Classic Golden Cornbread (Printable format)

Golden crust, tender crumb, perfectly balancing sweet and savory flavors

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup yellow cornmeal
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
10 - 1/4 cup vegetable oil
11 - 2 tablespoons honey

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch cast-iron skillet with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a separate medium bowl, whisk milk, eggs, melted butter, oil, and honey until fully combined and smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
05 - Pour batter into the prepared pan or skillet. Smooth the top with a spatula.
06 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between that crispy golden outside and the tender, almost cake-like crumb inside keeps me coming back
  • It comes together in about ten minutes flat, making it perfect for last-minute dinner additions
  • Slightly sweet but still savory enough to pair with everything from spicy chili to slow-cooked barbecue
02 -
  • Overmixing creates tough, rubbery cornbread, so stop as soon as the ingredients are combined
  • That 10-minute cooling period is crucial, otherwise the cornbread may crumble when you slice it
  • Cast iron really does make a difference if you have it, creating a crust that's hard to replicate
03 -
  • If using buttermilk, reduce the baking powder to 2 teaspoons and increase baking soda to 1 teaspoon
  • For gluten-free cornbread, use a quality 1-to-1 flour blend and add an extra tablespoon of milk
  • A little melted butter brushed over the top during the last 5 minutes of baking creates an extra-golden finish
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