Cornbread Muffins (Lightened Up But the Best Ever)

I'm a huge fan of anything that is able to be lightened up that can actually outdo its less healthy, original opponent. This muffin is just that! It is my favorite cornbread, EVER! I adapted it from my Lightened Up Cornbread Recipe. I made these because I needed a shorter cooking time than that of the 8x8 pan version since dinner was close to being done, so I thought muffins would be perfect. Any version of this, muffin or cornbread will disappear in a flash. 
I say these are lightened up because your average cornbread uses a whole stick of butter, with this recipe I use some applesauce as a source of moisture therefore requiring less butter. These are my idea of the most moist and tasty cornbread muffins ever! Then when they are topped off with freshly whipped honey butter, awww my mouth is watering. If you are lucky enough to have any leftover after dinner they make an excellent breakfast the next morning. That's one thing I love about these muffins, they are a perfect side dish to dinner, a great breakfast and even an amazing dessert. They have just the right amount of sweetness. They are making me crave a good Southern Ham meal with some of my Mom's perfect mashed potatoes with ham gravy, mmmm. Good luck stopping at just one muffin, I never can =).

Cornbread Muffins
Yields 18-19 muffins


Ingredients:
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 Tbsp honey
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 recipe Whipped Honey Butter, recipe follows


Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal and buttermilk until well blended, allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.  Add applesauce, melted butter, honey and sugar to cornmeal mixture and whisk until well combine.  Mix in eggs.  Stir in dry ingredients and whisk just until combine and no longer lumpy. Divide mixture evenly among 18-19 paper lined muffin cups filling each one 2/3 full. Bake in preheat oven for 13-16 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool completely if "frosting" with whipped honey butter, or serve warm slathered with whipped honey butter (melty and drippy delicious mmm).


Whipped Honey Butter

Ingredients:
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, with an electric hand mixer, whip together all ingredients until light and fluffy about 2 minutes.



Recipe Source: Cooking Classy (from my Lightened Up Cornbread)