Classic American Cornbread (Printable)

Golden-crusted, tender American cornbread balancing sweet and savory flavors. Perfect side for chili and barbecue.

# What You'll 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 as this can toughen the bread.
05 - Pour batter into the prepared pan or skillet. Smooth the top with a spatula to ensure even baking.
06 - Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown 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 Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of butter and oil creates the perfect texture and a golden, slightly crunchy exterior that makes you go back for seconds
  • This recipe strikes that magical balance between sweet and savory that works alongside everything from spicy chili to Sunday roast
02 -
  • Overmixing creates tough, rubbery cornbread. Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see dry flour, even if it looks slightly uneven
  • Letting the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes before baking improves texture and helps the cornmeal hydrate fully
03 -
  • Sour cream or yogurt can replace some of the milk for extra tenderness and a slight tang that cuts rich main dishes
  • For the sweetest cornbread, brush the top with additional melted butter and honey right after it comes out of the oven
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