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This Homemade Cornbread is made from scratch and is the best of the best. It has the most perfect texture and is packed with flavor. I know you won’t be able to stop at just one piece!

When you top this cornbread with butter, it melts right into the cornbread, making it rich and flavorful with every bite. This is a great side dish for Creamy White Chicken Chili, this delicious White Chicken Chili or this yummy Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder.

A stack of cornbread with a slice of butter melting on top.

Homemade Cornbread Recipe

This homemade cornbread recipe is a family favorite of ours. I typically start making it in the fall once I start to cook soups and chili! Or, you can bake this up and eat the cornbread with some delicious honey butter. it melts right into the bread and adds in the most perfect sweet taste.

You can cook this recipe easily in either an 8×8 pan or a muffin tin! Sometimes, the muffin tin is the way to go because it’s easy clean up, and my kids can just grab one whenever they want without me having to worry about cutting and serving it for them. Either way, this cornbread is so delicious you will never try another recipe again!

Ingredients in Cornbread

This recipe is actually very simple and uses pantry staple ingredients that I bet you already have in your kitchen! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact measurements.

  • Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe.
  • Sugar: The sugar adds sweetness to the bread.
  • Eggs: I use large eggs in this recipe.
  • Buttermilk: The buttermilk will help to bind all of the ingredients together,
  • Cornmeal: This is what brings in that perfect yellow color.
  • Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe.
  • Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These act as a leavening agent and make the bread soft and fluffy.
  • Salt: The salt enhances all of the flavors in the cornbread.

How to Make Homemade Cornbread

If you have 30 minutes, then you not only have time to bake up this cornbread, but you will have time to eat it as well! This whips up so fast. If I were you, I would double the recipe because this will fly off your table!

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8-inch pan and set aside.
  2. Combine: Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add in the eggs and buttermilk and stir until combined.
  3. Add Wet and Dry Ingredients Together: Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and baking powder in another large mixing bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl and stir until combined. The batter will be lumpy.
  4. Bake: Pour the mixture into your prepared 8×8-inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Insert a toothpick, and when it comes out clean, it’s ready.
4 pictures showing how to mix the cornbread batter.

Cornmeal FAQS

Homemade cornbread uses cornmeal, and that gives it a perfect yellow color and also a delicious texture! Here are some quick substitution options if you don’t have any cornmeal on hand.

  • What is Cornmeal? Cornmeal is a meal ground from dried maize. It is a common staple food and is ground to fine, medium, and coarse consistencies, but not as fine as wheat flour. In the United States, very finely ground cornmeal is referred to as corn flour.
  • What Can I Substitute with Cornmeal? If cornmeal is used in a recipe for its texture, you may use substitutes, like semolina, breadcrumbs, or ground oats. If you are not particular about the texture, you may try rice flour, wheat flour, or even tapioca.
A closeup of a slice of cornbread with butter on top.

How to Make Cornbread Muffins

If you want to make this cornbread perfect for on-the-go, try making it into muffins instead!

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease muffin tins or line a muffin pan with muffin liners and set aside.
  2. Mix: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar. Add in the eggs and buttermilk and stir until combined.
  3. Whisk: In another large mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking soda, powder, and sat. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl and stir until combined. The batter will be lumpy.
  4. Bake: Add the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup about 3/4 full. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are set and golden. Cool the muffins for a few minutes in the pan, then serve warm.

**Note: The muffins will not have a dome shape like a cupcake. They will be more of a flat top.

Storing Leftovers

  • How Long Does Cornbread Last? Properly stored, freshly baked cornbread will last for about 1 to 2 days at normal room temperature. Freshly baked cornbread will keep well for about 1 week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container.
  • Can You Freeze Cornbread? Yes, you can definitely freeze cornbread. Cut it into squares and place it in an airtight container. If you are layering the cornbread, place parchment paper between the layers to avoid it sticking. Defrost the cornbread by letting it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes or so.

More Delicious Cornbread Recipes

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Homemade Cornbread

5 from 9 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
This Homemade Cornbread is made from scratch and is the best of the best. It has the perfect texture and is packed with flavor. I know you won't be able to stop at just one piece! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×8-inch pan and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugar. Add in the eggs and buttermilk and stir until combined.
  • Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and baking powder in another large mixing bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl and stir until combined. The batter will be lumpy.
  • Pour the mixture into your prepared 8×8-inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Insert a toothpick and when it comes out clean, it's ready.

Notes

Originally Posted May 11, 2019
Updated on October 6, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 6gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 291mgPotassium: 162mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 465IUCalcium: 57mgIron: 1.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




31 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It’s excellent, but we found it too sweet for dinner. Next time I will cut sugar down to 1/4 cup so this will go with our beans and ham hock. Thank you for the recipe.

  2. My kids aren’t big fans of cornmeal. I made two batches. One for the recipe itself intended for me. The other I dumped in a can of fruit cocktail that was just in juice without added sugar. Kids loved it.

  3. Made this couple months ago for me and was SO good kept thinking abt It! So moist and cake-like best baked ever had! Measuring ingredients now to bake tomorrow…cut sugar to 1/2 cup just right for moi!! TY

  4. I made this tonight with Swerve in place of sugar, and let me tell you…. perfection. They were absolutely stunning. I baked them in a mini loaf pan and my guests were gob smacked at how tasty this cornbread was. A winning recipe for sure.

  5. 5 stars
    Amazing recipe! We did reduce the sugar from 3/4 cup to 1/2 cup based on our personal preferences. Turned out so great that I may skip making dinner tonight and continue to enjoy this warm and beautiful cornbread! Yum – Thank you Alyssa 🙂

  6. 5 stars
    Just made this and it is amazing! I did reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup from 3/4 just based on our own preference. Might just skip making dinner and continue enjoying this wonderful warm cornbread!

  7. 5 stars
    Used plain Greek yogurt with a splash of water and blended up some stone ground grits because we didn’t have any cornmeal. Came out great! Thank you!

  8. 5 stars
    Alyssa, this cornbread was absolutely over the top. Five STAR plus. Can’t wait to try some of your other creations. Thank you for sharing your recipes. New fan. Jill

    1. That will work well. It may not rise as much and have different variations but may still taste the same.

  9. You shouldn’t add anything sweet. Skip the sugar and you definitely have a good cornbread. Buttermilk is a must.

    1. I agree with your assessment. My mom
      made cornbread butvshe nevervadded sugar. A little isxa nice change of pace but sometimes do not need sweet taste with certain foods. Buttermilk makesxa huge difference. Or you can add somecsour cream & a small amt of regular milk. Works for pretty well.

    1. It will have a different consistency and texture but it will be okay. It may not hold up as well and crumble.

    1. Hi! A square of butter is 8 Tbs. Let me know how they turn our for you! I hope you like them! 🙂