular kind….NOT fat free or anything like that) I followed the recipe exactly as written. Is there a way to get the mayo taste out?

  4. 4 stars
    I tried these with Duke’s and unsalted butter, and I could faintly taste the mayo, which tips this to savory additions than sweet for me. Duke’s is being accused by home cooks of changing their recipe since being acquired in 2025, so maybe the mayo brand actually matters in this recipe. I cooked mine in a mini muffin tin for 400F x 7 minutes, and they came out cooked through with good domes. Texture is crumbly and dry that it’d be good for sopping up chili, but I might try swapping some of the butter for oil. Definitely a recipe worth trying as a base.

    1. I don’t think that’s a great idea. The leavening will all be spent by the time you use it, and you’ll likely end up with flat muffins.

  5. 5 stars
    Made exactly as the recipe said using hellmans mayonnaise and they were perfect. My family raved about them. To the person who thought the recipe was a joke, I wonder if they used miracle whip or a mayo type spread that is not real mayo. Real mayo is just eggs and oil so not at all unusual to use in baking and cooking. It’s clear the vast majority of people thought the recipe was great so likely user error on their part. Too bad as it’s a great recipe. Used muffin liners for easy cleanup!

  6. JUST what I was looking for! A hundred years ago, someone gave me a cornbread recipe that used sour cream. I’m not an enthusiastic cook, but I thought there had to be a way to jazz up Jiffy. I just wasn’t confident about proportions and all. I will try the mayo; your suggestion makes sense. Thank you.

      1. There’s no other ingredient after the butter. The check boxes are just being bumped down for some reason.

  7. 5 stars
    These were excellent! I had tried just the recipe on the box, and they were dry and fell apart. I had to bring cornbread muffins to a chili lunch for 60 people and was desperate to find a moist muffin recipe, and this one received numerous compliments. Thank you SO much for an easy and delicious recipe.

  8. 5 stars
    I made them, but couldn’t resist sprinkling a little crystal sugar on top. Absolutely delicious. Northern girl here who married a Texan and had to learn how to make cornbread and grits. I’ve gotten used to the cornbread, but the grits are still a bridge too far.

    1. I love that you added crystal sugar on top! It sounds delicious. Grits can definitely be an acquired taste and texture, but with time, you might just find a way to enjoy them. Thanks for sharing your journey into Southern cooking!

  9. 5 stars
    Hello Stacey. I’ve tried many of your delicious recipes and plan on making these tomorrow but only have a 12 well muffin pan. Any suggestions on baking time adjustments oe whatever?? Many thanks.

    1. Hey there! I appreciate you trying my recipes! If you’re using a 12-well muffin pan, you can either double the recipe to fill all the wells or just fill half of them with the original recipe. The bake time should be roughly the same.

  10. I make Jiffy muffins, add can green chilies and good squirt of honey. Bake. When done smooth butter over then smooth some honey on. Raves at church lunch.

    1. I’m so glad to hear the recipe worked out for you! The crushed cornflakes sound like an interesting addition for that extra crunch. Thanks for sharing your twist!

  11. 5 stars
    These made an excellent side with a taco soup. I did not have the Jiffy Mix, but found a “make your own” recipe, which worked fine. Made mini muffins and reduced the time. This has been added to my permanent recipe file. And yes, these are not Southern cornbread, but are delicious sweet muffins. We have room for both. Thanks Stacey!

    1. I’m so glad to hear that the muffins were a hit with your taco soup! It’s awesome that you found a DIY recipe for the Jiffy Mix—mini muffins sound delightful. You’re right; there’s definitely room for all kinds of cornbread in our kitchens. Thanks for sharing your experience!

    1. I’m so glad to hear that! Moist and tasty is exactly what I aim for. Thanks for trying the recipe and sharing your feedback!

    1. I am so glad you enjoyed the cornbread. Adding chopped chilies sounds like a delicious twist. Thanks for sharing your idea!

  12. 5 stars
    I make these as mini muffins and get about a dozen and a half. We love the flavor and texture compared to the original box recipe. I just bake them a shorter time and keep an eye on them. They are delicious!

  13. 3 stars
    Burnt bottoms -Watch the time closely. At 8 minutes they were still batter but rising- 2 minutes later and the burning smell had me quickly pulling out of oven. The tops and non burnt parts were pretty good. Not sure what went wrong,

  14. 4 stars
    Very good and moist. I might try adding corn and jalapeños. Delicious hot out of the oven with hot honey. Yummy!!

  15. In RE: Your Jazzed-Up Jiffy Cornbread Muffins recipe – is the closest I’ve found online to match my own memories of Jiffy Mix recipes from my Mom (1919-2019) and my Grandma (1894-1986). They both added an extra egg (keeps it fluffy), and 2 TBSP sugar; for each 8.5oz Jiffy cornbread muffin mix. My Mom would add shredded Velveeta. I’ve since modified a bit, to add shredded extra sharp cheddar + a handful of red chili pepper flakes – but I’ve been using 2% milk. Your recipe has given me more ideas as to how to keep it moist, and still flavorful. Trying this variation tomorrow morning, for a brain-trauma survivors group meeting. Will keep you posted!

  16. 5 stars
    These are so delicious! I always worry about Jiffy muffins being dry, but these were perfect! I brushed mine with butter right out of the oven and ate with honey and it was perfection.

  17. 5 stars
    Wow! These were really good. I love how you said to just trust you and try the mayo. It really elevated the muffins. I was really proud to serve them at a Friendsgiving feast.

  18. I just made these and they were good. I would say I changed it up just a bit. I would make sure to use unsalted butter. I did butter the muffin tin and heat in the oven before adding mix which gave them a nice crunchy bottom. I also added a tablespoon of creamed corn because it ups the corn flavor. They turned out great and were so much less crumbly than the usual. t

  19. Just pointing out that mayo in baked goods isn’t that insane. It’s made of, essentially, eggs and oil —- two things normally added to a lot of these recipes. I’m wondering if you used a strange mayo or even Miracle Whip? Regardless, the advice to not use a brand new recipe for an occasion for the first time is universal. Tastes vary.

  20. 5 stars
    I just made these and they were delicious. I did add a couple tablespoons of milk. I will be making these again.

  21. 5 stars
    Best cornbread muffins EVER!!! Took them to a chili soup-er bowl luncheon at my work & everyone wanted to know what bakery they came from😊 Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Delish!

  22. 5 stars
    Delicious! I’m not a huge cornbread fan, which is why I always default to cornbread casserole…. But I made a pot of split pea soup, and needed actual cornbread. This is perfect. Moist, but sturdy enough to stay a muffin. (And trust me… if I was successful, then it’s foolproof!)

  23. 5 stars
    Hi! Just have to share. I made your recipie (Dukes mayo!) and added a 1/2 can of canned corn as well as a good inch of shredded cheddar cheese as a topping. Whoa! So good. It cooked longer and sat on warm in the oven until the soup was done, so timing is not acurate… moist, savory, it was a hit.

  24. 5 stars
    Most delicious. Moist. soft.only thing I did to use 2 jumbo eggs slightly beaten. Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Was very happy with recipe . I like bacon 🤔

  25. 5 stars
    I made these last night and they were teriffic!!! I added chopped pickled jalapenos. Yum. Thanks for a great recipe. I was skeptical at adding all the additional fat, but they were definitely moist and delicious.

  26. 5 stars
    Wow these are good! Definitely
    use full fat mayo – it makes a big difference. They are rich, fluffy and buttery.

  27. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing. I did add some leftover corn and a tsp of sugar. They didn’t last long. Had to make another batch. Thanks for the recipe.

  28. Hi, the first time I made this recipe it came out great! The second time when I made it I must have added too much mayo or too much butter. It didn’t rise nor did it seem cooked all the way and I baked it the same amount of time.

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  30. 5 stars
    So I used avocado Mayo (since that is what I have), eggs, and for gags and giggles, some shredded sharp cheddar and leftover corn (removed from cob) to the muffins. Since we are from NM I added hatch jar green chili to half the muffins and they are all awesome with slow cooker Elk & Bean chili.

  31. 5 stars
    These were so good! The Mayo made them so moist I didn’t even need butter. They browned beautiful too. I drizzled some honey on them while eating.

    It’s obviously the muffin mix, but they’re a little bland. Would love to know how to bring out more corn flavor – maybe that means not using the box mix or adding some corn to the batter? Maybe just salt or I’m used to them being sweeter?

    Either way, this change up was great! So fluffy and moist.

  32. 5 stars
    Stumbled across this recipe while looking for a way to make my Jiffy box mix a little tastier, and we were not disappointed!! Super moist, and didn’t need to be buttered while being eaten because they were perfect.

    I did use 1/2 sour cream (1/4c) and 1/2 Mayo (1/4c) because I had some sour cream I needed to use up. Instead of spraying my muffin cups, I added a little bit of vegetable oil and stuck the pan in the oven to get hot before adding my batter. My grandma used to do this so the bottoms get all crispy. I also brushed the tops w melted butter around 15 minutes, then put them back for 3 more min.

    The only change I might make is increasing to 7-8 muffins vs 6 bc mine slightly outgrew their cups (not a problem though!).

    Thanks for helping me jazz up my muffins, I’ll be doing it this way from now on!!

  33. To whom it may concern,

    This recipe was absolutely terrible. I made this in attempts to add value to my thanksgiving dinner. As my friend looked at me with great concern as I added the mayonnaise, he still gaveme the benefit of doubt. He insisted on being the first person to try this recipe as I cut him a slice of what seems to look like what it should. Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s not your average cornbread. I have no idea what it was. They won’t let me live this down till thanksgiving isn’t a thing anymore. Comments about mayonnaise occurred all night. One friend questioned if the recipe was a joke. Even I’m laughing at myself. What the heck was I thinking. What are you thinking! The entire batch went straight into the garbage. The look on their faces was priceless. It was like a practical joke, but wasn’t. Thank you for adding some excitement at the table but please stop sharing that this recipe is good. It’s not. I’m not trying to be mean, just trying to be as honest as 2020. For the love of humanity, mayonnaise does not belong in cornbread. Periodt…

    1. I reply to every single comment on this blog, but I’m not really sure what to say to this one. With a 4.4 out of 5, rating though, I’d say perhaps you’re in the minority. Sorry you didn’t like it. And for the record, I don’t ever suggest trying a new recipe out on a special occasion quite like Thanksgiving without testing it beforehand. You also mention cutting a slice, did you not make these as muffins?

      1. 1 star
        Thank you for your reply as my friends waited patiently to see if this recipe was actually a joke. I’m laughing cause now we all see it cleary is not. I cut a slice of the muffin cause he didn’t know what to expect. He didn’t even finish the slice ????Never, ever will I try a new recipe on any special occasion because of this epic fail. Lesson learned. This one was just too disgusting to not say anything. I’m still getting mayonnaise jokes. Man, just so gross.

      2. Wow! Classy comment. We love this recipe and all the quality comments in this thread. The classless comments show us all just how blessed we are to have great recipes and even greater posters share their experience and class with us all. Glad you have a community to share your thoughts with Jane, and hopefully y’all keep it close knit.

      3. Glad you were provoked to respond to my thread… I too was felt compelled to speak on this gross recipe. Sometimes the truth hurts feelings. I see yours loud and clear. Kindness can be truth- the truth can hurt. Cheers to being part of the problem😂

    2. 5 stars
      I’ve made this exact recipe many times. Exactly as it is, with the only exception sometimes of adding cheddar cheese or canned corn for fun. This recipe is fabulous every time and I get great compliments every time as well. I don’t know what you did but it isn’t the recipe that failed here.

      1. 👏 great to hear that it worked for you….. recipe still remains WHACK. I can’t wait to tell people that people are still commenting on such a joke! 😂💀

    3. Hi Jane, I haven’t tried the recipe yet, but so curious as to what kind of mayo did you use and did you follow this exactly? Salted or unsalted butter, or extra sugar, and expiration date on the box? So so sorry it didn’t go well for you.

    4. 5 stars
      Jane I just made these exactly as the recipe was written using Hellmans real mayo and they were perfect. Moist and tasty and you do not taste the mayo at all. Just taste like moist cornbread. Think the issue is not the recipe but perhaps a wrong ingredient on your end such as using miracle whip or a fat free mayo or
      Mayo substitute. If you follow the recipe exactly it is perfect, not a joke!

  34. 4 stars
    I followed your recipe except for one detail. I skipped the oven and made them in an air fryer.
    They turned out great !

    1. I should say, they turned out, but weren’t particularly good looking, still, I used the FRIES setting on my Gourmia, 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

  35. 5 stars
    I’ve made 7 different types of cornbread recipes and this is by far my family favorite. I thought I preferred a sweet honey infused type. But what do I know? This is the only cornbread my step son eats seconds! He’s very much into working out and limits his carbs so that’s saying a lot!

      1. 5 stars
        My kid is back from college for the weekend and already asked for a second batch to take back to the dorms! Thanks again! Just as fabulous as always!

    1. This recipe helps with the added fat into the batter. You can always put them under a low broiler to get the tops to crisp up.

  36. The recipe looks yummy, anxious to try it, I have a mayo, but it’s a light one. Would that work ? I know sometimes that difference in an ingredient causes issues( like disaster ????).

    1. Most light mayos have less fat in them or have some fat substitute, so I’d recommend using the real stuff for this one.

  37. 5 stars
    I agree with the comments above, so easy to make (must use mayo, not miracle whip), came out delicious and very very moist without being too sweet. Made a 9×13 pan by doubling the recipe which fed a dozen people nicely along with Jambalaya!

  38. 5 stars
    Just made this and it was great! I did add about a tablespoon of sugar just for a little sweetness and topped it off with honey fresh out of the oven. This is one of the few recipes that don’t call for sour cream which I love because I don’t buy that often. Definitely more moist than plain old jiffy.

  39. 5 stars
    30 mins ago I read this recipe and I am now on my 2nd muffin. I had a box of jiffy as I use for corndogs for the grandson and got right up to try this. Mainly because it was different. Wow. Delicious. Thank you.

  40. This has been my cornbread mix (yes I make a small round pan, not muffins with it) for 45 years!
    My mother-in-law is the one who got me going on it.
    I had to use buttermilk in the original recipe one time when I was out of milk, and found that I liked it best with the buttermilk.
    With all of this said, to me the key to making what we like … super crunchy almost fried type ‘crust’, is to use a good bit of oil in my cast iron pan, and then heavily sprinkle several tablespoons of the dry mix over the oil. Then make your recipe of choice, pour over the oil and meal, and bake according to directions until the bottom is VERY brown and crisp. When it’s done remove from oven and flip out onto a hot plate, serve immediately with all of the brown bottom facing up! I’m getting hungry 🙂
    Thanks Stacey for this post… I love ‘new’ options

  41. 5 stars
    I loved this recipe!!! I added about a cup and a half of blueberries and sprinkled sugar o top when the muffins came out DELISH!

  42. Best muffins ever! This recipe is so good! Thank you for sharing! I like to make the jiffy muffins with green chili stew and was looking for a version that was denser and more moist. This was perfect.

  43. 3 stars
    It was just as you say moist. I thought it was gritty and couldn’t tell if that was the way it was supposed to be.

  44. 5 stars
    This was just great. The outsides have an awesome texture and the Mayo keeps it moist. Cannot stress enough to not use miracle whip; she weren’t lying.

  45. 5 stars
    I just made a pan of this cornbread. OMG! Delicious!! Thank you for the recipe.
    I look forward to trying more of your recipes.

  46. Hello, what are some meals where you serve sweet cornbread? I usually serve non-sweet, but find that sweet goes well with soups. Your thoughts? I love your blog. You don’t ramble and your recipes are superb. Thanks!

    1. Thanks so much, Ally! We like sweet cornbread with grilled meats and things that are super savory like gravy-based stews.

  47. Thanks so much for sharing, Stacey! I, for one, love Jiffy cornbread and all sweet cornbread…and I was born and raised in the south!

    I will be trying this sometime this week!

  48. I can’t WAIT to try this recipe! As a “yankee” as some have stated, I have grown up in Massachusetts with sweet cornbread all the way and this sounds delicious! My hubs is a “mayo on and in anything lover” too! JIFFY is the bomb ❤️ Curious, what is your go-to mayo for baked goods???

    1. I love Duke’s mayo, but find in some things it can bee too vinegary. In that case, I’ll opt for Hellman’s or Kraft.

  49. Stacey, I love the way your described the when and what of servings which kind of cornbread: “It really depends on what I’m serving it with that defines whether I want it sweet or not. For me they’re totally different and not interchangeable.” To my way of thinking, though I truly prefer a non-sweet cornbread most of the time, a somewhat sweet version is what is needed some of the time. And, by the way, I am totally Southern. I had one Southern grandma who made a sweet cornbread (and the Southerners went back generations in that family) and then the other Southern grandma who never made cornbread with sugar ( and that family of Southerners went back generations, too). So the age old debate about “true” Southern cornbread having no sugar is absolutely not true in my family.

    1. Exactly! We’re the same way. In my opinion, there’s nothing innately non-Southern about a little sugar in cornbread.

  50. We used to have a restaurant called Tippin’s in KC & their big squares of cornbread where fluffy & sweet. I was told that the recipe called for two boxes of Jiffy Cornbread Mix, one box Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix and the other ingredients called for on the box. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 min. It makes a nice 9×13″ pan of yummy sweet cornbread.

      1. Add the ingredients called for on all 3 boxes. It makes a cakey fluffy cornbread. Delicious!

  51. According to my Southern husband, cornbread has no sugar, but the sweet kind is called “Johhny Cake”, and is considered a Yankee thing.

  52. 5 stars
    “so stop with that nonsense…” THIS 🙂
    Y’all, there ain’t no rules ‘cept fix it the way you like it.
    Jiffy does corn muffins/corn bread so well, I don’t feel the need to re-create the wheel.
    But I DO love to substitute real buttermilk instead of milk.
    It seems to give some dimension and richness to the flavor profile.
    And a little sugar, of course.

      1. 5 stars
        Didn’t have any milk or sour cream so figured I would try this sub using mayo, was super skeptical but the mayo sub works great – doesn’t AT ALL taste mayonnaisey! Wish I had added a full tablespoon of sugar though, brushing the tops with honey was helpful to add sweetness after the fact. Thank you, definitely saved me a trip to the store in a storm.

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  54. Love Jiffy cornbread any way it is made, wish my family did! Thanks Stacey, will have to try and sneak this in sometime.

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  57. 5 stars
    Just as you said, it depends on what you are serving it with. I loved your recipe and hubby said it was the best he has had. He really loves sweet cornbread toasted in a pan with lots of butter and then served with grape jam. This was great.

    1. I like the connivence of Jiffy mixes, however, this past week, I made a large 9×13 pan of Jiffy Johnny Cake. I made 4 separate batches & put it all in the one pan. Baked it till golden on top. It was fully cook through, but it was very dry. So dry, that I had to follow it quickly with a liquid before choking. Was baking 4 boxes in one pan the cause of the extra dryness?

      1. The extended cooking time can cause the cornbread to dry out. Adding additional fat and moisture like in this recipe should help.

  58. 1 star
    Tried it your way, but didn’t like any better than Jiffy’s on the box recipe. Just don’t care for Jiffy period!

  59. 3 stars
    I prefer Jiffy just as it is. I can cut down on sugar in a lot of other ways. I hate mayo but decided to trust you and I am sorry to say I did not like it. I don’t use mayo but do use Miracle Whip always.

    I do love all Jiffy products though.

    1. Yeah, mayo and Miracle Whip aren’t the same. That’s why I specifically say in the post not to use Miracle Whip.

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  61. Looks like a recipe I want to try! I’m with you on the cornbread debate – depends on what you are serving it with. Most of the time I like no sugar, but sometimes the sweetness is good too.