Toaster Corncakes

Here's a recipe for which we've had quite a few requests: toaster corncakes, English muffin-sized, sort-of-sweet cornbread rounds that can be split, toasted, and slathered with butter and jam. We've seen these in blueberry and cranberry versions, as well as the plain corn formula we offer here; feel free to make your own additions of frozen or dried fruit (though there's something about the basic corn recipe that is very satisfying; the corn flavor really shines through).

1 1/2 cups (6 1/4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup (4 1/4 ounces) yellow cornmeal
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (2 5/8 ounces) granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup (4 ounces, 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the wells of a hamburger bun pan (six 4" x 1" wells). Or lightly grease eight paper crumbcake cups (3 1/2" x 1 1/4"). If you don't have either of those, or something similar, you'll need to bake the batter in a lightly greased 9" x 13" pan, then cut it into squares.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk till thoroughly combined.

Pour the milk/egg mixture and the melted butter over the dry ingredients, and stir just to combine; don't beat this mixture, or the cakes will be tough.

Scoop a generous 1/3 cup (2 3/4 ounces) of batter into each of the cups; they should be just about 3/4 full. Wet your fingers and spread the batter to cover the bottom of the cups, smoothing the top at the same time. If you're using a 9" x 13" pan, spread the batter into it, smoothing the top.

Bake the corncakes for about 20 to 22 minutes (the longer amount of time for the paper cups). The bottoms will be golden brown, but the tops won't be colored yet, or just barely beginning to color (since they'll be going into the toaster, you don't want them to brown too much in the oven). Remove the cakes from the oven, and allow them to cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing them from the cups. If you've used a 9" x 13" pan, let the cake cool, then cut it into nine rectangles, each approximately 3" wide and 4 1/4" long. Split and eat warm, or cool to room temperature, split, and toast. Yield: 6, 8, or 9 cakes, depending on what kind of pan or cups you use.

Nutrition information per serving (1/9 of recipe, split into two generous pieces, 71g): 255 cal, 11.9g fat, 5g protein, 24g complex carbohydrates, 8g sugar, 1g dietary fiber, 118mg cholesterol, 309mg sodium, 62mg potassium, 112RE vitamin A, 2mg iron, 105mg calcium, 79mg phosphorus.

©2007 The King Arthur Flour Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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