Cornbread
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Looking for an easy homemade cornbread recipe? This perfectly sweet and moist cornbread comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients. Pair it with chili, BBQ, seafood, or even enjoy it for breakfast!
I’ve been baking this homemade cornbread recipe for as long as I can remember, and it’s one of the few recipes I know by heart. It’s just the right amount of sweet, with a texture that’s a little cakey and a little crumbly—in other words, perfect. Plus, it comes together in no time with just a handful of ingredients.
Serve it with a hearty bowl of beef chili or turkey chili for a cozy Southwestern-style dinner, or pair it with crab cakes or boiled shrimp for a taste of the Eastern Shore. It’s also perfect alongside BBQ chicken or baby back ribs to complete a down-home Southern meal. And don’t forget—it’s just as good for breakfast, slathered with honey butter or your favorite jam. When it comes to sides, cornbread truly is the most versatile!
Table of Contents
“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: Bind the ingredients together, add moisture, richness, and help the cornbread to rise.
- Sugar and Honey: Sweeten the cornbread (just a bit of honey adds a slight floral note).
- Milk: Adds moisture and fat for a tender crumb (whole milk is preferred but low-fat will work just fine).
- All-Purpose Flour: Used in combination with cornmeal to provide structure. Balances the cornmeal’s grittiness, ensuring the cornbread is soft and fluffy rather than overly coarse.
- Yellow Cornmeal: The essential ingredient for the characteristic flavor and grainy texture of cornbread, offering a sweet, full-bodied corn flavor.
- Baking Powder: Leavens the batter to make the cornbread rise.
- Melted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and contributes to a moist, tender texture; cooling slightly ensures smooth incorporation without “cooking” the eggs.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by whisking the eggs in a medium bowl.
Add the honey and milk and whisk to combine.
In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Whisk to combine.
Add the wet ingredients and the melted butter to the dry ingredients.
Whisk until just combined.
Spoon the batter into a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is set and golden.
Cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then cut into squares and serve warm with softened butter.
Storing, Freezing & Reheating Cornbread
Cornbread is best enjoyed fresh on the day it is baked, but it will keep at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, for up to 3 days. Cornbread can also be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to three months. Thaw for 3 to 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap it in aluminum foil and warm in a 350°F-oven until warmed through. Alternatively, you can heat the squares in the microwave at 50% power for 30 to 45 seconds, or until just hot; do not overheat, or the cornbread will get tough.
Video Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can get creative with cornbread by adding ingredients like diced jalapeños, shredded cheese (cheddar cheese is a great option), chopped herbs, or even fresh-cooked or frozen corn kernels to the batter.
Yes, this is actually the “pan” version of my popular cornbread muffins.
Sure, you’ll need a 9-inch cast iron skillet. Start checking for doneness around the 20-minute mark.
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Cornbread
Looking for an easy homemade cornbread recipe? This perfectly sweet and moist cornbread comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients. Pair it with chili, BBQ, seafood, or even enjoy it for breakfast!
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
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Spray an 8-inch 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.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Cornbread tastes best when served fresh out of the oven, but it can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 for 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap cornbread in aluminum foil and warm in a 350°F oven until hot. Alternatively, heat squares in the microwave at 50 percent power for 30 to 45 seconds, or until just hot; do not overheat or they will get tough.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (12 servings)
- Serving size: 1 square
- Calories: 216
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Sugar: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Sodium: 305mg
- Cholesterol: 53mg
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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I’ve tried so many different cornbread recipes, but this is by far my favorite. It’s a sweet cornbread, but I like that to counter the spices of chili, especially. Delicious!
Was yummy!
My mother is from Kentucky. In the south, any cornbread recipe made with sugar or honey is a sin. They call that cake, not cornbread. 😉 Thus said, living in the Midwest most of my life, I’ve also had cornbread with sweetener in it. I like it both ways. This recipe turned out great if you do indeed like a sweeter cornbread. I think next time though, I will try cutting down on the sugar, maybe to 1/8 cup and see how it turns out.
Yes, it was a sin to add sugar to cornbread according to my Tennessee grandmother! I find it ok to add 1 or 2 tablespoons though, then drizzle with honey on your plate! But most Americans love adding lots of sugar, but then that’s pretty much what you taste first rather than the savoriness of corn bread.
This is my new go-to recipe for cornbread! My family loved it. I’ve made it a few times now and I found that if I warm the honey (I set it on my Aga for a bit) and let the milk get room temperature that it mixes well and seems to produce a better end result. I’ve made it as muffins as well and it’s just as great!
My kids love this along with every other recipe I make from Jenn!
Just the right touch of sweetness. Perfect with chili!
Cool.
I like to have a picture of all ingredients rather than a list of words.
For reheat, have anyone tried to toast them in a small oven with no foil?
I’ve always used purchased cornbread mix until I made this. So easy, so good, so much better than store bought! Most important, my family loved it. Thanks, Jenn!
What made this corn bread great is the ability to reduce the sugar if wanted. Everything else is perfect as is. My one modification is when melting the butter 🧈, I like to brown it. Here’s another secret, I add a tiny pinch of cyan pepper 🌶…
Just made this last night to go with the chili. Very tasty recipe and easy to make. Hubby’s comment was he wished it was “cornier” but amazingly most disappeared at dinner. The leftovers went in the freezer.