Classic Southern Cornbread Recipe

2022-11-01

By Southern Belle Kitchen

Southern Cuisine

Side Dish

Make a classic Southern cornbread with this easy recipe from Southern Belle Kitchen. Perfect for your next barbecue or family dinner!  

 From Native American Cuisine to a Staple of Southern Cooking

An American cuisine side dish that originated in the Southern United States, with roots in Native American cuisine. The native peoples of the Americas, including the Cherokee, were growing corn centuries before European colonization, and pounded the corn into flour for use in dishes such as bread and porridge. Cornbread is made using cornmeal combined with other ingredients such as wheat flour, sugar, eggs, and milk or buttermilk. 

Passing Down Family Traditions

The cornbread is often served warm, often alongside dishes like barbecue, chili, and greens. Cornbread has become a beloved part of Southern cuisine, with many families passing down their own unique recipes from generation to generation.

Cornbread a Story of Tradition and Persistence

Gluten-Free Cornbread

For a GF substitution, replace the all-purpose flour with a GF flour blend. Some good options include rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca starch. Make sure to use a blend that is specifically designed for baking and contains xanthan gum, this helps to bind the ingredients together, preventing the cornbread from crumbling. 

Pitfalls on Southern Cornbread 

 Getting the Right Texture: Getting the right texture for Cornbread can be a challenge. It's essential to use the right ratio of cornmeal to flour and wet to dry ingredients to achieve a moist, tender crumb. It's recommended to use a combination of buttermilk and eggs to provide richness and moisture to the batter.

 Choosing the Right Cornmeal: Choosing the right cornmeal is crucial for making delicious Cornbread. It's recommended to use stone-ground yellow cornmeal, which provides a coarse texture and a sweet, nutty flavor.

 Adding Flavor: Cornbread can be bland without the addition of other ingredients for flavor. It's recommended to add honey, molasses, or maple syrup to the batter to provide sweetness and depth of flavor. Chopped jalapenos, scallions, or cheddar cheese can also provide a spicy or savory flavor.

 Baking: Baking Cornbread can be a challenge as it's essential to bake it in a hot oven for a short time to achieve a moist, tender crumb. It's recommended to preheat the oven before baking and place the Cornbread in a hot, greased cast-iron skillet or baking dish for even heat distribution.

 Serving: Serving Cornbread can be a challenge as it can be dry or crumbly if not served properly. It's recommended to serve Cornbread warm from the oven with a pat of butter or drizzle of honey for added moisture and flavor. Alternatively, Cornbread can be used in stuffing, croutons, or as a base for cornbread dressing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup milk

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cornmeal, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together milk, vegetable oil, and egg.

4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

5. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch cast iron skillet.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Serve hot with honey or butter.

Preparation Time 10 min

Cook Time 25 min

Total time 35 min

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 335

Fat: 12 g

Saturated Fat: 2 g

Carbohydrates: 50 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 12 g

Protein: 6 g

Regional Ingredients Variations of Cornbread

Alabama, they may use white cornmeal, buttermilk, and bacon drippings to make a classic cornbread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This version of cornbread is known as "Alabama-style Bacon Cornbread."

Texas, they may add jalapeño peppers, cheddar cheese, and creamed corn to the batter to give it a spicy and creamy taste. This version of cornbread is known as "Tex-Mex-style Cornbread."

Louisiana, they may use yellow cornmeal, andouille sausage, and green onions to give it a savory and spicy taste. This version of cornbread is known as "Creole-style Sausage and Onions Cornbread."

New England, they may add maple syrup and blueberries to the batter to give it a sweet and fruity taste. This version of cornbread is known as "New England-style Maple Syrup and Berries Cornbread."

California, they may use almond flour, coconut oil, and honey to give it a gluten-free and vegan-friendly taste. This version of cornbread is known as "California-style Gluten-free Cornbread."

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