Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe
If you’re looking for a way to take your biscuits to the next level, this Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe is exactly what you need. The blend of sharp cheddar, sweet honey, and a kick of jalapeño turns ordinary biscuits into something that feels both comforting and exciting. Trust me, these biscuits have become my go-to when I want something cozy yet with a bit of a surprise inside.
I love making them for casual dinners or weekend brunches when people are lingering and chatting in the kitchen. They’re perfect alongside chili or a big green salad, but honestly, you could just eat these biscuits with butter and be perfectly happy. You’ll find yourself reaching for seconds—and maybe thirds—once you try this Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
- Complex Flavor Harmony: The sharp cheddar, sweet honey, and spicy jalapeño balance beautifully for a multidimensional taste.
- Tender Yet Textured: Combining cornmeal and flour gives the biscuits a tender crumb with a subtle grainy texture that’s so satisfying.
- Made From Scratch with Fresh Ingredients: Using fresh or frozen corn and real butter adds warmth and freshness you just can’t beat from a box mix.
- Versatile and Crowd-Pleasing: Whether as a hearty side or a snack with jalapeño honey butter, these biscuits please all palates.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe plays a role in giving you those irresistible biscuits. From the cornmeal’s golden crunch to the sharp cheddar’s savory punch, each element works together to create a biscuit you’ll want to make again and again. Here are some tips on getting the best results.
- All-purpose flour: The base of the biscuit, gives structure but keeps it tender.
- Cornmeal: Adds a pleasant grit and a touch of sweetness – don’t skip this!
- Baking powder: Your leavening hero; fresh powder gives the best rise and fluffiness.
- Garlic powder: Adds subtle savory depth without overpowering the other flavors.
- Onion powder: Enhances the overall flavor background in a gentle way.
- Salt: Essential for flavor balance—use good-quality kosher or sea salt.
- Fresh or frozen yellow corn: Adds bursts of sweetness and texture—fresh is ideal when in season.
- Cold salted butter: Using cold and shredding it helps create flaky layers.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: The star savory ingredient, opt for a real sharp variety for maximum flavor.
- Buttermilk: Provides acidity for tenderness and lightness.
- Honey: Balances spice and adds subtle sweetness both in the dough and the butter.
- Jalapeño (for the honey butter): The kick that wakes up the buttery sweetness.
- Fresh thyme or parsley: Brings fresh herbal notes that brighten the finish.
- Garlic powder (for the butter): Continues the gentle garlic flavor theme nicely.
Make It Your Way
I love that this Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe is so flexible—it invites your personal touch. Whether you like things a little hotter or prefer to sneak in some extra cheese, it’s easy to adjust. Feel free to make it your own and experiment with mix-ins or herbs to match your family’s taste.
- Spicy variation: I sometimes leave the seeds in the jalapeño for extra heat, which my spice-loving friends really appreciate.
- Dairy-free switch: Swap butter with vegan butter and use a plant-based milk mixed with lemon juice as a buttermilk substitute.
- Herb twist: Fresh rosemary or chives work beautifully instead of thyme or parsley if you want a different herbal note.
- Cheese swap: Try pepper jack for a spicier bite, or smoked cheddar for a deeper, richer flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F and rubbing a 10-inch cast iron skillet with butter. The skillet heats evenly and helps create a wonderfully crisp bottom crust on your biscuits. Using a cast iron also helps them brown up just right without any hot spots.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients and Corn
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Add the corn—fresh or frozen works fine, but fresh always feels special to me when I have it on hand. Mixing the dry ingredients well helps your biscuits rise evenly and get a perfect crumb.
Step 3: Incorporate Butter and Cheese
Now here’s a little trick: shred cold butter into your dry mix using your hands or a pastry cutter, like you’re grating cheese. This ensures little butter chunks stay throughout the dough, which melt during baking to create those flaky layers we all crave. Then stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, which instantly brightens and enriches the dough.
Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients and Fold the Dough
Pour in the buttermilk and honey, gently mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix here—you want tender biscuits, not tough ones. Then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a rectangle. Fold the dough like a letter a few times; this layering method helps with flakiness and structure. After folding and flattening, your dough should be about 3/4-inch thick, ready to cut.
Step 5: Cut, Arrange, and Bake
Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut the dough into circles and place them in your prepared skillet. Don’t fuss too much about perfect edges—rustic biscuits always feel more inviting. Brush the tops with milk and scatter a couple tablespoons of butter around the edges of the skillet. Bake 20-22 minutes until golden and irresistible.
Step 6: Make the Jalapeño Honey Butter
While the biscuits bake, melt butter over low heat in a small pan. Stir in honey, chopped jalapeño, fresh thyme (or parsley), and garlic powder. This warm, spicy-sweet butter is the real magic finishing touch—you’ll want to spread it on every warm biscuit right when they come out of the oven.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Keep Butter Cold: Shredding cold butter is key to flaky, tender biscuits—warm butter won’t create the same layers.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir ingredients until just combined to avoid tough biscuits; a few lumps in the batter are okay.
- Use a Cast Iron Skillet: It helps biscuits cook evenly with a crispy bottom and golden crust.
- Adjust Jalapeño Heat to Taste: Start with seeds removed to keep it mild, then add more if you like a bigger kick.
How to Serve Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these biscuits with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt right after brushing on the jalapeño honey butter—it adds a lovely texture and bright burst of flavor. Sometimes I garnish with extra fresh thyme or chopped parsley for a pop of herbal freshness that complements the jalapeño nicely.
Side Dishes
These biscuits pair beautifully with chili, hearty stews, or slow-cooked BBQ dishes. We often enjoy them alongside a light green salad or roasted vegetables to balance richness. This Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe really shines when you want a comforting, slightly spicy side that elevates the whole meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like arranging the biscuits in a big circle on a wooden board with little bowls of jalapeño honey butter and fresh herbs for dipping. It makes for a warm, inviting presentation that guests can gather around. You could also stuff the biscuits with extra cheese or jalapeño slices for a fun twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep them from drying out, I wrap them in a linen towel inside the container—it’s a simple trick that keeps them soft and fresh until you’re ready to eat again.
Freezing
You can freeze these biscuits before baking—just cut and arrange them on a baking sheet, freeze individually until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you want fresh biscuits, bake them straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time. This has saved me on busy mornings more than once!
Reheating
To reheat, I pop biscuits in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, wrapped in foil to retain moisture. If you want to revive some of the crispness, unwrap them in the last 2 minutes of reheating. Slathering them again with warmed jalapeño honey butter is the finishing touch that brings them back to life.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen corn for this recipe?
Yes! Frozen corn works well here and is a great option when fresh corn is out of season. Just make sure to thaw and drain it before adding to the dough to avoid excess moisture.
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How spicy are the jalapeños in the butter?
The spice level is mild to medium since the seeds are removed in this recipe. If you prefer more heat, you can leave some seeds in or add extra chopped jalapeño to the butter. It’s easy to adjust to your comfort level!
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Can I make these biscuits without a cast iron skillet?
Absolutely! A regular baking sheet or oven-safe dish will work fine, although a cast iron skillet helps create a more even golden crust. Just make sure to butter your pan well to prevent sticking.
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Is there a dairy-free version of this recipe?
You can substitute vegan butter and use plant-based milk mixed with a bit of lemon juice for buttermilk to make a dairy-free version. The flavor will shift slightly, but it’s still delicious!
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How do I store leftovers to keep the biscuits fresh?
Store leftover biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature wrapped in a kitchen towel to maintain softness for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze them as described above.
Final Thoughts
This Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe has earned a special place in my kitchen and heart. It’s one of those recipes I return to when I want something both familiar and a little unexpected. If you love biscuits that are flaky, cheesy, a touch sweet, and with a bit of a zing, you’re going to adore these. I can’t recommend it enough—grab your skillet and get baking, your taste buds will thank you!
PrintJalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 9 biscuits
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Jalapeño Honey Butter Cheddar Corn Biscuits are a delightful combination of savory cheddar, sweet honey, and a spicy kick from jalapeños. Made with a blend of all-purpose flour and cornmeal, these biscuits are tender and packed with flavor. Served warm with a homemade jalapeño honey butter, they make a perfect side dish or snack for any occasion.
Ingredients
Biscuit Dough
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh or frozen yellow corn
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold salted butter, shredded (like cheese)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons honey
Jalapeño Honey Butter
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1-2 teaspoons honey
- 1 jalapeño, seeded if desired, and chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh thyme or chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Skillet: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Rub a 10-inch cast iron skillet with butter to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Corn: In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and corn. This will create a flavorful base for the biscuits.
- Add Butter and Cheese: Using your hands, mix in the shredded cold butter and shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the dry mixture to create a crumbly texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients and Form Dough: Pour in the buttermilk and honey, mixing until combined to form a cohesive dough.
- Shape the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat into a 1-inch-thick rectangle. Fold one side into the center, then fold the other side over, like a letter. Turn the dough horizontally and flatten into a rectangle again. Repeat the folding once more and finally flatten into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle.
- Cut Biscuits: Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut dough into circles. Re-roll remaining dough to cut additional biscuits. Arrange the biscuits in the prepared skillet.
- Brush and Add Butter: Brush the tops of the biscuits with milk. Scatter 2 tablespoons of butter around the biscuits in the skillet for added richness during baking.
- Bake Biscuits: Bake the biscuits at 425°F for 22 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Make Jalapeño Honey Butter: While the biscuits bake, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over low heat in a pan. Stir in the honey, chopped jalapeño, fresh thyme or parsley, and garlic powder. Warm through to infuse flavors.
- Serve: Serve the warm biscuits with the jalapeño honey butter spread and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for an extra touch of flavor.
Notes
- For extra heat, leave the jalapeño seeds in the butter.
- Use fresh corn when in season for the best flavor; frozen corn works well too.
- Chill the butter before mixing into the dough to create flaky layers.
- If desired, substitute sharp cheddar with a milder cheese such as Monterey Jack.
- The biscuits can be reheated in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes and served with warmed jalapeño honey butter.
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, use a similar oven-safe baking dish and grease well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 biscuit
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg