Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (2024)

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This Classic Cornbread recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious quick breads you’ll ever make! It’s completely homemade by using ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (2)

Table of Contents

  • An Easy Cornbread Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love This Homemade Cornbread
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How to Make Cornbread
  • Tips for Success
  • What to Serve with Classic Cornbread
  • How to Store Leftovers
  • Can I Freeze This?
  • Get the Recipe

    An Easy Cornbread Recipe

    There’s just something so comforting about a dense, warm piece of cornbread with a dollop of butter and a drizzle of honey. Ah, and don’t forget a few specks of sea salt! It’s the perfect sweet and savory bite. This easy Classic Cornbread is the best recipe for this old-fashioned quick bread.

    We love to make cornbread as a side dish when we simply can’t think of anything else. Plus, the leftovers are good for breakfast or a snack. The kids just eat it right up!

    It’s really easy to keep the ingredients you need for this recipe on hand. All you need is cornmeal, flour, sugar, and a few other baking essentials. Then it’s as simple as mixing everything into a bowl and then baking the bread. Everyone is going to be so excited when they see you pull this decadent quick bread out of the oven!

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    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (4)

    Why You’ll Love This Homemade Cornbread

    This is our favorite recipe for Classic Cornbread and here’s why:

    • No special trips to the store. The recipe requires very basic baking ingredients that we usually have on hand anyways. So, it’s always an easy decision to make this recipe.
    • It’s ready in under 30 minutes. We mean it when we say “quick bread”! This bread doesn’t need to proof before baking making it so fast and easy.
    • It’s the perfect side dish and snack. We love the sweet and savory aspect of this bread which makes it a great pairing for so many recipes. And it’s a delicious afternoon snack, too!
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    Recipe Ingredients

    The list is very basic for this recipe – which makes it even better! Here is what you need to make our Classic Cornbread.

    • Cornmeal: This is the only ingredient that you might not already have in the pantry. We like to buy a big bag at the store so it’s always on hand.
    • All Purpose Flour
    • Granulated Sugar: You could also use honey.
    • Baking Powder
    • Salt: We like to use kosher salt for this recipe.
    • Whole Milk: Buttermilk is also a great option.
    • Egg
    • Butter: We used unsalted butter for this recipe. So if you use salted butter, be sure to decrease the amount of salt you put in the bowl.
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    How to Make Cornbread

    Here are the quick and easy steps for making this Classic Cornbread recipe.

    First, preheat the oven and grease a baking dish. We like to use a small square baking dish for this recipe.

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    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (8)

    Next, add the dry ingredients to a bowl. Making sure that you carefully measure all of the ingredients.

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    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (10)

    Then stir everything together with a whisk or fork. This will gently incorporate everything which will result in a perfectly baked cornbread.

    Then add the liquid ingredients. You can combine the liquid ingredients first and this way you won’t overmix the cornbread batter.

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    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (12)

    Mix everything until the ingredients are combined. Keep in mind it’s ok if the batter is lumpy. Then, after mixing, pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.

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    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned Recipe! (14)

    Bake for 15-18 minutes. You’ll know the cornbread is done when a toothpick comes out clean from the bread.

    Let the bread rest before serving. You want to do this because the bread will fall apart and become crumby if you slice it too quickly.

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    Tips for Success

    Some helpful tips for making this Classic Cornbread recipe are below!

    • Add more butter flavor. Buttering the pan helps to give the cornbread a more buttery flavor. And who doesn’t love more butter flavor?!
    • Make the bread sweeter. You can add more sugar if you desire a sweeter cornbread. Alternatively, you can also use honey or maple syrup.
    • The ultimate buttery topping: When you pull the cornbread from the oven, slather the top with butter wait 5 minutes then slice and serve. Yum!! Plus, butter and honey are always delicious toppings on cornbread! We also like to add a few specs of sea salt, too.
    • For sweet and spicy flavor: Add 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeños for a flavorful kick. If you want it spicy, use the entire jalapeño – seeds and all. And top that jalapeño cornbread with a little butter and honey it’s the best of both worlds – sweet and spicy!
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    What to Serve with Classic Cornbread

    Here are some of our favorite recipes to pair with cornbread.

    • Chili: It’s no secret that cornbread and chili pair well together! We suggest trying our Crockpot Mexican White Chicken Chili.
    • Soup: We also think that this cornbread is a great side for some of our favorite soups like Instant Pot Taco Soup and Salsa Verde Chicken Soup.
    • Mexican Food: Pair cornbread with our Easy Crockpot Mexican Chicken for a great weeknight meal idea!
    • BBQ: And, of course, cornbread goes great with anything at a BBQ! We love to serve it with our Country Style Ribs.
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    How to Store Leftovers

    You can store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.

    Can I Freeze This?

    Freezing homemade cornbread is easy! Simply wrap in plastic wrap, label, and then store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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    4.4 from 5 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 8 servings

    Homemade Classic Cornbread

    Classic Cornbread is an easy quick bread that can be made with basic pantry ingredients. This dense and delicious side dish takes just 30 minutes to make!

    Prep Time5 minutes minutes

    Cook Time15 minutes minutes

    Additional Time5 minutes minutes

    Total Time25 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups fine yellow corn meal
    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar, or honey
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ cups whole milk
    • 1 large egg
    • 4 tablespoons melted butter

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter an 8” or 9” baking pan and set aside.

    • In a medium size bowl, whisk to combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

    • Add the milk, egg and butter. Stir until combined, but do not over stir. Cornbread batter will be slightly lumpy. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.

    • Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until cooked through and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. Let cornbread rest 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Notes

    Storage: You can store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 240kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 337mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g

    © Ellen

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Side Dish

    More Easy Side Dishes

    • Cheesy Herb Crescent Rolls
    • Crockpot Baked Beans
    • Air Fryer Baked Potato
    • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Cucumber Salad
    Classic Cornbread Recipe | An Easy Old Fashioned 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 southern cornbread made of? ›

    In a mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and butter. Combine with dry ingredients and stir until all ingredients are moistened. The batter will be similar to a thick pancake batter.

    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.

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

    The thing that distinguishes Southern cornbread from, say Yankee cornbread, or any other cornbread one is likely to eat outside of the southern states, is that it is savory, not sweet, and it is made mostly with cornmeal.

    Which makes better cornbread, white or yellow cornmeal? ›

    Southerners, on the other hand, tend to prefer white cornmeal. Many people believe that it is because, in the old South, families used white cornmeal as it more closely resembled “fancy” European wheat flour. In any case, today it remains a main component in traditional Southern buttermilk cornbread.

    What's another name for Southern cornbread? ›

    Corn pones are a staple of Southern U.S. cuisine and have been discussed or referenced by many American writers, including Mark Twain.

    Is Jiffy cornbread the same as cornmeal? ›

    Jiffy cornbread mix, in case you really are standing in the baking aisle wondering, is wheat flour mixed with some cornmeal, a lot of sugar, lard, baking soda, and a handful of preservatives. (Note that because of the wheat flour, it's not gluten-free.) Use it to make creamy, cheesy Corn Pudding.

    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.

    Why is cornbread not healthy? ›

    The exact nutritional profile of cornbread can vary depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used. However, cornbread generally contains high amounts of carbs, phosphorus, and sodium in each serving. One piece of cornbread prepared from a commercially prepared mix contains ( 2 ): Calories: 198.

    Is cornbread good or bad for diabetics? ›

    As you can see, corn can be a great food to incorporate if you have diabetes. It is rich in fiber and micronutrients, and it is a whole grain. These components can even reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

    Can I eat cornbread with diabetes? ›

    Neither cornmeal, sugar or "flour" (which is non specified so am assuming its wheat flour) are suitable for type 2 diabetics. Use a natural sugar substitute and the recipe might work with buckwheat flour perhaps?

    How did the slaves make cornbread? ›

    Now on to the fried cornbread. My mom told me back in slavery time, African-Americans had no fat or milk to make cornbread. They were only given cornmeal so they came up with just adding hot water to cornmeal and frying it up.

    What did Native Americans call cornbread? ›

    Among them was a version of Indian bread made of cornmeal, salt and water called pone or corn pone. The name came from the Algonquin word apan, meaning "baked." The Narragansett word for cornbread, nokechick, became no-cake and then hoe-cake.

    Did Native Americans eat cornbread? ›

    Cornbread was also a very common food among all Native Americans [35] and could be thin flat breads such as tortillas or thick breads more like modern cornbread or pancakes made from corn.

    Is Southern cornbread sweet or not? ›

    Real, traditional, Southern-style cornbread is savory, not sweet, and always has been.

    Is Southern cornbread good for you? ›

    That whole-grain status yields an impressive nutrition profile: One half-cup of cornmeal has almost 5 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of fiber. Considering a typical serving of cornbread prepared from a mix (which often includes wheat flour), that translates to about 4 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of fiber per slice.

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