Southern Cornbread Recipe (2024)

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Fill your kitchen with the smell of freshly baked Southern Cornbread in just about an hour!! This classic recipe from my Mississippi Auntie Rose creates a super moist, buttery and fluffy Cornbread that makes for the perfect snack or side.

Table of Contents

The Heart and Soul of this Southern Cornbread Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern American
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Savory with a hint of Sweetness
Skill Level: Easy

Sweet Highlights:

  • Moisture Magic: Melted butter and sour cream work together to create an exceptionally moist crumb.
  • Easy Peasy: Using self-rising cornmeal simplifies the process, making this recipe a breeze.
  • Golden Glory: Expect a beautiful golden crust with a soft, tender interior.
  • Versatile Companion: Perfect alongside a bowl of chili, under a pile of pulled pork, or just slathered with butter and honey.
  • Time-Honored Tradition: This recipe pays homage to the classic Southern cornbread, embodying a rich culinary heritage.

Ingredients

Now let’s start off by saying that this cornbread is a work of genius from my Auntie Rose. At this point, she literally wings this recipe but I got her to the point where we were actually able to write it down! Seriously write it down!!

Here are the key ingredients in her cornbread:

  • Cornmeal
  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Sour Cream
  • Butter
  • Oil

For this cornbread, the cornmeal isn’t just any cornmeal. We use self rising cornmeal to add a nice lift to this cornbread. It bakes up beautifully because of it.

We also add some flour so the texture isn’t too grainy. However we want it to be true Southern cornbread so it is much more cornmeal than flour.

Now comes the ingredient that causes a huge stir: Sugar. A lot of Southerners don’t like sugar in their cornbread. They don’t believe cornbread should be sweet so this is really just to balance the savory of this bread. You won’t really taste the sweetness here.

For milk, we use whole milk. It makes a huge difference. Don’t go for skim for this. The whole milk makes this much more moist, in addition to the oil and sour cream added. The combo of all of it is amazing and makes the cornbread melt in your mouth.

And finally we use melted butter as well and love it! It gives it that lovely hint of buttery flavor!

How to Make Southern Cornbread

Making cornbread is simple because it requires few ingredients and even fewer steps. But as with any simple recipe, the key to its success is following instructions.

The key to this particular recipe is making sure you get those crispy edges that add an extra layer of both texture and flavor. To ensure your bread gets its crunchy, buttery crust you gotta get that skillet sizzling hot.

Tip: While you are preparing your batter, heat your skillet on the stove with a few drops of water inside. Once the water starts dancing, you’re ready!

This method works much faster than heating your skillet in the oven.

If you don’t have a cast iron skillet there are plenty of other options. An ovenproof skillet, baking dish or even a pie dish will work just fine! Just be sure to heat it up too. However I would recommend getting a cast iron skillet since it has so many uses and is a staple in Southern homes.

Ideal Texture

A good cornbread recipe is hard to come by but today is your lucky day. Traditional Southern Cornbread is going to be super moist and buttery with crispy golden edges and the perfect crumb. My recipe creates just that.

The result of this recipe should be a wonderfully light cornbread that has a distinct, almost grainy, texture. The corn flavor itself is light and slightly sweet but nothing too overpowering. Absolutely perfect.

How to Serve

My absolute favorite way to eat cornbread is on its own, straight out of the oven and smothered in salted butter. Each bite is sweet but salty, crumbly yet firm and just so perfectly delicious. I have, on many occasions, eaten cornbread for dinner without any shame.

But cornbread makes for an incredible side dish that can be served with just about anything. Bowls of chili and full plates of soul food are this recipes best friend. Dip it in your gumbo and let it soak up the juices from your collard greens. No matter how you serve it, this cornbread is amazing.

You will also use this recipe along with my Chicken Stock to make my Southern Cornbread Dressing.

Other recipes you can serve this cornbread with are:

  • Red Beans and Rice
  • Pinto Beans
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Chicken Fried Steak
  • Fried Pork Chops
  • Salisbury Steak Skillet

Other Amazing Cornbread Recipes

If you want to try other amazing cornbread recipes, check out my Fried Cornbread,Jiffy Cornbread,Corn Pone,Mexican Cornbread,Classic Corn MuffinsandHot Water Cornbread.

Southern Cornbread Recipe (4)

Southern Cornbread Recipe

Fill your kitchen with the smell of fresh-baked Southern Cornbread in just about an hour! This classic recipe creates a super moist, buttery and fluffy Cornbread that makes for the perfect snack or side.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread

Cuisine: soul food, Southern

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 14 servings

Calories: 421kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

  • 5 cups self rising cornmeal mix I use Pearl Milling Company
  • 5 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 5 tsp granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk room temperature
  • 6 large eggs room temperature and beaten
  • 8 oz sour cream room temperature
  • 1/2 cup salted butter melted
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  • To a large mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour and sugar.

  • Add milk to beaten eggs then add egg mixture to dry ingredients.

  • Next add sour cream and whisk together and finally add melted butter and whisk until well combined. Consistency will be slightly runny.

  • Heat very large 17 inch cast iron skillet over high heat on the stove. Tip: Add a few droplets of water and once the water dances in skillet, it is ready!

  • Once ready, add vegetable oil to skillet then remove pan from heat.

  • Pour cornbread mixture into skillet (oil will bubble) and bake for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out slightly clean (make sure not to overbake and dry out the cornbread too much) and is golden brown.

  • Remove skillet from oven and let cool for 20 minutes before releasing from pan.

  • Allow cornbread to cool to room temperature.

Notes

While a cast iron skillet will yield the best results, make sure you use a very large baking dish or oven proof skillet.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 476IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!

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Southern Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between cornbread and southern cornbread? ›

She notes that Northern cornbread is sweeter, lighter, and more cake-like than Southern cornbread. Not surprisingly, it includes sugar (or molasses, in the earlier centuries), unlike traditional Southern cornbread.

Why do southerners not put sugar in cornbread? ›

Sugar in the cornbread interferes with the flavor of the vegetables. Don't put sugar in your cornbread! Traditional cornbread isn't sweet, but many favorite recipes have sugar in them. The amount of flour vs.

What ingredients keep cornbread from being dry? ›

Just like the buttermilk, sour cream can be added to help cornbread stay moist. Just like buttermilk is fermented milk left over from making butter, sour cream is fermented cream. It is actually thicker than buttermilk and has more tang to it.

What state makes the best cornbread? ›

You will be pleased to know that based on my taste test, New Jersey gets my vote as the state with the best cornbread.

What is the difference between New England and southern cornbread? ›

Northern cornbread isn't very sweet and is made with fewer eggs and yellow cornmeal to achieve a crumbly texture. Southern-style cornbread can be made with white or yellow cornmeal, has a buttery finish and calls for more eggs, which produces a cakelike texture.

Is medium or fine cornmeal better 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.

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? ›

Cornbread can help you control your blood sugar levels.

Cornbread is made with whole grain cornmeal, making it an excellent choice for people trying to control their blood sugar levels as eating whole grains has been linked to better blood sugar control.

What do Southerners eat cornbread with? ›

In the Southern Appalachian Mountains, people are crazy for their Cornbread and Milk, a concoction made by crumbling leftover cornbread into a tall drinking glass and topping it with milk. It's usually buttermilk, although some people prefer "sweet milk", a vernacular term for regular fresh milk.

What is different about southern 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 large mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients: cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Take the cast iron skillet out of the oven and pour the batter into it.

Is Southern cornbread sweet or not? ›

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

What's another name for Southern cornbread? ›

What is another word for cornbread?
cornponehoecake
hushpuppyjohnnycake
spoonbreadcorn bread
cornmeal breadSouthern cornbread
corn muffincorn pone
2 more rows

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