Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (2024)

  • Cornbread
  • Sides
  • Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Juneteenth Recipes

Moist and tender cornbread with lots of corn flavor.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated September 22, 2023

Trending Videos

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Brown butter gives the cornbread a sweet, nutty flavor.
  • Baking cornbread in the same skillet used to brown the butter creates a crisp crust and a moist interior, and saves a pan.

I'm gonna come right out and tell you I'm a fan of Northern-style cornbread. Yankee cornbread. You know, the lightly sweetened, moist, tender, golden stuff that nearly everybody who knows cornbread thinks of when you say "cornbread?" If you're one of those Southern holdouts that thinks cornbread should be thin, sugar-free, and crunchy to a fault, you're welcome to go crunch on your bread in the corner over there for the remainder of this post, because we're all about the sweet stuff here.*

*I kid. I love that stuff too. But I just can't help trying to get a rise out of some of you cornbread hard-liners!

Whether you're serving it withchilior simply with a smear of butter and a drizzle of honey, good cornbread with a moist, tender crumb and and intense corn flavor is one of life's greatest pleasures. So how do you take one of life's greatest pleasures and make it even more, well, pleasurable? Simple: Add browned butter.

This cornbread recipe is nothing you haven't seen before if you're a regular on the site. The base is almost identical to the outstandingSweet and Moist Northern Style CornbreadthatJosh Bousel developed, with a few small exceptions—some tricks I learned while working on my recipe fortamale pie.

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (3)

Start by making browned butter. WhileNilaJones recommendsmaking it in a light colored pot on the stovetop(light pots make it easier to gauge color changes), in this case, since we're going to need to preheat a cast iron skillet in the oven anyway. I throw my butter (all 7 tablespoons of it) directly into the skillet and put the whole thing in the oven to melt and brown while I measure out my wet and dry ingredients.

The dry stuff is a basic mix of equal parts yellow cornmeal and flour (the wheat flour helps give it that light, moist texture while the corn gives it flavor), baking powder, baking soda, salt, and a touch of sugar—I use about half of what Josh uses, so the brown butter flavor stands out.

The wet ingredients are eggs, buttermilk, sour cream (it gives a more intense tang than plain buttermilk), and that browned butter.

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (4)

Once it's all whisked together, pour directly into the hot cast iron skillet coated with the remnants of the browned butter. Return it to the oven until cooked through and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. It comes out with a supremely crisp crust from the close contact with the cast iron, a nice burnished top, and a moist, rich, and intensely aromatic crumb that has a distinct nuttiness from the browned butter.

This isn't the easiest cornbread you'll ever make, but it isn't difficult and I'll be damned if it isn't tasty as heck. This is the kind of cornbread that haunts your dreams. If you're the type to dream of chili, that is.

January 2015

Recipe Details

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread

Prep5 mins

Cook45 mins

Active15 mins

Total50 mins

Serves6to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for serving

  • 1 cup (about 5 ounces) fine yellow cornmeal

  • 1 cup (about 5 ounces) all-purpose flour

  • 4 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 2 eggs

  • 6 ounces (about 3/4 cup) sour cream

  • 4 ounces (about 1/2 cup) cultured buttermilk

  • Honey, for serving

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 425°F. Place butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Transfer skillet to oven and heat until butter is melted and well browned, 10 to 20 minutes (you can measure your wet and dry ingredients while waiting). Pour browned butter into a heatproof cup or bowl, leaving about 1 tablespoon remaining in skillet.

    Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (5)

  2. Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk to a second bowl and whisk together. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in reserved browned butter. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.

    Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (6)

  3. Swirl the hot skillet to coat all surfaces with melted butter. Spoon batter into skillet, smooth top lightly, then return to oven. Bake until light golden brown on top and a wooden skewer inserted into cornbread comes out with no crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then serve with extra butter and honey at the table. Leftover cornbread can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Special Equipment

10-inch cast iron skillet

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
302Calories
16g Fat
34g Carbs
6g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories302
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g21%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 87mg29%
Sodium 380mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 34g12%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 121mg9%
Iron 2mg10%
Potassium 138mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Moist and Tender Brown Butter Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between New York cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

While both styles generally use the same ingredients -- cornmeal, flour, eggs, and baking powder -- the variance lies in the flavor and texture. Northern-style cornbread tends to be sweeter, moister, and cake-like compared to its Southern counterpart.

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.

Why is my homemade cornbread so dry? ›

Cornbread is known for being dry, and that's because it's not properly hydrated. This can lead to unpleasant. hard bits that get stuck in your teeth, making the final product taste even drier. Start by soaking your cornmeal and buttermilk overnight. or up to 24 hours.

Should cornbread batter sit before baking? ›

Set the batter aside for 10 to 15 minutes.

By letting the cornbread batter sit at room temperature before baking, the cornmeal has some extra time to absorb the flavor from the other ingredients, and the baking powder gets a head start.

Should I use milk or water for cornbread? ›

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

Which cornmeal is best 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.

What is the difference between Yankee and 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 called? ›

Hot water cornbread

This type of cornbread is often known as "hot water" or "scald meal" cornbread and is unique to the American South.

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? ›

Diabetics should approach cornbread with caution due to its high carbohydrate content, which can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Traditional cornbread recipes often contain refined flour and added sugars, further exacerbating the issue.

What is a cornbread pone? ›

The term "pone" most likely entered English from Native American language terms like apan, oppone or supawn, meaning baked, possibly related to earlier ash cakes baked in hot coals. A "corn pone" is usually a small round loaf of cornbread, about the size of a biscuit, traditionally baked in a round cast iron skillet.

How can I enhance my Jiffy mix? ›

24 Things To Add to Jiffy Cornbread Mix to Make It Even Better
  1. ⅓ cup white sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar + ⅓ cup sour cream + 4 tablespoons melted butter + 1 tablespoon vanilla.
  2. 1 tablespoon oil, melted butter, or browned butter.
  3. ½ cup mayonnaise.
  4. ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt.
  5. 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup.
Dec 18, 2022

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Cornmeal gives cornbread its classic color and flavor, but too much can make your bread crumbly. Try replacing a little bit of cornmeal with flour. The specific measurements will depend on how much cornmeal and flour is in your recipe, but you should try to have more flour than cornmeal in your batter.

Why is my cornbread dense and heavy? ›

Why is my cornbread dense? If you overmixed your batter or over-measured your flour, your buttermilk cornbread could turn out dense. Be gentle with your batter and make sure you know how to properly measure flour.

How do you store cornbread so it doesn't dry out? ›

Make sure the cornbread has fully cooled down before you store it. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil or plastic wrap two times, and then place it in a zip-tight plastic bag. Make sure to eliminate all the air as you seal it. Cornbread will last up to three days stored at room temperature.

How do you keep cornbread warm and moist? ›

The best option to keep cornbread moist and fresh after baking is to tightly cover it in plastic wrap.

How can I dry out my cornbread? ›

I got you! Bake in cubes at 350 for 15 minutes, toss and bake again for 10-15 minutes. And you have stuffing bread.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6065

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.