Cornbread Tamale Bites with Jalapeno, Cheese and Bacon
Cornbread gets all kicked up with some creamy cheesy deliciousness and topped with bacon,
it’s wrapped in a corn husk resembling a tamale. A new twist on a tamale!
Aren’t these adorable! This is a fun way to line a muffin pan, and it helps keep the cornbread moist.
Like a stuffed jalapeno, it’s loaded with cream cheese, jalapenos, chees,e and bacon! OMG so yummy!
Bite sized comfort food!
It’s actually cooled off a few nights here and feels like Fall. Well at night it does, in the daytime it’s still in the 80’s. I love Fall, but still have trouble with the whole daylight saving concept. It’s getting dark early, they adjusted it so we turn the clocks back later. I’m still confused. I just want it to get dark at 8 pm and sunrise at 6 am, am I being difficult? I don’t think so. If you have insight as to why it’s still so confusing to ME, fill me in. I confuse easily!
Once I forgot to change the clocks back and showed up an hour early for a job and the surprise was on everyone’s face.
It was many years ago, there may or may not have been tequila involved, there may or may not have been… no sleep that night, yes those types of funny memories. Funny how I can’t recall what I had for dinner two nights ago, but I can recall that time so vividly.
I was going to do a friend’s hair for her wedding. I showed up at 7 am. not 8 am like we planned. Everyone was buzzing around the house getting ready, they all had the biggest laugh. I was glad I knew them well. I enjoyed a plate of food for breakfast then got to work!
Onto the comfort food…
Cornbread is one of my favorite comfort foods. I knew I was going to Fill it like a Stuffed Jalapeno and bake it. Wrapping them in corn husks sure did pretty them up. I can see other great items baked in them too. It’s like some type of bite-size tamale. It’s comfort food at its best!
Prepare corn husks by soaking them in warm water so they are pliable. Cut corn husks into 4-inch squares, then place them into a cupcake pan. Lightly oil them for easy removal, and spray oil works well.
Mix cornbread mix with egg and milk, and add 2 tablespoons into each compartment.
Mix cream cheese with diced jalapenos, scallions, and cheese. Place 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on top of cornbread mixture,
then top with bacon. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
These would be great for a party or anytime really. Why wait for a party! I like that they are snack size and so did everyone else.
I like that the few we had leftover reheated well, I may have even hidden one so no one else could find it, I do that sometimes, do you?
* NOTE: spraying the corn husks with an oil spray will help the cornbread not to stick to the husks. If you bake them in cupcake liners, foil liners won’t stick as much as paper liners.
Cornbread Tamale Bites Printable Recipe
- 12 dried corn husks
- 1 package cream cheese
- 4 Jalapenos, roast then remove seeds
- 3 scallions chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon
cornbread mixture:
- 1 package Jiffy cornbread mix (or a cornbread mix of your choosing)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
Instructions:
Prepare corn husks by soaking them in warm water so they are pliable. Cut corn husks into 4-inch squares, then place them into a cupcake pan.
Mix cornbread mix with egg and milk, and add 2 tablespoons into each compartment. Mix cream cheese with diced jalapenos, scallions, and cheese. Place 2 tablespoons of cream cheese mixture on top of the cornbread mixture, then top with bacon.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes
What a great idea. It looks fantastic! Pinning it right now. 🙂
Thanks Natalie 🙂
Oh my goodness..Diane! These look positively delicious and so easy!
they are easy, I LOVE that part!
Hahahaha, yes…I have to hide food with three kids! One taste times 3 equals the whole thing! I love this recipe, Diane!!! Using corn husks as liners is GREAT!!!
glad to hear I’m not alone 🙂
This is one of those posts that just hits all my weak spots. These muffins look so good I can’t stand it.
glad they have that effect 🙂
just don’t fall and get hurt that wouldn’t be what I wanted
What a neat idea, so creative using corn husks to hold these tamale bites! So much less intimidating than actually making tamales.
I feel the same way about tamales, they are so time consuming. This was the quick easy version 🙂
These are so darn cool!!! You are a genius! Plus, they look delicious. Definite plus. 😉
Thanks Rachael! Wonder why I never thought to use corn husks for corn bread before 🙂
I’m trying not to be so dramatic but OH MY GOD! These look so good and I don’t even eat bacon! What do you think I can sub for the bacon? I have to make these…!!!
hmm…if you don’t eat bacon without will be just fine they are full of flavor!
Uh, yeah I maybe guilty of hiding food for myself *blushing*. 😀
🙂
It is the best idea! really! tamales are hard to make and they take a lot of time, this ones are just perfect!
This is an awesome recipe. I’ve pinned it to remember it. I will be making these at the next (wife’s) family get together. I always try to share something with a southern theme for all these Wisconsinites!
I love the husk idea, and btw, Jiffy mix is the best! Seems sweeter than the rest.
Jiffy mix is the best! I recently tried a few others and was disappointed. Now I’m thinking of other ways of using the husks, I have more 🙂
Jiffy is too sweet for me… can i make it with plain cornmeal?
If you have a cornbread recipe you like using cornmeal, that is what I would suggest using
love this idea!
You had me at “tamale.”
I LOVE tamales but have never made them, have you?
what a clever way to make those tamale bites Diane! they do look delicious!
Thanks Dennis!
So freakin’ adorable! Love the little tamale bites!
This is such a great idea!! So fun and creative!
Thanks Lauren!
This is a brilliant recipe! I love how you added the corn husks. Such a beautiful and creative presentation!
I just love the corn husks and hope to find other uses for them, have a bunch left, but don’t want to make traditional tamales (too time consuming) I get great tamales locally 🙂
You are too funny! At least you had a good breakfast! I would devour all of these tamale bites, it’s all about the cornbread!
I don’t know why I don’t make cornbread every week, I just bought a cast iron skillet and have visions of warm cornbread with more dinners 🙂 ah….breakfast too
Eek! These sound amazing! I love that you used the corn husks. So freaking cute!
has me thinking hmmm…what else can I use the corn husks for, but not tamales too time consuming for me 🙂
The husks is a nice touch. Love spicy corn bread and don’t forget to fall backwards and change the clock, but not yet.
Holy cow, these look so good! I know my boys would go crazy for them!
wishing I had more of these right now, my daughter found the one I hid 🙂
These look yummy! Where do you get dried corn husk from?
I live in souther California, with Mexican food at abundance here they sell them almost everywhere. If you have an ethnic aisle in your local store try there 🙂
I love this idea!!! The tamale wrappers are so cute and playful!!
Not only is the recipe great, but I so love the use of the corn husks. I make homemade tamales every year and always have tons of corn husks leftover. This will be a great use for them!
I didn’t have corn husks, so I just used cupcake liners…the foil ones worked the best, the paper ones stuck 🙁
Now that I know it’s a hit at home, I will definitely make these again and cute them up with the corn husks! Thanks for a fabulous recipe! Had these with white chicken chili tonight.
I can’t get over these…honestly!
These look fantastic I could eat three.. and want more 🙂
did you use full size muffin pans or mini muffing pans? the name (tamale bites) implies mini but the photo looks like large. if you used large, have you done mini?
thanks!
I used the regular size muffin pan. They are not tiny bites, but more like a two bite amount. I have not made them in the mini pan,the corn husk will be more difficult to fit into those along with the filling. These really are a great size as they have a filling in the cornbread and all that will be more difficult in smaller size I think. I’ve made these many times and everyone loves the size.
Thank you for the super quick reply – these are on my Thanksgiving menu!
Hi, these look absolutely delicious. Can they be frozen a day ahead? Thanks!
I haven’t frozen them. I do think they would be best not frozen as cream cheese has a tendency to get a little watery when frozen and thawed, but if you try it, let me know how they turn out.
Alternatively you can make the cornbread batter and filling separately and bake them fresh the next day, you may have better success that way.
Thanks! I think I’ll set a couple aside and test them. God willing, I plan to make them for my Christmas gathering this year. I appreciate your quick response. God bless.
Cornbread Tamale Biting with Jalapeno cheese and bacon is an addicting snack. I really like this dish. The cheese flavor is very aromatic and fatty.
These are so fun and delicious. What a great combination of flavors!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Keep in fridge for up to 4 days (can be frozen) reheat in microwave 20 seconds before serving for great flavor.
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors!
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make it?
You can prepare it the day ahead and place it in the fridge, then bake the following day and serve.
I have not tried prepping it longer or freezing so you’ll have to let me know how it goes.