The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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.

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (1)

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.

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (2)

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.

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (3)

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.

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (4)

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.

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (5)

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.
The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (6)
  • 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.
The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (7)

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.
The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (8)

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:

The Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (9)

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

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

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)

Try these other recipes

Quick Bread

Indian Fry Bread Recipe

Easy Appetizer

Soft Pretzel Bites Recipe

Easy Copycat

Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

Quick Bread

Bread Bowl Recipe

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

Is it better to use oil or butter in cornbread? ›

While oil can make cakes and quick breads luxuriously tender, I find the cornbread lacks flavor if butter isn't present. Because butter doesn't make the bread as moist as oil does, I pair it with buttermilk. Buttermilk: Buttermilk makes cakes, muffins, and breads extra moist.

What kind of cornmeal is best 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 does adding an extra egg to cornbread do? ›

Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery.

What makes cornbread not fall apart? ›

Adding Dry Ingredients

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.

Should you let cornbread batter rest before baking? ›

Set the batter aside for 10 to 15 minutes.

By letting the cornbread batter sit at room temperature before baking, the cornmeal has some extra time to absorb the flavor from the other ingredients, and the baking powder gets a head start.

Is cornbread better with milk or water? ›

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

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

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.

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 to jazz up cornbread? ›

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

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

Can you over mix cornbread? ›

Pour batter into prepared pan. The batter will be lumpy. Overcome the urge to mix until smooth. Overmixing can cause the corn bread to peak and have tunnels, resulting in a tough texture.

How to make cornbread less crumbly jiffy? ›

  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.
Oct 29, 2021

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 is my cornbread dense and heavy? ›

Why is my cornbread dense? If you overmixed your batter or over-measured your flour, your buttermilk cornbread could turn out dense. Be gentle with your batter and make sure you know how to properly measure flour.

Can you replace butter with oil in cornbread? ›

Olive and vegetable oils can be swapped out for butter in many recipes and can help create moist, tender baked goods.

Is it better to use butter or oil for making bread? ›

Most oils are also liquid at room temperature, and coconut oil and lard (which are soft solids at room temperature) have a lower melting point than butter. Both of these factors can make for a stickier dough that's harder to work with, but this ultimately matters more as the amount of fat used increases.

Why is it better to use butter instead of oil? ›

Most cake mixes call for oil, but butter will bring in amazing flavor. To substitute butter for oil in baking just melt the butter, measure it, let it cool, and add it as you would the oil. Compared to oil, butter will create a cake with a firmer, cakeier texture.

Is it better to use melted butter or oil in muffins? ›

Many muffin recipes use cooking oil instead of butter. Oil, being a liquid, distributes easily in the quick-mix batter and is readily absorbed into the baked muffin, producing a light non-greasy texture. Vegetable oil is ideal because its mild flavour doesn't compete with the main flavour of the muffin.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 6257

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.