Gluten-Free Cornmeal, Fig and Orange Muffins Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Gluten-Free Cornmeal, Fig and Orange Muffins Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 45 minutes
Prep Time
Advance preparation: These keep for a couple of days out of the refrigerator, for a few more days in the refrigerator, and for a few months in the freezer.
Rating
4(87)
Notes
Read community notes

A sweet and grainy cornmeal mixture makes for a delicious muffin.

Fig and orange is always a delicious combination, and both ingredients go very well with this sweet and grainy cornmeal mixture.

Featured in: A Hodgepodge of Muffins, All Gluten-Free

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Ingredients

Yield:12 muffins (⅓ cup tins)

  • 125grams (scant cup) figs, chopped
  • 145grams (approximately ½ cup) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 140grams (approximately 1 cup) cornmeal
  • 140grams (approximately 1 cup) gluten-free whole grain mix made with rice flour and the starch of your choice
  • grams salt (¾ teaspoon)
  • 15grams baking powder (1 tablespoon)
  • grams baking soda (½ teaspoon)
  • 2eggs
  • 300grams buttermilk (1¼ cups)
  • 50grams mild honey, such as clover (2 tablespoons)
  • 60grams canola or grape seed oil (¼ cup)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

173 calories; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 28 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 204 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Gluten-Free Cornmeal, Fig and Orange Muffins Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place the figs in a bowl and pour in the orange juice. Let steep for 1 hour. Drain and weigh or measure out 60 grams (¼ cup) of the orange juice and add it to the buttermilk. Set aside the rest for another purpose.

  2. Step

    2

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil or butter muffin tins. Sift together the cornmeal, gluten free flour mix, salt, baking powder and baking soda into a medium bowl. Pour in any grainy bits that remain in the sifter.

  3. Step

    3

    In a separate large bowl whisk the eggs with the buttermilk, orange juice, honey, and oil. Quickly whisk in the flour and cornmeal mixture. Fold in the figs.

  4. Step

    4

    Using a spoon or ice cream scoop, fill muffin cups to the top. Place in the oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly browned and well risen. Remove from the heat and if the muffins come out of the tins easily, remove from the tins and allow to cool on a rack. If they don’t release easily, allow to cool and then remove from the tins.

Ratings

4

out of 5

87

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Joyce

I had the same question as Diane and clicked through Ms. Shulman's "Hodgepodge of Muffins" and found the following:

70 percent ground gluten-free grain like rice flour, millet flour, buckwheat flour or teff (the list on her site is a long one) and 30 percent starch like potato starch, cornstarch or arrowroot.

Happy baking and eating!
Joyce

Joan Udell

Made these for a gluten sensitive friend who liked them very much, as did I. I followed the proportions as written, but added a generous 3/4 tsp each of freshly ground cardamom and cinnamon. Served them with blueberry jelly and St. Andres soft cheese. Totally delicious!

Susan

The initial result, on the evening these were baked, was just Ok. Neither the orange nor the fig flavors came through and the result was much like our normal cornbread recipe but less intense. The next day, reheated, made a big difference - with more flavor coming through. If I were to make these again I would make them the day before and then reheat. Also, BTW, if one wonders what to do with the leftover fig/orange mix, I highly recommend eating it mixed with yogurt.

janice

I should have paid attention to the stars. Just ok.

Connie

This was wetter batter than most muffins--- I had to use a soup spoon rather than an ice-cream scoop. I kept rereading the recipe to see if I missed something or misread the quantity of buttermilk. But the end result was quite tasty.

Jennifer V

What’s the jam in the picture? I’m sure the muffins would complement it nicely. The recipe would be most welcome.

Connie

I used 200 g Greek Yogurt (orange creme flavor) and 100 g of fat-free milk to replace the buttermilk. (I had the yogurt and needed to use it up and I know this is a substitute for buttermilk). I also added 1 tsp xanthun gum to the dry ingredients to deal with another reviewer's issue of being too crumbly. I added ginger, cinnamon and vanilla. Since I did not have figs, I substituted dates. I know this sounds like a lot of changes, but the result was very good.

Katie

Are the figs dry or fresh? I’ve made with both and they’re both great but pretty different. Assuming dry because of the soaking? Anyways it’s a great recipe, one of our favourites.

Stephanie

Is this recipe using dried figs or fresh figs?

Susan

The initial result, on the evening these were baked, was just Ok. Neither the orange nor the fig flavors came through and the result was much like our normal cornbread recipe but less intense. The next day, reheated, made a big difference - with more flavor coming through. If I were to make these again I would make them the day before and then reheat. Also, BTW, if one wonders what to do with the leftover fig/orange mix, I highly recommend eating it mixed with yogurt.

peterindc

I imagine it means dry figs, considering they soak for an hour, but we had fresh figs and it turned out fine. See note below about what qualifies as starch in the flour mix; I used rice and spelt and they turned out a bit crumbly.

marilyn

Recipe not clear if using dry or fresh figs. Does it make a difference?

Joan Udell

Made these for a gluten sensitive friend who liked them very much, as did I. I followed the proportions as written, but added a generous 3/4 tsp each of freshly ground cardamom and cinnamon. Served them with blueberry jelly and St. Andres soft cheese. Totally delicious!

Rebecca Brown

These look great, but I will be using flour with gluten.

Connie

This was wetter batter than most muffins--- I had to use a soup spoon rather than an ice-cream scoop. I kept rereading the recipe to see if I missed something or misread the quantity of buttermilk. But the end result was quite tasty.

janice

I should have paid attention to the stars. Just ok.

Joyce

I had the same question as Diane and clicked through Ms. Shulman's "Hodgepodge of Muffins" and found the following:

70 percent ground gluten-free grain like rice flour, millet flour, buckwheat flour or teff (the list on her site is a long one) and 30 percent starch like potato starch, cornstarch or arrowroot.

Happy baking and eating!
Joyce

Diane

For the gluten-free whole grain mix, what proportion of rice flour to starch do you use?

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Gluten-Free Cornmeal, Fig and Orange Muffins Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for cornmeal in baking? ›

There are some additional foods you can use in place of cornmeal. If you don't have any of the options above, you can consider ground oats, masa harina, bread crumbs, ground flaxseed, polenta flour, smashed cornflakes, homemade cornmeal, or hominy grits.

What can I use instead of cornmeal for English muffins? ›

We prefer semolina flour over cornmeal for its finer texture; it allows the crunch to come from the crust of the English muffin, not the cornmeal.

How many carbs in a medium sized corn muffin? ›

Country Style Corn Muffin (1 serving) contains 68g total carbs, 65g net carbs, 21g fat, 8g protein, and 480 calories.

Are Corn Muffins healthy for you? ›

Although it's relatively high in carbs and sodium, it contains several important nutrients, including phosphorus, selenium, and B vitamins. It's also versatile, easy to make, and can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Can I use cornstarch instead of cornmeal? ›

Cornstarch, corn flour, and cornmeal are all made from the same ingredient, but generally, you should not interchangeably use these products. One exception is substituting corn flour for cornmeal in chess pie filling. In baking, corn flour and cornmeal will yield different textures for the finished bread or cake.

Can I use parchment paper instead of cornmeal? ›

Parchment has a few drawbacks

Your bread will rise and bake, and you can peel the parchment off with ease (because it's mostly nonstick). But you can run into a few problems. The biggest issue is that parchment can stick to bread, and there's no telling if it has until your bread has finished baking.

What is a keto substitute for cornmeal? ›

Almond and coconut flours are substituted for the traditional cornmeal and wheat flours, which are not permitted flours on the keto diet.

Is cornmeal gluten-free? ›

Cornmeal is also gluten-free. Cornmeal is a coarse flour made from maize, (i.e. corn). Just like cornflour, it's important to look for labeled gluten-free cornmeal whenever possible, as cross-contact can easily occur during manufacturing. Hominy is a product of corn and is gluten-free.

Why are English muffins so good? ›

English muffins are particularly high in selenium, an important mineral that acts as an antioxidant and plays a key role in regulating thyroid hormone production ( 3 ). They also contain manganese, which is necessary for your metabolism, brain function, and bone health ( 4 ).

Is canned corn low carb? ›

Corn, while a vegetable, is a starchy vegetable, which means it's high in carbohydrates—not keto-friendly fat. An ear of corn contains roughly 41 grams of carbohydrates. A cup of corn has about 30 grams of carbs. That doesn't mean corn isn't a healthy food, says Melanie Boehmer, M.S., certified nutritionist.

Are Corn Muffins high in carbs? ›

Homemade Corn Muffins (1 oz) contains 12.5g total carbs, 12.5g net carbs, 3.5g fat, 2g protein, and 90 calories.

Is a muffin good carbs? ›

Most store-bought muffins are like glorified cupcakes—they're full of sugar and simple carbs. "They can be packed with added sugar and low in fiber, sending your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster before you even get to work," says Charlotte Martin, MS, RDN, CSOWM, CPT.

Which is healthier cornmeal or flour? ›

Cornmeal has fewer calories, sodium and carbs but more fibre than white flour. Cornmeal is also gluten-free. People who have an allergy to gluten can consume cornmeal. White flour is refined flour which doesn't have much nutrition and has very low fibre.

Which is healthier biscuit or cornbread? ›

All things being equal and without specific nutrition information, we might give the edge in healthfulness to cornbread, because of corn being a whole grain. Additionally, because both biscuits and cornbread tend to be rich, keep portion size in mind: have only one or even half, and don't top with added butter!

How healthy is cornmeal? ›

Cornmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber and is fortified with a micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, and D3 per USDA Commodity Requirements.

Which is better cornmeal or flour? ›

Cornmeal has fewer calories, sodium and carbs but more fibre than white flour. Cornmeal is also gluten-free. People who have an allergy to gluten can consume cornmeal. White flour is refined flour which doesn't have much nutrition and has very low fibre.

Can I substitute cornmeal for flour in a recipe? ›

Yes, cornmeal can be used as a substitute for all-purpose flour in certain recipes, such as cornbread and pancakes. However, it will provide a different texture and flavor, so it is important to adjust the recipe accordingly.

Why is cornmeal used in baking? ›

While cornmeal is the traditional ingredient in cornbread, it is also used for texture and sweetness in cookies and other breads. It is also often used to dust baking surfaces for things like pizza to prevent the dough from sticking, and can also be used as a thickener for soups and chilis.

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