Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (2024)

By Laura

Posted Oct 07, 2020, Updated Mar 19, 2024

5 from 92 votes

46 Comments

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The best cornbread recipe you’ll ever eat! It’s sweet and moist with a beautiful crumb, and has bursts of fresh corn in every bite. Plus this Homemade Cornbread is easy to make in 30 minutes – no mixer required.

Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (2)

Cornbread is the perfect companion to so many fall meals, chili (beef chili, chicken chili, turkey chili, etc), soups, etc. and it’s also a delicious holiday side dish.

This is the best cornbread recipe you’ll ever eat! It’s sweet and moist with a beautiful crumb, and has bursts of fresh corn in every bite (also try this corn pudding). Plus this Homemade Cornbread is easy to make in 30 minutes – no mixer required.

Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (3)

Homemade Cornbread Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (4)
  • Yellow Cornmeal.White cornmeal can be used in place of yellow, the final result will just have a different color.
  • All-Purpose Flour.To make this cornbread recipe gluten-free, you can substitute an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Bread flour and cake flour also work well.
  • Salted Butter.Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
  • Whole Milk.Fat content is important for the this homemade cornbread. You could use 2% milk, or half and half, but I don’t recommend other substitutions.
  • Sour Cream.Again, full-fat is best. Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
  • Granulated sugar and honey. I don’t recommend making substituions for the granulated sugar or honey. If you don’t love sweet cornbread you can reduce the amount of sugar but that is all I would recommend.
  • Corn.Feel free to use fresh corn (cooked) from the Cobb or frozen and thawed corn.
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How to Make Cornbread

People often wonder “How do you make cornbread from scratch?” Well you’re in luck because we’re going to walk through how to make cornbread step-by-step to ensure your success! And don’t forget to watch the video.

In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients (but not the sugar) and sea salt, then set the bowl aside.

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In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter sugar and honey, making sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Add, milk, sour cream and eggs and whisk until smooth.

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Next, add the dry ingredients to the whisked wet ingredients and stir/whisk until mixture is smooth.

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Fold in corn kernels, gently stirring until they are evenly distributed throughout the cornbread batter.

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Pour the cornbread batter into a prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is set, lightly golden-brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

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Serve

Cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Then serve warm with a generous slather of this cinnamon honey butter.

Here are some of our favorite recipes to enjoy with this homemade cornbread.

  • CHILI!We love chili around here, beef chili, turkey chili and chicken chili are all great companions for this honey cornbread recipe.
  • Soup.this butternut squash soup tastes amazing with a side of this honey cornbread, also try this vegetable soup, beef and barley soup, and this chicken and rice soup!
  • This slow cooker pot roast is a great main dish to serve with this sweet cornbread.
  • And of course, serve it as a side amongst all your favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.
  • Serve it as a Thanksgiving or holiday side dish alongside this Roast Turkey and the best Turkey Gravy!
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Store

Store any leftover cornbread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days.You can also use it to make the best cornbread croutons or this cornbread dressing!

How to Freeze Cornbread

Let the cornbread cool completely. Slice into individual servings and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you plan on freezing it for a while, I recommend also tightly wrapping each slice of cornbread in plastic wrap before putting it in an airtight container.

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Homemade Cornbread Recipe FAQs

Why is my cornbread dry?

This recipe makes very moist cornbread, if it turns out dry it’s likely that it was over-baked. Next time, shorten the baking time and be sure to use an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is heating to the proper temperature.

What kind of cornmeal is used in cornbread?

This recipe calls for yellow cornmeal, but white can be used as well it will just have a different color.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13″ baking dish.

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If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!

Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (14)

Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (15)

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Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe

Laura

This is the best cornbread recipe you'll ever eat! It's sweet and moist with a beautiful crumb, and has bursts of fresh corn in every bite. Plus this Homemade Cornbread is easy to make in 30 minutes – no mixer required.

5 from 92 votes

Course Appetizer, bread, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Servings

Calories 163

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time25 minutes minutes

Total Time35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Grease a 9×9” square baking dish, set aside. (Note, you can use an 8×8” baking dish, you will need to bake a touch longer).

  • In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter sugar and honey.

  • Add, milk, sour cream and eggs and whisk until smooth.

  • Add dry ingredients and stir/whisk until mixture is smooth.

  • Fold in corn kernels.

  • Pour into prepared baking dish.

  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is set, lightly golden-brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

  • Cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Yellow Cornmeal. White cornmeal can be used in place of yellow, the final result will just have a different color.
  • All-Purpose Flour.To make this cornbread recipe gluten-free, you can substitute an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Bread flour and cake flour also work well.
  • Salted Butter.Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter.
  • Whole Milk. You could use 2% milk, or half and half, but I don’t recommend other substitutions (with lower fat content)
  • Sour Cream. Full-fat is best. Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream.
  • Granulated sugar and honey. I don’t recommend making substituions for the granulated sugar or honey. If you don’t love sweet cornbread you can reduce the amount of sugar but that is all I would recommend.
  • Corn.Feel free to use fresh corn (cooked) from the Cobb or frozen and thawed corn.

Store

Store any leftover cornbread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days.

How to Freeze Cornbread:

Let the cornbread cool completely. Slice into individual servings and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you plan on freezing it for a while, I recommend also tightly wrapping each slice of cornbread in plastic wrap before putting it in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 254mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 279IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Best Cornbread Recipe (from Scratch) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to the best cornbread? ›

Here are Mindy's five secrets:
  1. Begin with the right cornmeal, which for Southerners is usually white. ...
  2. Use full fat buttermilk and lots of it. ...
  3. No egg and no sugar. ...
  4. Use the right ratio of batter to the skillet. ...
  5. Cook with a seasoned, 12-inch cast iron skillet.
Jul 23, 2021

What does adding an extra egg to cornbread do? ›

The extra egg which is increased protein and binder makes the cornbread denser and heavier in texture.

What is the difference between New York cornbread and southern cornbread? ›

Southern cornbread has traditionally been made with little or no sugar and smaller amounts of flour (or no flour), with northern cornbread being sweeter and more cake-like. Southern cornbread traditionally used white cornmeal and buttermilk. Other ingredients such as pork rinds are sometimes used.

How is cornbread made from scratch? ›

Whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Add milk, vegetable oil, and egg; whisk until well combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

What can I add to cornbread mix to make it better? ›

corn kernels (canned or frozen) chopped jalapeños and or canned mild green chilies, and cheddar cheese all make great additions to cornbread. You can use butter to give the cornbread a special kick to make it taste better. I have used butter to give the cornbread more flavor.

Should cornbread batter be thick or thin? ›

The consistency of the batter should be a bit like pancake batter—a little on the thin side. Thick batter can result in dry texture and cornbread that crumbles easily after baking. If you feel your batter is too thick, simply add a splash of extra milk.

Can you use half-and-half in place of milk for cornbread? ›

Cream or Half-and-Half

Cream is richer than milk, so to avoid heavier dough or batter use a ratio of about 60 percent cream to 40 percent water. With half-and-half, use the same amount that's called for in the recipe.

How to jazz up cornbread? ›

Heat and spices

You can stir in 1 cup of roasted chopped jalapeños or 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne into the batter. Or, you can mix in 3 tablespoons of your favorite chile paste. Fields also recommends trying a little NOLA flair by adding a rounded ¼ teaspoon Cajun spice blend to your cornbread mix.

How do you keep cornbread from being dense? ›

  1. 1Put in an extra egg yolk. ...
  2. 2Cut back on fat or grease by one third. ...
  3. 3Replace white sugar with a moist sweetener. ...
  4. 4Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) more butter or oil. ...
  5. 5Replace milk or water with creamed corn. ...
  6. 6Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sour cream.
Jul 2, 2022

Why do Southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

Sugar in the cornbread interferes with the flavor of the vegetables. Don't put sugar in your cornbread! Traditional cornbread isn't sweet, but many favorite recipes have sugar in them.

Which cornbread mix is not sweet? ›

Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread

It's flavor is classic, without sweetness or too much saltiness, but it's a white cornbread. Don't expect it to turn golden yellow the way other cornbreads might.

Which cornmeal is best for cornbread? ›

Yellow cornmeal is the most common, but if you have white cornmeal, that's also fine to use. Can I Bake This in a Skillet? Baking cornbread in a skillet gives it an even heartier, crunchier crust. Bake this in a 9- or 10-inch oven-safe greased skillet at the same temperature for the same amount of time.

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

I want to keep the cornbread taste, just less crumbly! I recommend extra egg yolk, adding corn, and using cast iron to bake. Also, try a little lower temperature.

Why does my homemade cornbread fall apart? ›

Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

Should I use milk or water for cornbread? ›

You can substitute water for milk on a one to one basis in your recipe. It won't be quite as rich, but it will be cornbread. There are plenty of recipes for hot water cornbread. The batter is made with cornmeal, salt, sugar, and boiling water.

What can you add to cornbread for flavor? ›

10 Mix-Ins for Classic Cornbread
  • Bacon and scallion. ...
  • Green chile and cheddar cheese. ...
  • Crumbled sausage and poultry seasoning. ...
  • Fresh corn and basil. ...
  • Pepperoni, parmesan, and black pepper. ...
  • Spicy shrimp and creole seasoning. ...
  • Brown sugar and pecan. ...
  • Cranberry and maple syrup.

What can I add to cornbread to keep it from crumbling? ›

Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

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