The Genius Way To Use Up Corn Muffin Mix (That Has Nothing To Do With Muffins)

Most of us are familiar with Jiffy cornbread mix's basic, white-and-blue packaging. Not only did many of us grow up seeing boxes of this reliable staple stocked in our family pantries, but over the years, cornbread mix has also evolved into serving as a key ingredient for many other exciting dishes.

You could add Greek yogurt, maple syrup, or fresh corn kernels to make your next batch of boxed corn muffins taste homemade. But if you haven't tried this affordable mainstay in other traditional recipes, you might be missing out. You may be surprised to discover that cornbread mix could be what your classic pancake recipe has always needed. 

Even though standard American pancakes are made with flour, cornbread mix adds a warm heartiness to these traditionally sweet hotcakes. Before uncovering more creative uses for cornbread mix, let's get into the details of how it can elevate rich, indulgent pancakes.

You may want to try using corn muffin mix before following a detailed cornmeal pancake recipe from scratch. Corn muffin mix is easy to use, and swapping it in for flour adds a complexity you wouldn't find with just processed wheat.

To make a quick, hearty pancake recipe, The Kitchn says all you need is one box of Jiffy corn muffin mix, ¾ cup of buttermilk or whole milk, and two eggs. After whisking these minimal ingredients, cook your pancakes as you would any other traditional flapjack recipe. (Alternatively, you can follow the pancake recipe from the Jiffy website, which uses only one egg and less milk.) Either way, you'll end up with a stack of pancakes that look and taste nothing like the standard variety. 

Why go through the trouble of buying extra ingredients to make lemon ricotta pancakes when you can just use a box of cornbread mix and end up with an equally satisfying alternative? And because traditional corn muffins pair well with heartier fare, such as spaghetti or chili, feel free to pair these savory cornmeal pancakes with a side of eggs and sausage to make one epic breakfast.

While cornmeal pancakes may be your new go-to morning meal, pancakes aren't the only dish you can make with a handy box of corn muffin mix. Corn muffin mixes, whether Jiffy or any other variety, have comparable ingredient lists: flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda, and a small amount of fat. Why not use this convenient mix of ingredients to add a flair of cornmeal to some of your favorite traditional recipes? 

For Shondaland, Adrienne Blumthal detailed how she uses corn muffin mix to make lemon olive oil cornmeal cake, as well as a crumb topping for an apple and pear crisp. By combining corn muffin mix, oats, sugar, butter, and nuts, you can transform any standard baked fruit dish into a delicious treat with savory undertones. And if you want to use this convenient mix in dinner recipes, there are plenty of ways to use corn muffin mix that include savory dishes. Besides using Jiffy mix to craft cornbread stuffing, there's an entire database of recipes listed on the Jiffy website. 

Corn muffin mix isn't just for corn muffins. You can use this convenient blend of ingredients to upgrade many of your favorite meals — including a hot stack of buttery pancakes.