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)

4.59 from 72 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 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.

What does adding an extra egg to cornbread do? ›

The yolk will make the texture more dense and smooth, a bit brownie-like, while the fact that your original batter was too thick means that the additional liquid will help the baking powder achieve better leavening, giving you an airier texture.

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.

Should I put sugar in my cornbread? ›

Some cornbread has a little bit of sugar (less than a tablespoon) to help it brown. Some has nothing but cornmeal, hot water, and a pinch of salt. And some versions are quite sweet, almost as sweet as cake. It's a matter of regional style and personal taste.

Can you add sugar to cornbread mix? ›

My favorite thing to add is sugar—a hot topic for another conversation! Beyond that, sour cream is my favorite thing to add to a package of cornbread mix. Here are a few ways to make any store-bought cornbread mix even better.

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.

Is sweet cornbread good for you? ›

Cornbread can be a healthy choice as it provides some nutrients, such as fiber and protein. However, it's also high in calories and carbohydrates, and it may be high in fat and sugar depending on the recipe and ingredients used.

What is cornbread called in the South? ›

It is commonly called "cornbread" in the Southern United States and is not known by a different name in this region. Cornbread is a simple bread that is made by mixing cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, and milk to form a batter, which is then baked in the oven.

What happens if I put 2 eggs instead of 1? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

How to jazz up cornbread? ›

10 Mix-Ins for Classic Cornbread
  1. Bacon and scallion. ...
  2. Green chile and cheddar cheese. ...
  3. Crumbled sausage and poultry seasoning. ...
  4. Fresh corn and basil. ...
  5. Pepperoni, parmesan, and black pepper. ...
  6. Spicy shrimp and creole seasoning. ...
  7. Brown sugar and pecan. ...
  8. Cranberry and maple syrup.

Why is cornbread not healthy? ›

Cornbread is quite low in fiber, providing only one to two grams per serving. While yellow cornmeal is a whole grain with around 6 grams of fiber per cup, cornbread is often made of a mixture of cornmeal and refined flour, making each serving a low-fiber option.

What makes cornbread unhealthy? ›

Cornbread is high in carbs and sodium, and many commercial varieties are refined. Cornbread also sometimes contains gluten, which some people may need or want to avoid.

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?

Why is some cornbread sweet? ›

White corn was generally more expensive than yellow corn. The difference in cornmeal also determines whether to put sugar into the mix or not. Yellow corn was usually harvested before it was ripe, so it was not as sweet, which required the added sugar into the list of ingredients when making cornbread.

Is sweet cornbread a northern thing? ›

A typical contemporary northern U.S. cornbread recipe contains half wheat flour, half cornmeal, milk or buttermilk, eggs, leavening agent, salt, and usually sugar, resulting in a bread that is somewhat lighter and sweeter than the traditional southern version.

Why does cornbread taste sweet? ›

While it's not as sweet as cake, it does have some sugar and a hint of honey to balance out the savory buttermilk flavor, and enhance the natural sweetness of the cornmeal. Regular white sugar is fine to use here, but I especially love this made with flavorful, moist molasses-spiked brown sugar.

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