Creating Southern-style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers is easy when you follow these steps:

1. Preheat: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir well to ensure an even mix.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter until smooth.

4. Mix Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Stir gently until just combined. Avoid over-mixing; a few lumps are okay.

5. Add Extras: If you’re adding cheese or jalapeños, fold them into the batter now.

6. Prepare the Pan: Grease mini muffin tins or cornbread popper pans with additional butter to prevent sticking.

7. Fill the Tins: Spoon the batter into each muffin cup, filling about two-thirds full.

8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9. Make Honey Butter: While the poppers are baking, prepare the honey butter by mixing the softened unsalted butter with honey in a separate bowl.

10. Cool and Serve: Once the poppers are done, allow them to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Serve warm with the honey butter on the side.