Ready in 15 minutes, these air fryer corn bread muffins without eggs are the perfect side to chili or beans. A vegan version of Southern comfort food that's dairy-free (we're using almond milk) and a smart sub option, if you want to make them oil-free, too!

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These cornbread muffins are fast and easy to make as a side for a family dinner without having to turn the oven on.
They go perfect when making bean chili, vegetable tomato soup, a Southern meal or pinto beans.
🎙 What people say about this recipe
"This recipe was bomb!! I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you <3"
- Elise
🧄 Very useful ingredient notes
- Yellow corn meal - be sure that you're using yellow corn meal, not pre-cooked masa, which is used to make corn tortillas. Also, you cannot use PAN, a pre-cooked corn product used to make arepas. It needs to be yellow corn meal, which is dry and often stone-ground to a small-medium consistency. If you look on the back of the package and there is a recipe for cornbread, you've got the right product. Do not purchase instant cornbread mix (Jiffy), as it is not vegan since it contains lard.
- Unsweetened almond milk - Be sure to use an unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk for this recipe. You don't want your savory cornbread to taste like vanilla!
- Applesauce - Used as a substitute for oil in baked goods, applesauce will keep your cornbread muffins moist and tender without the need for added eggs or oil.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- All purpose flour - Instead of AP flour, I had tested using whole wheat pastry flour for it's lighter texture and it worked beautifully in these muffins.
- Sugar - Use another neutral-tasting sweetener option instead of the cane sugar. Coconut sugar would be the best natural, unrefined sweetener recommendation as a substitute.
- Unsweetened almond milk - Instead of unsweetened, unflavored almond milk, use unsweetened, unflavored cashew milk or soy milk.
- Applesauce - Instead of applesauce, you can use vegetable oil.
- Corn kernels - Instead of frozen corn, use drained canned corn or fresh corn that's been cut off the cob. I love little crunchy pieces of corn kernels in my cornbread, but if you want your cornbread muffins to be totally smooth, then just leave them out.
To switch things up, try one of these fun variations!
- Jalapeño cornbread muffins - mix in diced jalapeño (or other hot pepper) to the batter instead of or in addition to the corn kernels for a spicy corn bread muffin.
- Confetti cornbread muffins - mix in diced red and green bell peppers for a colorful cornbread without any heat.
🔪 Instructions
Step by step how to make air fryer vegan cornbread muffins that are oil-free.
Making the batter
In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Add the milk and applesauce (or oil) to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Pour batter in silicone muffin cups
Fill silicone muffin cups ⅔ full and then carefully place them in the air fryer one at a time.
How many muffin cups will fit will depend on how big your air fryer is.
If you stuff them in, they will be shaped funny, like you see below with some of the muffins.
The next batch I made, I only put 10 muffin tins in and the muffins were shaped normal.
There's one missing because I had to taste test it immediately, of course.
Bake in air fryer
Bake at 400 degrees F for 9-11 minutes.
Once your first batch is done, remove the cornbread muffins from air fryer with tongs or oven mitts, remove muffins from liners and cool on wire rack.
Then, repeat, baking your second batch.
Expert tips
- Put the silicone muffin liners in your air fryer basket BEFORE filling them. I didn't think that through the first time and made a huge mess!
- If you have a small pan you want to use instead of muffin tins, make sure the pan you want to use fits in your air fryer BEFORE you pour the batter in.
- My muffins turned out wonky shapes when I tried to fit too many muffins in at once. So, if you want them to be perfectly round, don't squeeze too many in at once. Just do another batch.
The best muffin cups for the air fryer
To make these in the air fryer, you can't use a traditional muffin tray (it's too big) or paper muffin cups (they're too flimsy).
You'll need to use a muffin cup that has strength to stand up on its own with batter in it.
These silicone muffin cups on Amazon work great! And, they're non-stick, so you don't need to spray them with oil.
Another option: If you have a small pan that will fit in your air fryer, then you can bake straight in that!
If it is not non-stick, be sure to line with parchment paper or spray with oil to prevent sticking, if using a pan. Here are some silicone mini loaf pans on Amazon that I have that work well. They're also excellent for making mini banana bread loaves.
These vegan cornbread muffins would be delicious served with Lazy Vegan Chili, Vegan Spicy Charro Beans or really any Southern or country meal!
❓ FAQ
No. Jiffy cornbread or corn muffin mix contains lard. Buy corn meal and make your own vegan cornbread or corn muffins.
Yes! You can use non dairy milk in cornbread, however be sure that you're using a milk that is unsweetened (no added sugar/sweetener) and is unflavored (no vanilla, etc.). The best non dairy milks for making cornbread are: soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk.
Yes, you can use almond milk as a substitute in cornbread, but be sure that it is unsweetened and unflavored.
Paper muffins cups don't do well in the air fryer, because they don't have the stability of the muffin tin, since most air fryers are not big enough for a muffin tin. However, silicone muffin cups are strong enough to stand up on their own in the air fryer, so use those instead.
Yes! You can substitute applesauce for oil in cornbread muffin recipes. The applesauce will keep the cornbread muffins moist and tender.
Love this recipe?
Please rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment below, so I know which recipes you like the best. This helps me know what to make more of!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Vegan Cornbread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup yellow corn meal
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ cup almond milk unsweetened, plain
- ⅓ cup applesauce or vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup frozen corn kernels optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.1 ¼ cup all purpose flour, 1 cup yellow corn meal, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder
- Add almond milk, applesauce (or oil) and frozen corn kernels to dry ingredients and mix together with a spoon until combined.1 ¼ cup almond milk, ⅓ cup applesauce, ⅓ cup frozen corn kernels
- Fill individual silicone muffin cups ⅔ full, then place in air fryer basket carefully, one at a time.
- Bake muffins in air fryer at 400°F for 9-11 minutes.
- Repeat with second batch, as necessary, until all batter is gone.
Elise says
This recipe was bomb!! I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you <3
Abi Cowell says
Hi Elise,
So sorry for the delay in getting back to you! Yay! I'm so glad you like them!!!!
- Abi
Nancy L Gilmore says
Can you freeze these? Thanks in advance!
Abi Cowell says
Hello! We don't normally have any extra to freeze, so I haven't tried! I imagine you could, though. May be a good idea to reduce the cooking time a minute or two, so they don't dry out too much when you reheat them. I hope that helps!
Rosali says
We put the extra in the fridge overnight. They came out rock solid in the in the morning, but putting them in the microwave for 45 seconds did the trick. They came out wonderful and fluffy, same as the night before.
cindy says
nutritional information?
Abi Cowell says
So sorry, I thought I had added it to the recipe card! I have added it now: https://veryveganish.com/air-fryer-vegan-cornbread/#recipe
Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
Rosali says
These came out really well!
To make it gluten free:
I subbed the all purpose flour for a mix of store bought gluten free baking blends. (Bob's red mill and king arthur)
To make it sugar free:
I subbed the sugar for granulated monk fruit
To make it oil free:
I used the recommended apple sauce
For the corn:
I used canned instead, because I didn't have frozen
My family has a lot of dietary restrictions. . .
Im so glad that this worked out for all of us!
Beth Ann says
Could I just bake them in the oven in a silicone muffin container?
Abi Cowell says
Hi Beth Ann,
Yes! You can bake them in the oven as well at 400 degrees F.