This is my favorite homemade cornbread recipe! It is very moist thanks to a little oil added to the batter, and extra sweet thanks to some sugar and honey. No more dry cornbread! This skillet cornbread is baked in a hot cast iron skillet for that extra crispy edge, perfect for dunking in a bowlful of chili. Originally posted October 23, 2019.
Table of Contents
- Homemade Cornbread
- Sweet Homemade Cornbread Ingredients
- How to make Cornbread
- Best Cornbread Recipe Tips
- Cornbread Topping Ideas
- What to make with Cornbread
- How to store Cornbread
- Moist Cornbread Recipe FAQ
- Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (Sweet & Moist) Recipe
- Making this cornbread recipe in a 9×13 inch pan
- Buttermilk:
- More recipes you are going to love!
Eric has hidden all the Halloween candy from me. I really can’t find it anywhere. I made the mistake of buying it too early and have been snacking on it a bit too much while the kids are at school.
Truman came in from the kitchen the other day and was like, “Mom, did you start eating the Halloween candy already??”
“How did you know??”
“I saw all the wrappers in the trash!!”
The days of putting one over on my kids are long gone you guys.
The same EXACT conversation happened not even an hour later when Charlotte found all the Reese’s wrappers in the trash. “Mom, stop eating all the Halloween candy!”
I remember a few years ago when my kids were much smaller and easier to deceive, I was over at my friend Amy’s house. Her husband came into the kitchen and asked where their daughter’s Halloween stash was. Amy told him that their daughter COUNTS it, so don’t even try sneaking some when she’s not around. I knew right then that this is what my children would have to resort to in the future. I either need to stop candy thieving or get better at hiding the evidence. (I’m thinking the latter is going to win out.)
Homemade Cornbread
Who’s heading to a chili cook-off this weekend? Did you sign up to bring a side of cornbread? Tis the season for this classic chili side dish.
I have always been extremely ho-hum about cornbread. Offer me dinner rolls or cornbread, and I will take the dinner rolls every time. Most of the time sweet cornbread is dry and sad and not worth the carbs.
So I set out to create a recipe that would be worth it!
There is a lot of debate surrounding cornbread. Southern cornbread? Northern cornbread? Sugar, no sugar? Skillet or cake pan? I’m from California. I claim no grandmotherly secrets. I didn’t know the first thing about cornbread or why people have strong opinions about it. But I wanted to get the dirt on all the controversy, so the answer?
Make a million batches of cornbread (or 8. The last one was still in the oven when I snapped this.) I tried Southern cornbread, Northern cornbread, and a bunch of in-between cornbreads. My final recipe is my personal favorite, but it’s clear that there are lots of opinions about this! My recipe is fluffy and sweet, with crispy edges.
What is Southern cornbread?
Southern cornbread is not sweet. The recipe I tried had only 2 teaspoons of sugar in the whole pan, and I thought it was awful. I made everyone who passed through my house try it, and my friend Jen literally took it out of her mouth and threw it in the garbage. (Right next to all the Reese’s wrappers). Stuff was dry as a bone.
Southern cornbread is baked in a preheated skillet with hot bacon grease, so that the edges get super crispy. It’s also thin: only about 1 inch tall. If you are from the South and you love this type of cornbread, please tell me what I am missing.
What is Northern Corn Bread?
Northern cornbread looks just like the cornbread most of us are used to, but the recipe I tried (Cook’s Illustrated for Northern and Southern) only had 4 teaspoons of sugar for the whole pan. It is taller and fluffier, but in my opinion still dry and bland. It is baked in a normal 8×8 inch pan (as opposed to the skillet). It does not have crispy edges.
(embrace the crispy edggge)
I took the crispy edges from Southern cornbread and the fluffy texture of Northern cornbread to make my own hybrid version of the best homemade sweet cornbread. Plus a whole lot more sugar. Because, guys, let’s be real, we are topping it with butter and honey, let’s just accept the fact that it is basically a cake with some cornmeal in it. And it is DELICIOUS. This is not an apology.
(why would I apologize for this)
Sweet Homemade Cornbread Ingredients
Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below!
- Flour (spooned and leveled)
- Yellow cornmeal
- Kosher salt
- Baking soda
- Baking powder (SEE NOTE)
- Butter
- Vegetable oil
- Granulated sugar
- Honey
- Eggs
- Buttermilk. You can use cheater buttermilk for this recipe. For 1 cup of cheater buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup, then add milk until you reach 1 cup. Stir and let sit 5 minutes before using. (For the 1 and 1/4 cups that the recipe calls for, use 4 teaspoons vinegar and fill to the 1 1/4 cup mark.)
What type of cornmeal is recommended for sweet cornbread?
A goodly number of people say white cornmeal is best for Southern (less sweet) cornbread and yellow cornmeal is best for Northern (sweeter) varieties. A goodly number of people say either color is fine for either recipe. A hopefully small number of people will argue until breathless over the “right” answer. You can join any category. I personally stay out of this one! For this recipe, we are using yellow cornmeal.
How to make Cornbread
Oil is the answer to all of your dry cornbread woes. It is also the ingredient that makes for a supremely moist cake, so you know it’s going to help out a humble cornbread! We are also using plenty of butter to get that perfect honey butter flavor. Oh and don’t forget the buttermilk. It adds that perfect tang. (You can use cheater buttermilk if you want. See notes)
You need two bowls for this recipe, and one of them only has dry ingredients, so when you are done you can wipe it clean and put it away. (Can you tell I hate dishes?) The batter is slightly lumpy, and that’s okay.
Preheat your cast iron skillet in the oven, then grease with a bit of butter. The cornbread batter going into a hot skillet is part of what makes the edges crispy.
You can see it bubbling and cooking on the edges of the pan before you even put it in the oven! Yesssss
Best Cornbread Recipe Tips
Why Sweet Cornbread should be made in a skillet
There is a reason that seasoned cooks swear by cast iron skillets. They give you the BEST crispy edges for baked goods like homemade cornbread. You will not get edges QUITE as crispy if you bake in a square or 9×13 pan, and that might be totally okay with you. (See notes for the changes you will have to make if you are not using cast iron.) But I love the combination of a super moist and tender center, right next to a crispy crackly edge that you can dunk in your chili.
If I don’t have a skillet, what other type of pan can be used to make corn bread?
You can use a 8×8 inch, 9×9 inch, or 9×13 inch pan but first you have to do two things:
- You have to put “cast iron skillet” on your wishlist.
- You have to look at the notes on the recipe before you start because you need to change the amount of ingredients you use in the batter. I’ve got all the notes you need in the recipe itself.
Cornbread Topping Ideas
What did I put on top of my cornbread? Let’s see. Butter, check. Honey, check. More butter, check. More honey, check. Listen, there might be other options but why would you ever use them? Okay fine here are some ideas:
- This would be so good topped with Lemon Curd!
- Even better: this Cinnamon Honey Butter. Heaven!
- Turn it into cornbread shortcake and drizzle with Fresh Strawberry Topping. Oh my gosh, I think I’m onto something here!! With some honey whipped cream? Who’s here for it??
What to make with Cornbread
Try this cornbread with The Best Chili Recipe I’ve Ever Made! It’s a match made in heaven! Try these other chili recipes too:
- Chili Mac and Cheese << I bring regular chili to the parties, but this Chili Mac is what we make for the family on actual Halloween every year.
- Easy White Chicken Chili << 30 minutes and done! Who can say no to this classic?
- Cream Cheese Chicken Chili << this one is made in the crock pot and is SO easy.
- Quick and Easy Chili Recipe << Don’t forget the secret ingredient!
You could also try cornbread with:
- Pulled Pork and a side of Coleslaw!
- Any kind of BBQ like Tri tip or Beef Brisket
- Dunk it in this Beef Barley Soup
- Fried chicken, I mean right? Try this recipe from Recipe Tin Eats.
- Jam. Listen, if you put on enough jam, and eat enough cornbread, who says it’s not a meal? (I know. I know. I said I only ate cornbread with honey and butter but…sometimes I eat it with jam too, okay?)
And if you’re looking to have more cornbread deliciousness in your life, be sure to check out this Cornbread Casserole Recipe or my Layered Cornbread Cake with Whipped Honey Butter Frosting!!
How to store Cornbread
This cornbread will last in covered on the counter for 2 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or wrapped tightly in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat Cornbread
When you take it out of the freezer, thaw the cornbread at room temperature, then serve as-is, or warm in the oven at 350ºF until heated through (or microwave single slices).
Moist Cornbread Recipe FAQ
Not necessarily, but it will last longer if stored in the fridge. The cornbread will stay more moist if it’s stored at room temperature, but will only last for a couple of days. It may dry out slightly if stored in the fridge but will stay fresh for up to one week.
There are a few ingredients at work here to make this homemade cornbread super moist, but the key ingredient is buttermilk! The acidity in buttermilk creates a super moist and tender texture that just can’t be achieved with regular milk. Cheater buttermilk (made with milk and vinegar) has the same effect, so don’t worry, you’ll still get incredible moistness. The other secret ingredient is oil, which is 100% fat and brings the MOIST.
Cornbread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no wet batter on it. You can also shake the skillet a little, and if is at all wobbly, leave it in a couple more minutes. The top should be golden brown and the edges should pull away from the edges of the pan. It should be about 200 degrees, maybe a little more.
And that’s it! Cornbread is one of the easiest side dishes ever. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to mix up the ingredients and get it in the oven. Make it! Love it! Happy Halloween everyone!
UPDATE February 2024: This recipe was developed for a 9-inch cast iron skillet. But, very often I need to take a big batch of cornbread to an event, and the cast iron is not practical for that (plus doesn’t make a ton.) So I went back to the drawing board on making this recipe in a 9×13 inch pan. I’ve included my updated notes at the bottom of the recipe card!
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Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe (Sweet & Moist)
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour, spooned and leveled
- 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon for 8×8 pan, SEE NOTE
- 1/2 cup butter, (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 & 1/4 cups buttermilk*
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place your 9-inch cast iron skillet in the oven while the oven preheats. (If you are baking this in an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan, see note.)
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 2 teaspoons baking powder. (Use 1 teaspoon baking powder if using a square pan.)
- Slice off about 1/2 tablespoon from your 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter and set aside (you will grease the pan with it soon).
- Melt the remaining butter in a large bowl in the microwave.
- Add 1/4 cup oil, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/3 cup honey to the large bowl with the melted butter. Stir well until combined.
- Add 2 eggs and 1 and 1/4 cups buttermilk.* Whisk until fully incorporated.
- Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients (then wipe out the dry bowl and put it back in your cupboard!) DO NOT over mix! Make sure the dry ingredients are fully incorporated but don't worry if there are a few lumps.
- Remove the cast iron skillet from the oven and shut the door. Grease the bottom and sides (all the way to the top) with the remaining half tablespoon butter. I use a butter knife. If it melts too fast, use a pastry brush to spread it around.
- Pour the batter into the hot pan and smooth out the top.
- Use hot pads to place the skillet back in the oven. Bake at 375 for 28-32 minutes. The cornbread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no wet batter on it. You can also shake the skillet a little, and if is at all wobbly, leave it in a couple more minutes. The top should be golden brown and the edges should pull away from the edges of the pan.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This is best served right away so the edges are nice and crispy! Top with butter and honey, and/or serve with The Best Chili Recipe I've Ever Made!
- Store the cornbread tightly covered on the counter for up to 3 days. If you made it in a cast iron pan, remove the cornbread from the cast iron once cool, and store in a sealed container (otherwise it will start to taste all iron-y. no thanks.)
Video
Notes
- Only use 1 teaspoon baking powder. (Your cake will overflow the pan if you use 2 teaspoons.)
- Do not put the pan in the oven while it is preheating. Spray the pan with nonstick spray. There is no need to set aside the 1/2 tablespoon of butter from the stick of butter called for in the recipe.
Making this cornbread recipe in a 9×13 inch pan
UPDATE February 2024: There have been a lot of reviews saying that a doubled recipe overflows. This never happened for me, but I experimented with reducing the amount of batter for a 9×13 and am happy with the results. If you bake in a metal pan, the edges will still get pretty crispy, which is awesome. Below is my updated recipe for a 9×13 pan; it’s 1.5x the recipe, not a full double. Grease a metal 9×13 inch pan and do not put it in the oven while preheating. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, not 375. 1.5x all the ingredients except for the baking powder:- 1 and 1/2 cups flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup butter (this is 1 and 1/2 sticks)
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 large eggs
- 1 and 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons buttermilk
Try using bacon grease instead of butter to grease the pan….. oooweee
Great idea Lisa!! Bacon grease is never a bad choice!
It would be helpful to include active/total time this takes.
Thanks for the feedback Emily! It kind of depends on your experience. I bake all the time, so I can have this in the oven in 10 minutes flat. But it would take my husband probably 20 minutes. Plus the bake time for whatever method your using. Hope this is helpful!
What your missing with southern cornbread is the bacon grease… butter makes a nice cornbread but not southern cornbread. Sweet bread does not go well with everything, with chili yes. But with country fried steak, collards and mashed potatoes not so much. I have a recipe that is moist and thick that I have used and served in a BBQ joint as well as a fine dining establishment that I worked with for years.
It sounds delicious David! I’d love the recipe! How can bacon grease be a bad idea? karen@thefoodcharlatan.com
Can you use fresh grind corn and no flour just corn
Hi Dorothea, I haven’t tried it that way!
This recipe is worth the making. Absolutely fantastic. Great taste, flavor, and texture. Adding this recipe to my arsenal. Thank you for sharing.
So happy you are loving the cornbread Kelly! Thanks for reviewing!
Wow! This cornbread recipe is amazing. Perfectly moist and sweet! It is just the recipe I’ve been searching for. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!! Will definitely make this again and again!! ;)
I’m so happy to hear you loved the cornbread Frannie! Thank you for sharing your experience!!
I NEVER write reviews but this recipe was perfect! It looks beautiful in the cast iron skillet and my tastebuds were actually singing and dancing after the first bite! I’ll never use a box mix again!!!
Singing and dancing tastebuds! Sounds like a real success!! I love it! So glad you liked the recipe Ashley. Thanks for the review!
OMG so good! 🤤 Even the hubs who is very particular about his cornbread said this is the best cornbread he’s ever had.
I’m so happy to hear that Kathy! Turns out if you add enough sugar and honey, particular people like anything ;) haha! Thanks so much for reviewing the recipe!!
I made this recipe for the first time at Easter and it was so perfect and looked so beautiful served in the cast Iron pan. I’ve been craving it ever since but In our small town in Canada, Cornmeal vanished with the Pandemic. Every week I was looking on the grocery shelves and It suddenly appeared again this week so I just made the cornbread again. Absolutely love it and wanted to say thank you for all the extra baking you did to find this recipe and for the detail that you put into the directions – I’ve been wiping dry ingredient bowls and putting them back in the cupboard for years but couldn’t imagine someone else did the same! Thx! Linda
Dry bowl wipers unite Linda!!! Haha, we have to stick together don’t we? ;) That’s so interesting that cornmeal was scarce in the beginning of the shut down. I noticed the flour and the yeast missing for sure, but didn’t think about cornmeal. I’m so glad you’ve finally got your hands on some! Thank you so much for commenting!
This cornbread sounds delicious….. I would be anxious to see some other recipes!
Hello! I’m eager to try this recipe. I have an 8in skillet will that work as well?
Hi Shawn! I haven’t tried it in a skillet that small and would be worried that it would overflow! Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Thank you for the recipe, I made it yesterday and it is soo good! It’s more cakey than bready. It is delicious, moist and has the sweetness that I love! Perfect for me to be introduced to this speciality.
I didn’t know the taste of it. Here in Portugal we are more used to bake with all purpose wheat flour or rice flour.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked it Sara! Yes, it is more cake like than bread like, maybe we should start calling it corn cake! :) Thank you for reviewing!!
This is my all time favorite cornbread recipe. I’ve made it several times! Sometimes I add real corn kernels to it. Today I’m adding cheddar and jalapeños. Kinda worried because it’s so perfect on its own but it was my moms request! Thank you sooo much for the recipe!!
Cheddar and Jalapenos sounds so good! And love the corn kernels idea too! I’m so glad you are loving the recipe Natalie, thanks for commenting with your notes!
Thank you for sharing a cornbread recipe that actually has some flavor and moistness. There are so many “Southern” cornbread recipes that are, frankly, dry and hard to swallow. This recipe may seem to be too cake-like for some but what the heck, it adds a lot of missing goodness those other recipes lack. This was a great compliment to my spicy Texas Brisket chili recipe. I’ll never go back to the flavorless cornbread. Thanks
Awesome, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Kris! I bet this was delicious with your Texas Brisket Chili!! That sounds like such an amazing combo! Thanks a ton for commenting with a review :)
Delicious! I read the comments and also halved the sugar to only 1/2 cup. I also added a can of sweet whole kernel corn, as I have to have corn in my cornbread. It was DELIGHTFUL! Will be my go to recipe!
Love the idea of adding some corn kernels Sam! Thanks so much for sharing how you made it! Love hearing from you.
Hi I want to make this in cast iron cornbread pan shaped like corn. I wanted to know if you think the recipe as is would be fine as you mentioned some adjustments for other pan sizes. Thanks. Lookkng forward to trying this !
Hi Rach! I’ve seen those pans before, they are so cute! I haven’t tried it but it should work fine. I would do a test run with the batter in just one corn, to see how much it rises, because I don’t know how much batter to tell you to add to each mold. Let me know how it goes!