Sweet Cornbread Recipe (2024)

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Sweet cornbread from scratch is the best! All you need are a few simple ingredients to make homemade cornbread in your oven! This recipe makes a large pan, perfect for feeding a crowd. Everyone will love this moist cornbread that pairs well with butter and honey. Serve it up at your next Thanksgiving dinner, potluck, brunch or offer as a side dish with your favorite chili or bbq and watch it disappear!

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (1)

I loved when my mom made stew or chili growing up because then she was sure to make homemade biscuits or sweet cornbread to go along with it. And let me tell you, she had a moist cornbread recipe that was always a hit. She’d make a big 9″x 13″ pan of it and we were always happy to have some leftovers. My mom’s cornbread was special, especially with some butter and syrup on top. Yum, right? If you haven’t tried it that way you must. It sinfully good.

For dinner yesterday my husband begged me to make some chili (it was chilly here) and cornbread. Short on time, instead of calling my mother for her recipe I quickly looked at allrecipes to find one similar and I found her exact recipe! This sweet cornbread recipe tastes just like my childhood. Sweet and perfect right out of the oven, we were all in heaven.

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (2)

Sweet Cornbread Ingredients

To make this homemade cornbread, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • flour
  • cornmeal
  • butter
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • milk
  • baking powder
  • salt

It is a fairly basic recipe but when these flavors come together, some magic happens. This sweet cornbread recipe has a full cup of sugar in it. The more sugar you have, the sweeter it is. If sweet is not what you are looking for in a cornbread recipe, you can cut this amount down as much as a half cup. The milk in this recipe creates a very moist cornbread!

How to Make Sweet Cornbread from Scratch

This recipe can be made in a few simple steps. Start by creaming your room temperature butter (or softened) and sugar with your mixer. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and eggs. Set aside. In another medium bowl, gently whisk your dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt) until blended. Add alternatively your milk mixture with your flour mixture into the creamed butter, mixing after each addition.

Spread evenly into a greased 9×13 inch pan and bake at 400 degrees until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 22 to 27 minutes. The top should be starting to turn a light golden brown. Serve warm with butter, honey or maple syrup, if desired.

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (3)

This cornbread tastes amazing with butter, honey, maple syrup and even apple butter so give it a try! However you eat it, you are sure to love this sweet cornbread recipe.

What goes good with cornbread?

Maybe the question should really be, what doesn’t go good with cornbread? (Am I right?) Here are some delicious recipes to serve with your cornbread!

  • 7 can taco soup: This easy soup recipe with ground beef includes 7 cans, making it a simple dump and go recipe for busy weeknights.
  • Chili is a classic. Try this turkey chili or this 3 bean chicken chili recipe for a spin on traditional ground beef.
  • Air fryer bbq chicken wings: Cornbread is always a great pairing with barbecue sauce. These crispy wings include an amazing dry rub .
  • Don’t eat meat? Give this slow cooker black bean soup a try!
  • Air fryer chicken legs: These chicken legs with dry rub are a good combination with cornbread.
  • Spicy mexican beans is also a flavorful side to serve with cornbread.

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (4)
When is a good time to serve cornbread?

Any time is a good time for cornbread since it is such a versatile dish. But here are some popular times and occasions to consider serving a fresh pan of cornbread for everyone to enjoy:

  • Barbecue or Grilled Meals: The smoky flavors of barbecued or grilled foods go well with cornbread. It’s a classic side dish for BBQs and cookouts in the summer.
  • Thanksgiving Dinner: Cornbread is a beloved addition to the Thanksgiving table and very traditional. It’s can be used as an ingredient for stuffing or served as a side dish.
  • Soul Food Meals: Cornbread is a cornerstone of Southern soul food cuisine. It’s often paired with like fried chicken, collard greens, and black-eyed peas.
  • Potlucks and Family Gatherings: Cornbread is a popular choice for potluck dinners and family gatherings. It’s easy to make for a crowd and always a popular choice.
  • Breakfast and Brunch: Sweet cornbread variations like this one can be a delightful addition to brunch spreads or a breakfast charcuterie board and are commonly served in muffin form. It is often served with butter and honey.

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (5)

4.6 from 71 votes

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Sweet Cornbread

This sweet cornbread is so moist and sure to be a hit with any crowd. This cornbread from scratch includes basic ingredients and is made in a 13x9 inch pan! Pair it with your favorite soups, chili or barbecue recipe. Makes for a classic Thanksgiving side dish!

CourseSide Dish

Keyword13x9 inch pan, bread, cornbread, cornbread recipe, side dish recipe, sweet cornbread, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving bread, Thanksgiving recipes

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 12

Calories 331 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2/3cupbuttersoftened
  • 1cupsugar
  • 3eggs
  • 1 2/3cupsmilk
  • 2 1/3cupsall-purpose flour
  • 1cupcornmeal
  • 4 1/2teaspoonsbaking powder
  • 1teaspoonsalt

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and and sugar with mixer.

  2. In a separate bowl whisk eggs and milk.

  3. In another bowl blend flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Alternately add egg/milk mixture and flour mixture to creamed butter, mixing after each addition.

  4. Spread batter into greased 13"x 9" pan and bake at 400 degrees until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 22 to 27 minutes.

  5. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Sweet Cornbread

Amount per Serving

Calories

331

% Daily Value*

Fat

13

g

20

%

Saturated Fat

8

g

50

%

Trans Fat

0.4

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Cholesterol

72

mg

24

%

Sodium

464

mg

20

%

Potassium

138

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

47

g

16

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

19

g

21

%

Protein

6

g

12

%

Vitamin A

430

IU

9

%

Calcium

144

mg

14

%

Iron

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe was made by my mother for years and can also be found on allrecipes.com. Original source unknown.

Sweet Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to the best cornbread? ›

Let your cornmeal soak to increase hydration

The best thing you can do with cornbread is to take your time, even if it's counterintuitive to the "Jiffy" namesake. But taking a little bit of time to soak your cornmeal before adding it to the batter is the secret to soft, plush cornbread.

What is sweet cornbread made of? ›

In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the oil, melted butter, honey, eggs, and milk. Pour into a greased 8-inch square pan. Bake for 35 minutes.

What is the difference between southern cornbread and sweet cornbread? ›

A quick Google search will tell you that Southern cornbread is oftentimes devoid of any sugar, while its Northern counterpart is light, sweet, buttery and cakelike.

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.

What does adding an extra egg to cornbread mix do? ›

The extra egg which is increased protein and binder makes the cornbread denser and heavier in texture.

Should I put sugar in my cornbread? ›

If they're willing to bear the shame of slipping a tad of sugar into their cornbread batter, things could incrementally change. But generally, the no-sugar rule still stands. Those who really need a surge of sugary flavor can, for goodness sake, just add some honey or sorghum molasses after the fact.

Can you add sugar to cornbread mix? ›

I love to bake from scratch, but I have often used packaged cornbread mix, adding a little extra something to the ingredients and making the finished product taste more homemade. My favorite thing to add is sugar—a hot topic for another conversation!

Why is some cornbread sweet? ›

Traditional cornbread isn't sweet, but many favorite recipes have sugar in them. The amount of flour vs. corn meal also changes so that some cornbread is closer in texture to cake.

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.

Is traditional cornbread sweet? ›

Southern cornbread has traditionally been made with little or no sugar and smaller amounts of flour (or no flour), with northern cornbread being sweeter and more cake-like. Southern cornbread traditionally used white cornmeal and buttermilk. Other ingredients such as pork rinds are sometimes used.

Which cornmeal is best for cornbread? ›

Yellow cornmeal is the most common, but if you have white cornmeal, that's also fine to use. Can I Bake This in a Skillet? Baking cornbread in a skillet gives it an even heartier, crunchier crust. Bake this in a 9- or 10-inch oven-safe greased skillet at the same temperature for the same amount of time.

What is the difference between Yankee cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

There are some basic differences between Southern corn-bread and what many people call "Yankee" cornbread. Southern cornbread, besides being made from white corn meal, has very little sugar in it - between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. And it is made with buttermilk.

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.

Can diabetics eat sweet cornbread? ›

Neither cornmeal, sugar or "flour" (which is non specified so am assuming its wheat flour) are suitable for type 2 diabetics. Use a natural sugar substitute and the recipe might work with buckwheat flour perhaps?

Do white people put sugar in cornbread? ›

To Sweeten or Not To Sweeten

According to Purvis, black people put sugar in their cornbread, as well as use yellow cornmeal. Whereas, white people do not put sugar in their cornbread and use white cornmeal.

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.

Will an extra egg make cornbread less crumbly? ›

Eggs, or egg substitutes help add structure to the cornbread. Without an egg or substitute, the cornbread may crumble and fall apart easily.

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