The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (2024)

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I can honestly say that thisHomemade Cornbread Recipeis one of my all time favorites. It’s so easy to make and tastes better than any of the pre-made mixes.

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Easy Homemade Cornbread Recipe:

You are going to love this easy homemade cornbread recipe. Making cornbread from scratch isn’t as hard as you might think. This cornbread recipe is the perfect side dish to our favorite crock pot meal. This is one of our favorite oven baked recipe.

This cornbread recipe is super easy to make. We think it tastes much better than store bought cornbread and it will save you money.

I remember the first time I made this recipe. I was surprised by how easy it was to prepare. Trust me, you can definitely make this and your entire family will be impressed with the results.

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The Best Easy Cornbread Recipe:

We do call this the best corn bread recipe. We love the way it fills out kitchen with the aroma of fresh cornbread. With just a few simple pantry ingredients, you can make this easy cornbread recipe that your entire family will love.

This cornbread recipe is slightly sweet but also buttery cornbread recipe that I know your family will love. Your family will be asking for seconds.

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Easy Cornbread from Scratch:

Have you ever made cornbread from scratch? Once I started making this recipe I never made the box stuff again. I usually always have the ingredients on hand which makes it easy to serve this with our favorite soups and stews.

One the best money saving tip that I use for my family is I make homemade cornbread mixes. This makes it so much easier to have the dry ingredients already mixed together. On the day I decide to make cornbread, all I have to do is add the rest of the ingredients. It really makes my life a little easier in the kitchen.

They are easy to assemble and you get the taste of this easy homemade cornbread recipe without all the extra work.

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What is Cornmeal?

Cornmeal is a meal ground from dried corn. This staple ingredient is a must when preparing cornbread. It gives the cornbread a golden-brown color and the grainy texture that makes the best cornbread.

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Cornbread Ingredients:

The ingredients for this recipe are not complicated. If you already love to bake, I bet you already have most of these items in your pantry!

  • All-purpose flour
  • Yellow cornmeal
  • White sugar
  • Salt
  • Baking Powder
  • Egg
  • Milk
  • Vegetable oil

How to Make Homemade Cornbread:

  • Prepare oven and baking pans – First preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Then spray a 9X9 baking panwith the non-stick spray of your choice. You can also lightly grease the pan with butter or shortening.
  • Combine Ingredients – Simply combine the dry ingredients together then add the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. I usually use a hand mixer but you can stir it by hand as well.
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  • Pour batter into pan – Then pour the batter into your prepared pan. Then bake for 30 minutes until the cornbread is golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the cornbread will be clean when removed when it’s done.
  • Serve and Enjoy – Allow to cool slightly or to room temperature and then cut. I love to serve warm with butter.

Cornbread Variations:

What is great with this recipe is you can change it based on your diet or what you have on hand. Here are some variations:

  • Use Water – If you are all out of milk, you can definitely use water. Just add about 1 ½ teaspoon of butter to ensure you still have soft and moist cornbread.
  • Melted Butter – You can use melted butter instead of oil
  • Whole Wheat flour – You can use whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour
  • Half the Sugar – Reduce the sugar if you don’t want it as sweet

Since you are making this from scratch, you adjust the ingredients as your prefer and what you have. That is why I love this easy recipe.

Topping Ideas for Cornbread

What do you top your cornbread with? You can use fun toppings that make this easy cornbread recipe even more amazing. Try these toppings the next time you make cornbread:

  • A little bit of honey
  • Butter
  • Honey Butter
  • Syrup
  • Jelly

Even if you like your cornbread fresh out of the oven, you will not be disappointed.

What Can I substitute for Vegetable Oil?

If you prefer to use something other than vegetable oil. Here are some of our suggestions. Any of these would work great with this cornbread recipe.

  • Canola Oil
  • Avocado Oil
  • Melted Butter

What is the Difference between Southern Cornbread and Regular Cornbread?

  • Southern Cornbread – This type of cornbread is made with white or yellow cornmeal. It usually is made with more eggs and has a cakelike texture.
  • North Cornbread – This type of cornbread has a crumbly texture and is made with fewer eggs and yellow cornmeal.
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What kind of Pans can you Cook Cornbread in?

There are 3 different types of pans that can be used for this recipe. I usually use a metal or glass 9X9 baking dish. However, you can also use a cast iron skillet for this recipe.

When using a cast iron skillet, warm up the skillet by putting it into the oven while it is preheating. Then follow the rest of the original recipe and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes until cutting this cornbread recipe.

What to Serve with Cornbread:

  • Soups or Stews – It is the perfect bread to serve with soups and stews. We also like to crumble it and mix in a bowl of beans.
  • Chili – Add a side of this cornbread to this Crock Pot Chili. I like eating it on the side of my chili with some melted butter on top. But my husband crumbles it up puts it in his bowl of chili.
  • Other Options – Check out What Goes with Cornbread for more ideas.
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Variation Ideas:

I love that this recipe is so versatile. This easy recipe is a base cornbread recipe. It is so simple to add in your favorite ingredients to make this recipe your own!

  • Honey is a great addition to this recipe, if you like sweet cornbread. All you have to do is add ¼ cup of honey to the ingredients and mix it in before baking.
  • If you prefer spicy foods, I recommend that you add chopped jalapeños prior to baking. You can easily remove as much seeds to give this homemade corn bread recipe the prefect amount of spice.
  • Cheese is also a great add in for this recipe. I love making cheddar cornbread. Mix in approximately ½ cup of your favorite cheese to all the other ingredients.
  • Cornbread Muffins – We love cornbread muffins in muffin tins.

Can you Freeze Cornbread?

Yes, you can freeze cornbread. Cornbread freezes very well if stored properly. Place cornbread in a freezer safe container and it will last about 3 months.

Print this Homemade Cornbread Recipe below:

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Review

Pin Print

Homemade Cornbread Recipe

4.93 from 188 votes

Looking for an easy homemade cornbread recipe? This is the best corn bread recipe where you can make cornbread from scratch easily.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 9

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 255

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • Spray a 9×9 baking pan with non stick spray.

  • Combine all ingredients into a bowl. Stir well.

  • Pour into your prepared pan and baked for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cornbread comes out clean.

  • Allow to cool, and then cut and serve.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

*Store the leftover cornbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 255kcal, Carbohydrates 36g, Protein 4g, Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 7g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 279mg, Potassium 248mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 12g, Vitamin A 70IU, Calcium 93mg, Iron 1.4mg

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More Easy Cornbread Recipes

  • Sweet Honey Cornbread Recipe
  • Corn Bread Muffin Recipe
  • Best Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
  • Gluten Free Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Recipe
The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (10)

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About the Author

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (15)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between southern cornbread and regular cornbread? ›

Northern cornbreads tend to be more cake-like, on the sweet side, with a finer crumb due to more flour in the mixture. Southern cornbread is flavored with bacon grease, and cooked in a cast iron skillet, a perfect side for barbecues, or chili. It also tends to be rather crumbly.

What is the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

Cornmeal: You can use any grind of cornmeal (fine, medium, or coarse), but we prefer a fine or medium grind. I especially enjoy the flavor of Bob's Red Mill's stone-ground cornmeal. Note that bags labeled as polenta are likely cornmeal. If you already have polenta at home, you can use it to make cornbread.

Is it better to use buttermilk or milk in cornbread? ›

I recommend using buttermilk in this cornbread recipe for the best texture; it helps keep it soft and moist. If you use just regular milk for this recipe, your cornbread will come out drier than I personally care for, but since cornbread is classically crumbly, you might be able to get away with it.

Why do southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

The most common theory is a change in cornmeal itself. Until early in the 20th century, Southern cornmeal was made with sweeter white corn and it was water-ground. When industrial milling came along, that changed. The steel-roller mills used yellow corn that was harvested before it was ripe, so it had less sugar.

Is medium or coarse cornmeal better for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

What is the secret to good cornbread? ›

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

Should you let cornbread batter rest before baking? ›

Cornbread Best Practices:
  1. LET the batter sit for 15-20 minutes before baking. ...
  2. BE gentle!! ...
  3. START preheating your oven as soon as you set aside the batter to rise, by the time it's preheated, your batter should be ready to go in.
  4. HEAT your skillet. ...
  5. SUBSTITUTE regular salt for this amazing Smoked Salt.
Jul 7, 2019

Should you soak cornmeal before making cornbread? ›

Soaking the cornmeal in buttermilk for a few hours, or even overnight, tenderizes the large grains of cornmeal, making the bread more moist and tender. This step is optional, however, and the bread is still delicious without the soaking step.

How can I enhance my Jiffy mix? ›

24 Things To Add to Jiffy Cornbread Mix to Make It Even Better
  1. ⅓ cup white sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar + ⅓ cup sour cream + 4 tablespoons melted butter + 1 tablespoon vanilla.
  2. 1 tablespoon oil, melted butter, or browned butter.
  3. ½ cup mayonnaise.
  4. ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt.
  5. 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup.
Dec 18, 2022

Why is my homemade cornbread so dry? ›

Cornbread is known for being dry, and that's because it's not properly hydrated. This can lead to unpleasant. hard bits that get stuck in your teeth, making the final product taste even drier. Start by soaking your cornmeal and buttermilk overnight. or up to 24 hours.

Why does my homemade cornbread fall apart? ›

The gluten in flour adds durability to your cornbread. Meanwhile, cornmeal is slow to absorb liquids, making your cornbread more inclined to crumble, according to Our Everyday Life.

Is sour cream a good substitute for milk in cornbread? ›

Sour Cream can be substituted for milk in cornbread but will need to be thinned. I recommend using 75% sour cream and 25% water. Sour Cream will also change the taste of the cornbread and will add a slight tangy flavor which can be counteracted by using a small amount of vanilla extract.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of buttermilk for cornbread? ›

They're not completely interchangeable. Yes, you can swap them in a recipe, but it's not as simple as switching buttermilk for heavy cream/heavy cream for buttermilk. For example, if you're replacing buttermilk with heavy cream you'll probably need to switch out your baking soda for baking powder.

Can I use heavy cream instead of milk in cornbread? ›

You can substitute heavy cream for 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 cup sour cream, combined. You can also substitute the cream for milk. Use 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of milk plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter to the batter. The cornbread will have a close texture.

What is the difference between yankee cornbread and southern cornbread? ›

There are some basic differences between Southern corn-bread and what many people call "Yankee" cornbread. Southern cornbread, besides being made from white corn meal, has very little sugar in it - between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. And it is made with buttermilk.

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

While both styles generally use the same ingredients -- cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking powder -- the variance lies in the flavor and texture. Northern-style cornbread tends to be sweeter, moister, and cake-like compared to its Southern counterpart.

What is Southern cornbread made of? ›

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, throw in the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Give it a good stir to make sure everything's combined. Whisk the Buttermilk and Eggs: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and those golden egg yolks.

Is real southern cornbread sweet? ›

There are cornmeal puddings served with sweet sauces, but no Southern cook would risk the spoiling of her cornbreads by sweetening them." In 1937, the Times reported that "cornbread in Kentucky is made with white, coarsely ground cornmeal. Never, never are sugar and wheat flour used in cornbread.

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