Cornbread is a type of quick bread, most often baked in a square or round pan and served as a Southern United States breakfast food, side dish, or staple ingredient used to make the traditional Southern U.S. meal of fried chicken and collard greens. Cornbread can also be baked as muffins or in loaf pans. On the stovetop, it is often made in a skillet. Cornbread is traditionally made with cornmeal, buttermilk or sour milk and baking powder. Some recipes use self-rising flour instead of regular flour, while others include some all-purpose flour. It may also contain sugar, honey or molasses; jalapeño peppers are sometimes added for flavor and spice.
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What is Cornbread?
Cornbread is a type of bread made with cornmeal and other ingredients. It’s usually baked in a skillet and comes in both sweet and savory varieties.
Cornbread is perhaps best known as a staple of Southern cuisine in the United States, where it can be found at most meals. The traditional American cornbread recipe includes flour, salt, shortening or lard, milk or buttermilk, baking powder and sugar (often white), and sometimes eggs.
Cornbread can also be made with ground cornmeal—either yellow or white—and still taste delicious. Many people prefer to use stone-ground cornmeal because they think it gives the bread a more hearty texture.
Why is Cornbread a Southern thing?
Cornbread is a Southern thing because of the South’s history of farming.
The South was once known as “the breadbasket of the world.” That’s because it was one of the main agricultural centers in the United States, and it produced large amounts of wheat and other grains.
Corn was another major crop in the South, but it wasn’t eaten as much as wheat. The reason for this is that corn doesn’t have enough gluten to make good bread dough without some help from another grain. That’s where cornmeal comes in! Cornmeal makes up the majority of cornbread recipes and gives them their distinctive texture and flavor.
Why you’ll love this Cornbread Recipe
If you love Cornbread but you’re not a fan of the usual gummy, sweet stuff that comes in a box, then this recipe is for you.
This Cornbread is savory and salty, with a hint of sweetness—and the best part is that it only takes 20 minutes to bake! It’s perfect for serving alongside any meal or even just on its own as a snack.
What is Cornbread made of?
- 1 cup cornmeal (fine)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let sit for 10 minutes)
- 1 egg, beaten well with 1 tablespoon of water
- Butter or oil for greasing pan
How to make Cornbread
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk or yoghurt and eggs until smooth. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened (do not overmix).
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top (a toothpick inserted in center should come out clean).
- Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm with butter or honey!
How to make Cornbread sweeter
Cornbread is a delicious side dish, but it can be even better if you know a few tips.
- Don’t overmix your batter! If you do, your Cornbread will be tough and dense instead of soft and fluffy.
- Don’t use too much oil or butter when frying up your Cornbread—just enough to coat the pan will do. Too much will make the crust greasy and soggy, which is not what you want in good Cornbread.
- Don’t let it sit out for too long before serving! While it’s good cold, it tastes best when served hot out of the oven with butter melting all over it (or whatever else strikes your fancy).
Toppings You Should Use
We’ve got some topping ideas that will make your Cornbread even more delicious!
1. Bacon
Bacon makes everything better! So why not add some to your Cornbread? This will give it a salty kick that will have you coming back for seconds.
2. Honey Butter
Honey butter is one of our favorite things to put on our Cornbread and it pairs perfectly with sweetened cornbreads like this one! Just melt some butter and add in honey until it’s nice and smooth. Then spread it over the top of your warm Cornbread and enjoy!
3. Pecans
Pecans add a crunchy sweetness to any dish they’re added to, so they’re perfect for Cornbread! Plus, they’re high in antioxidants which means they’ll help keep you healthy and feeling great all day long.
What To Eat With Cornbread?
- Cornbread is a great addition to any meal. It can be served alongside your favorite soup or chili or as a side with beef, chicken, or pork.
- Cornbread also makes for delicious sandwiches! Try making a grilled cheese with Cornbread instead of bread, or try topping it with some homemade jam and honey for a sweet treat.
- Cornbread is also great on its own! If you want to treat yourself to an afternoon snack, consider slicing up some cornbread and topping it with butter and honey—delicious!
Storage
Here are some tips for storing your Cornbread so you can enjoy it for days to come:
- Keep it in an airtight container.
Cornbread is best stored in an airtight container with a lid. This will keep out moisture and other contaminants, which could cause the bread to spoil more quickly.
- Store at room temperature or in the fridge
Cornbread should be kept at room temperature or refrigerated if you want to store it for more than two days. If you’re going to eat up your Cornbread sooner than that, then keep it on the counter—the flavor won’t diminish much after just one day!
Health Benefits
While the health benefits of Cornbread are not as well-known as those of other foods, there are some surprising advantages to this delicious food.
- Cornbread contains high levels of potassium and magnesium, which can help reduce blood pressure, prevent kidney stones, and treat constipation.
- Cornbread is also rich in nutrients like iron and vitamin C, which help keep your immune system strong and fight off illness and disease.
- Cornbread has a low glycemic index (GI), so it does not cause spikes in blood sugar levels like other bread do—which means it won’t leave you feeling hungry again shortly after eating it! In fact, Cornbread can actually help stabilize blood sugar levels due to its fiber content (about 3 grams per serving).
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Protein: 3g
FAQ
How many calories in Cornbread?
One slice of Cornbread has about 110 calories. This amount is similar to the number of calories in one slice of wheat bread or one bagel.
Is Cornbread gluten-free?
Cornbread is gluten-free, but there are some variations that are not. It depends on the recipe and ingredients used. If you want to make sure that your Cornbread is safe for people with celiac disease, then use gluten-free flour and add an additional egg to bind it together.
Can dogs eat Cornbread?
The answer is yes; dogs can eat Cornbread. However, this does not mean that it is a good idea for your dog to eat Cornbread.
What is the difference between Cornbread and Southern Cornbread?
The difference between Cornbread and Southern Cornbread is that Southern Cornbread is made with buttermilk and baking powder, while regular Cornbread only uses baking powder.
Is Cornbread healthier than bread?
Well, Cornbread isn’t necessarily healthier than bread! But it does have its benefits: it’s generally lower in calories than wheat-based bread due to its texture being moist instead of chewy like wheat-based bread tends to be; it has less sugar than wheat-based bread; and it’s rich in fiber (which keeps you full longer).
Conclusion
This cornbread recipe is deliciously sweet and savory, with a nice texture that really crunches after being grilled (but anyway you eat it, you’ll find it infinitely satisfying).
Other Delicious Bread Recipe;
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal (fine)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let sit for 10 minutes)
- 1 egg, beaten well with 1 tablespoon of water
- Butter or oil for greasing pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk or yoghurt and eggs until smooth. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened (do not overmix).
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top (a toothpick inserted in center should come out clean).
- Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm with butter or honey!
