Air Fryer Maple Bacon Cornbread Muffin Bites

AF-200 Crew BBQ Recipe

Air Fryer Maple Bacon Cornbread Muffin Bites

These little muffins belong beside every proper barbecue. Sweet maple syrup, smoky bacon, mature cheddar and buttery cornbread come together in one ridiculously addictive bite. They're soft in the middle, lightly crisp around the edges and perfect for mopping up BBQ sauce, chilli, pit beans or just eating warm with a slab of butter while everyone waits for the meat.

Air Fryer Maple Bacon Cornbread Muffin Bites
Air Fryer Maple Bacon Cornbread Muffin Bites preparation stage

You’ll Need

For the Muffins
250g cornbread mix (or homemade cornbread batter)
6 rashers smoked streaky bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped
80g mature cheddar, grated
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
2 spring onions, finely sliced
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
40g melted butter

Maple Butter Glaze
20g melted butter
1 tbsp maple syrup

Optional but dangerous
Jalapeño slices
Hot honey drizzle
Extra crispy bacon
Chopped chives
Soft salted butter

Method

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C.

Prepare the cornbread batter according to the packet instructions or your favourite recipe.

Fold in the crispy bacon, grated cheddar, spring onions, smoked paprika, garlic powder and maple syrup.

Stir through the melted butter until everything is evenly combined.

Spoon the mixture into lightly greased silicone muffin moulds or small foil muffin cases, filling each about

three-quarters full.

Place the moulds into the air fryer basket.

Air fry for 10–12 minutes, until risen, golden and cooked through. A skewer inserted into the centre should

come out clean.

Mix together the melted butter and maple syrup.

Brush the tops of the hot muffins generously with the maple butter glaze.

Finish with extra crispy bacon, chopped chives or a drizzle of hot honey if using.

Serve warm with barbecue meats, pit beans, chilli or simply split open with plenty of butter.

Lad Tip: Brush the maple butter over the muffins while they're still piping hot. It soaks straight into the cornbread, giving every bite that perfect sweet-and-smoky smokehouse finish that keeps people reaching for "just one more."

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