A corn muffin is an individually baked quick bread made primarily from cornmeal, similar in ingredients to cornbread but baked in muffin form rather than as a loaf or skillet cake. It developed in the American South as an economical way to use cornmeal and is traditionally served with chili, stews, barbecue, and greens. Variations add sugar for a sweeter muffin, buttermilk for tang, or mix-ins like cheese, jalapeño, or fresh corn kernels. The texture is typically coarser and grainier than a standard wheat-flour muffin.