Buzz
I’ve always had a soft spot for that little blue box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. While I wouldn’t serve the muffins as cornbread—they’re too sweet for that—they work wonders in a corn casserole and, as I discovered, make surprisingly tasty waffles (with just a few tweaks). Plus, the mix is incredibly affordable—under a dollar per box—and it yields four waffles per batch, making it a budget-friendly brunch option for two.
This is part of Will it Waffle?, the Skillet series where Claire uses her waffle maker to cook everything from eggplant to mozzarella sticks.
When I first began testing these waffles, I followed the box instructions, mixing 1/3 cup of milk and one egg into the dry, yellow powder. I then poured the batter into my waffle maker and cooked it until the waffles were a lovely golden brown. I removed them from the maker and took a bite. They were decent, but not amazing.
The flavor was a bit flat, and the texture was slightly dry and crumbly, but nothing that butter and syrup couldn't fix. Still, I was aiming for better, so I whipped up another batch with a splash more milk and a spoonful of bacon grease. (Maybe it’s not universal, but my grandmother always baked her cornbread in bacon grease, and those two ingredients are forever tied in my mind.)
Top-rated waffle makers to meet all your waffle cravings:
This one feels a bit high-end for the price: Oster Belgian Waffle Maker with Adjustable Temperature Control
This one comes with a built-in drip guard (though it only has one temperature setting): Dash Deluxe No-Drip Waffle Iron Maker
Claire’s very first waffle maker: Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker
Just the right size: DASH Mini Waffle Maker
The second batch of waffles came out much better—moister, with a subtle hint of salt and smoke from the bacon grease. They also had that sweet, corny flavor that you expect from Jiffy Corn Muffins. In short, they were delicious, especially with a pat of butter and a generous drizzle of maple syrup. They’re still a bit too crumbly for a proper sandwich, but they’re perfect as a side for bacon and eggs, or even something fancier like this maple-poached beauty.
Simple Corn Waffles
Ingredients:
1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of melted bacon grease
Turn on your waffle maker. If it has temperature control, adjust it to medium-high.
Place the muffin mix in a large bowl and break up any lumps using a whisk or fork. Lightly beat the egg with the milk, then add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the batter into the preheated waffle maker.
Cook for 4-6 minutes, until the waffles are golden brown and easily release from the waffle maker. Serve immediately, ideally with a maple egg and crispy bacon.
