I have a soft spot for corn muffins. It’s a thing that goes back to college years in the Northeast U.S., where I always struggled to find something to eat for breakfast and my default choice was a corn muffin. They were humongous muffins, with a nice semi-crusty top and moist interior. But there was NEVER enough of the top. I have since heard that several places sell only “muffin tops” but I don’t think I have ever tried them…
…so when I spotted these unusual pans at the my Quiapo suki last week, I had this idea to use them to bake “muffin tops” or perhaps more accurately, “muffin disks”. I asked what the pans were for, and they said they were “hamburger patty” pans… used to form equally sized hamburger patties, and I think I paid PHP300 each for these pans.
Back at home, I quickly whipped up one recipe for corn muffins, using some stone ground corn meal that Sister had sent a while back and which was wallowing in the back of the fridge, and place the dough into these pans and stuck them in the oven. Cooked them only 20-23 minutes and had these wonderful looking disks of what seemed like all muffin tops! They weren’t as dried out and crisp on the edges as I was shooting for, but they were delicious nonetheless!
The size of a large cookie, you could eat these plain. But I had a couple of muffin tops with a nice chunk of butter and some mango jam as well. Great breakfast food. Or great snack at any time of the day. The next day we did “brownie disks” using a brownie recipe and the same pans. They turned out nicely as well. I think we must have finished the whole batch rather quickly, because I realize now I didn’t manage to take even one photo of the brownie disks… :)
51 Responses
What a great pan! Now you can get all that crusty part you want in a corn muffin and brownies. High five for that!
MM, may I know what your Quiapo suki is?
Those pans will be nice for individual frittatas! Great find!!!
Just had to chuckle when I thought of what the slang meaning of muffin top is. Hehe. After eating those brownie and corn muffin disks, you’re bound to end up with one. :)
Yuummm! My mouth is watering… ty MM for sharing…
I’ve been searching for those muffin pans please share your source MM
oh, muffin tops result to muffin tops!
Looks absolutely delicious MM, reminds me of a Seinfeld episode about “Muffin Tops”
Good morning! Sir, may I know where in Quiapo is your suki located ? pwedeng name na rin ng establishment? :) Maraming salamat po in advance!
I like this! What temperature did you use? Muffins and cupcakes typically bake at the 375-400 C range at shorter times to get that puffed up top. You might get the browned edges then because the edges could be thinner.
Would love to get these and use them for cookies to get even sized ones–easier to pack and ship!
MM, have you tried Panera Bread’s Pumpkin Muffie? ( US restaurant)
I have those pans – it’s called the “muffie” pans. :-)
I just like to call it as “muffie” pans but they are actually Shallow Muffin pans.
Btw, I have the Silicone Bakeware Madeleine Pans – easy to use + easy release.
(by kitchenAid)
I have whoopie pie pans that look just like these. They’re are also great for making home-made hamburger buns.
Hi MM! We’re in search for corn meal here in Manila, but to no avail. Do you have an idea where they are available. Thanks.
Ge, Metro Grocery at Market!Market! used to carry cornmeal… the classic U.S. supermarket brand whose name escapes me. But I think they have run out lately. I bought the pans at Sin Kian Heng in Quiapo, across from Excellente Ham and near the Ils de Tul. :)
MM, I think I know where Excellente ham shop is located but I am not sure I know where (what) Ils de Tul is?
Yes Scott, Seinfeld’s episode featuring muffin tops was indeed unforgettable..
MP, happily standing in for Google translate here: Ils de Tul – ilalim ng tulay.
MM, off-topic, but related to your school feeding program. in case you haven’t been to this blog yet – this girl created a blog featuring photos of the daily lunch served at the school cafeteria. she has gotten overwhelming responses, and other kids all over the world have shared pictures of their own school lunches. my heart is breaking for our poor schoolchildren.
There’s a large health food store (healthy options maybe?) at the basement of GB5 that carries the “Bob’s Red Mill” brand – they have 2 or 3 types of corn meal, coarse, medium and fine ground, corn flour, different types of oats like steel cut etc.
MP, hahaha, sorry, yes, Josephine, it is the “Ilalim ny Tulay” in Quiapo. Sin Kian Heng is beside the market. Isagarch, thanks for that. Yes, healthy options is the other place that carries Cornmeal, they have branches in large malls. Bob’s Red Mill is a good brand, and there was another boxed brand that I have used for years for muffins…
Boxed brand? You mean Jiffy :)
Hi MM, can you share your recipe for the corn muffin and brownies? :) I would love to try them. Am planning to go to Quiapo to get some baking pans. Thanks!
Avic, corn muffins super simple, I don’t have my own recipe, I use this simple recipe by Ina Garten, here, as I seem to have misplaced the other basic recipe that Sister gave me a while back… An old post on brownies, here.
Isagarch, hahaha, I wondered there for a while. I googled images and it was “Alber’s” Enriched Yellow Corn Meal, with the large corn cob on the distinctive box that looks so old-fashioned, here. :)
I’m sure I saw that box at landmark.
who would have thought that you can buy this type of pan? your blog has always been a great learning site, MM. a big THANKS for all of these great ideas.
I saw this type of pan in a thrift shop. I asked the ladies what it is for and no one knew. I didn’t buy it. :(
Another use for those pans besides muffin tops…flourless chocolate cake, then when baked, cool, and top or fill it with a chocolate mousse type of filling but more on the stiff side. Shape it into a pyramid, Cover with shards of dark chocolate. These make excellent single serving desserts but maybe share with your love ones!
However, if you have those empty tuna cans, wash and rinse. I have used those cans to make these flourless chocolate cakes and I am positive they will work as well for those muffin tops.
Awesome, P loves muffin tops. Muffin top pans in the U.S. are $14.99 each for a pan that makes only 6 muffins at a time. Please bring me a couple of these soon. : )
Yes, Ms. Betty, I too use tuna cans for most of my dishes “presentation”.
I am a “sucker” for kitchen gadgetsl; I will send my hipag to this place to check on what other things they have; thanks MM.
Brownie disks! Too bad you weren’t able to take a picture MM, but just thinking about them makes me want to have dessert right now. :)
Haven’t tried using corn meal ever, and I don’t know what it tastes like. The farthest I ever got to eating corn that is not on the cob and in a chowder/soup/side dish is corn tortilla chips like Tortillos and Taquitos (and I’m not even sure if those use a good amount of corn). Hehe.
@millet, may I know the name of the blog you’re referring to? I’m curious. Is it this? –> https://neverseconds.blogspot.co.uk/
:D
Pixieniexie and others – go to neverseconds@blogspot.com
This 9 yr old girl has raised more than 100,000 pounds stirling for school meals in Africa. But for those who don’t know the full story, go right to her first post and read from there. When the local government tried to ban her, her blog went viral as did the donations. The power of the little! Let’s try to start the same millet via blog maybe.
Will be there to help.
@josephine: a quick search for “school lunches blog” yielded the blog you mentioned, and I looked through it as well as news related to “Veg”‘s efforts. It’s amazing how a little girl can change the system and help a lot of people in the process!
If you’re serious about starting a blog like it I’d be very happy to help, too. :)
We’d need MM.
those look great, MM! and i love those pans …
Tops or not. I absolutely love corn muffins! Good job MM!
I saw that blog too. I think that girl’s school meals are far better than what most of our public school students have (or worse > don’t have)… An aunt who is a public school teacher sometimes spends her own money just so some of her underprivileged students have something to eat…
oh, i’m sorry, forgot to insert the blog’s link. yes, pixienixie, that’s it. impressive, isn’t it?
but pixienixie and josephine, it breaks my heart to see what kids on the other side of the world are having, while here in the philippines, the kids have nothing like free lunches, not to mention enough chairs, classrooms, books. we need to replicate something like MM’s school feeding program all over the country. of course i understand that not all the lunches are free, but the cafeteria meals are very affordable. i am also struck by the number of healthy choices available in these cafeterias.
Thanks MM! I’m cooking corn muffin now. Corn muffin and roasted chicken for dinner ;-)
Anson Mills cornmeal is available at most US groceries. But the best brand I’ve tried is Cayuga Organics, cornmeal ground from heritage corn.
Easy Corn bread recipe:
1 1/4 c. butter melted
4 large eggs
1 c. milk
2 tsp salt
2 c. cornmeal
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
Mix butter, eggs, milk together.
Add dry ingredients and stir just until blended. Pour into greased muffin pans or 13×9 greased rectangular pan.
Bake in preheated 375F for pan or 400F for muffins.
You can add 1 c. chopped ham, or 2 tbsp. chopped dill or scallions.
Serve ASAP
Even a 10 year old can make this easily.
is cornmeal the same as polenta?
Edee…polenta is the name of the finished product using cornmeal.
Sister…you’re back! …missed your comments!
thanks bettyq, i’m just not sure if we have cornmeal here in ireland, more used to seeing polenta, can i use it if want to make corn muffin?, thanks again….
Thanks, will start my search for that corn meal! :)
I think this post subconsciously led me to getting a membership at S&R yesterday! (that and a need for good Greek yogurt!) I bought a corn bread mix :D now to get those pans!
Cornmeal is more commonly called “maize meal” in British English. Polenta is Northern Italian in origin and is the finished product, using corn meal (farina di mais) as ingredient.
But beware:
farina di mais = corn meal
amido di mais = corn flour (Brit) = corn starch (US) !
@edee, I think Sainsbury’s or Tesco has maize meal.
thanks Jade186, i’ll keep my eyes open for maize meal then….
They’re called “muffies”. I’ve tried chocolate chip ones sold at Panera Bread (resto/bakeshop) in the US
thanks, sister. will try this on the lodge corn pone pans my brother-in-law sent me. am always excited to use it because i has more crisp edges than cornbread baked in a regular pan. i had a different recipe, but this seems easier.