Cornbread
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This moist cornbread recipe is golden and buttery, with a tender crumb and just the right amount of sweetness.
I’ve been baking this cornbread recipe for as long as I can remember, and it’s one of the few recipes I know by heart. It’s exactly how I like cornbread: buttery and tender, with plenty of corn flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. A combination of sugar and honey adds subtle sweetness, while melted butter gives it a rich flavor and moist crumb. It comes together quickly with everyday ingredients and is just as good alongside a bowl of chili as it is warm from the oven with a pat of butter.
“Made this today to go with the turkey chili. Both were delicious. My husband said it was the best cornbread he’d ever had!”
What You’ll Need To Make Cornbread
- Eggs: Give the cornbread structure and richness and help create a tender crumb.
- Sugar & Honey: Provide just the right amount of sweetness; the honey also adds a subtle floral note.
- Milk: Adds moisture and helps keep the crumb tender. Whole milk is best, but low-fat works well, too.
- All-Purpose Flour: Used along with the cornmeal to give the cornbread structure and a softer, more tender texture.
- Yellow Cornmeal: Gives the cornbread its signature corn flavor and slightly grainy texture. I’ve had good results with both Indian Head and Quaker.
- Baking Powder: Gives the cornbread its lift and keeps it from being too dense.
- Melted Butter: Adds rich, buttery flavor and contributes to the moist, tender crumb.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How To Make Cornbread
Mix the wet and dry ingredients: Whisk the eggs, honey, and milk together in one bowl. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Make the batter: Add the wet ingredients and melted butter to the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. A few lumps are fine—avoid overmixing, which can make the cornbread dense rather than tender.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. You can also use a 9-inch cast-iron skillet; just keep an eye on it, as the cornbread may bake a little faster. Bake until the top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve: Let the cornbread cool briefly, then cut into squares and serve warm. Cornbread is best served fresh, but it can be frozen for longer storage. Enjoy!
What To Serve with Cornbread
Cornbread is a natural alongside oven pulled pork, baby back ribs, turkey chili, or white chicken chili. It’s also delicious warm from the oven with butter and a drizzle of honey.
Video Tutorial
Variations
You can easily switch up this basic cornbread recipe with add-ins to match any meal. For a savory kick, stir in diced jalapeños, shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese, or a handful of chopped fresh herbs like chives or thyme. If you want extra texture and sweetness, mix in fresh, cooked, or frozen corn kernels—no need to thaw if using frozen. For a smoky twist, try adding crisped oven-cooked bacon bits or a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
More Cornbread Recipes You’ll Love
Cornbread
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¾ cup milk (preferably whole but low-fat works too)
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8-inch (20-cm) square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, break up the eggs with a whisk. Whisk in the honey, and then the milk. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the milk mixture and the melted butter to the dry ingredients. Whisk until just blended. Do not overmix; it's okay if there are a few lumps. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is set and golden. Cool the cornbread for 10 to 15 minutes in the pan, then cut into squares and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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So yummy and easy to make! However, it was a little heavy on the butter for my family. Would using half a stick affect the consistency?
Glad you liked it! Reducing the butter by half will result in a significantly drier, more crumbly texture. I’d suggest reducing it by no more than a quarter.
We’re from the UK and had never tried cornbread before. My children asked if we could try and make it and it went down a treat! We’ll definitely be making it again.
Hi Jenn,
Great recipe! Can we make croutons out of this bread, or is it too moist?
Thank you for all the excellent recipes!
That should work, but because the bread is a bit moist, I think I’d cut it into cubes, let them sit out for about 24 hours, and then toast them.
May add small jar of chopped green chilies do not drain and a short can drained sweet corn kernels to the batter.
Bake in a 10″ cast iron pan in which you place 3 tbsp butter melt it and spread it around, sprinkle yellow corn meal all over the bottom of the pan then add the corn bread batter in dollops to the pan distributing it evenly then smooth the top and bake it until golden. In a ramekin add 1/4 cup honey and 2 tbsp butter and melt the butter and mix this well. Paint this honey butter all over the top of the hot corn bread when it comes out of the oven. Slice into pie shaped wedges and serve. Make sure you get some of the toasted corn meal from the bottom of the pan.
Hi Jen- I LOVE this cornbread recipe! It’s delicious and I have made it many times. I have some buttermilk left over in my fridge. Could I replace the milk called for with buttermilk?
Hi Marybeth, so glad you like it! For the best results, I’d stick with regular milk.
Would this recipe work baked as mini muffins? If so, how long should I bake and at what temperature? Thanks for all the amazing recipes!
Hi Laurie, yes, I’d keep the oven temperature the same and start checking for doneness at 10 to 12 minutes. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn!
I love this cornbread recipe and I make it often!
I’m making your Beef Chili Mac and cornbread to bring to a family at Church in need.
Will the Cornbread turn out as good if made in a disposable aluminum cake pan? Do I need to adjust the temp or time?
Thanks for your help with this!
Katherine
So glad you like it and that someone else will get to enjoy it as a result of your good deed. ❣️
Regarding the disposable cake pan, assuming you’re using the same size pan, the temperature will remain the same. The baking time should be the same as well, but keep a close eye on it. Hope they enjoy!
Make this as muffins and it is definitely my go to corn bread recipe and one I share All-the-time! It’s the BEST! It’s just my husband and me so I freeze the leftovers and then warm them up in the microwave and they are just like they came out of the oven. So grateful for all of your recipes!
This is so good . I want to double the recipe. What size pan should I use?
Glad you like it! I’d use a 9 x 13-inch baking dish for a double batch.
This is my “go to” cornbread recipe. I told my coworker that I use the box mix (you know the one) and she said “What?!? No, you have to check out Once Upon A Chef! That was several years ago. I love every recipe I’ve tried! I own two of the cookbooks.