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Krusteaz Sweet Corn Muffin & Cornbread Mix topped The Washington Post’s November 2025 blind taste test of nine boxed mixes, earning 54 points out of 80. The panel liked its sweet, buttery, moist, cake-like cornbread. That makes it a strong pick if you want a soft, sweeter style—not a universal winner for anyone who prefers savory, dense cornbread.
Why Krusteaz won the 2025 comparison
The Washington Post selected nine widely available mixes, prepared each according to package directions, and served the samples blind to eight colleagues. When a package gave a range for cooking time, the cook used visual cues. Tasters scored appearance, texture and overall flavor from 1 to 10, for a possible total of 8 to 80 points per mix. Krusteaz scored 54. The article does not report repeated batches, a representative consumer sample or formal statistical analysis, so the result is best read as this panel’s preference in this lineup—not a scientific measure of what everyone will like.
Tasters described the Krusteaz cornbread as sweet and “dessert-y,” with caramel and butter notes. They also liked its moist, fluffy, cake-like crumb, while noting some cornmeal grit and a crisp bottom crust. Those qualities suit people who enjoy cornbread on the sweeter, softer side.
How the other mixes placed
The Washington Post’s scores show a three-point gap between the top two mixes—not a runaway margin. Lower scores reflect this panel’s reactions, not guaranteed flaws in every batch.
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| Mix | Score out of 80 | What the result says |
|---|---|---|
| Krusteaz Sweet Corn Muffin & Cornbread Mix | 54 | Top scorer; tasters liked its sweet, moist, cake-like profile. |
| Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mix Cornbread | 51 | Second place. |
| Duncan Hines Dolly Parton’s Sweet Cornbread & Muffin Mix | 48 | Third place. |
| Jiffy | 32 | The panel score was lower than the top three. |
| Betty Crocker | 26 | The panel score was lower than Jiffy’s. |
| Martha White Yellow Cornbread & Muffin Mix | 11 | Lowest score among the results highlighted here. |
The article’s tasters cited issues such as low rise, blandness, dryness, crumbliness, saltiness or bitter notes in lower-ranked samples. These are subjective panel observations; they should not be taken as a promise that a particular brand will turn out poorly in every kitchen.
Choose by the cornbread you actually want
- For sweet, soft cornbread: Krusteaz is the panel winner and its profile is the clearest fit.
- For savory pairings: If you want a less-sweet bread alongside chili, stew or barbecue, the winning mix may taste too cake-like. Compare package descriptions and choose based on your preferred sweetness and crumb.
- For pronounced corn flavor or texture: Decide whether you prefer visible, coarse cornmeal and a stronger corn taste or a finer, softer crumb; the panel ranking does not settle that preference for every eater.
Why another taste test picked a different favorite
Bon Appétit’s 2023 comparison ranked Whole Foods 365 Cornbread & Muffin Mix above Krusteaz Southern Cornbread and other products in its own lineup. That is not a direct reversal of the 2025 result: the tests took place in different years, used different lineups, and the Krusteaz product in the 2025 test was Sweet Corn Muffin & Cornbread Mix, not the Southern Cornbread variant. Together, the comparisons underline how much the preferred sweetness and texture—and the products tested—can shape a ranking.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Price and availability depend on when and where you shop
The Washington Post listed the winning mix at $3.99 for a 16-ounce package at Safeway at the time of its November 2025 test. That is a dated, retailer-specific price, not a current price quote. Check the package size, formulation, price and local stock before buying; mixes and retail availability can change.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Sources
- The Washington Post: “What’s the best cornbread mix? We tried 9 popular brands and found a winner” (November 18, 2025).
- Bon Appétit: “Which Cornbread Mix Is Best? We Tried Jiffy, Trader Joe’s, Betty Crocker, and More” (November 3, 2023).
- Parade: “I Tried 10 Cornbread Mixes and the Winner Tasted Just Like Homemade” (November 15, 2025).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
