This fluffy homemade cornbread recipe has a hint of sweetness, and it’s easy to make.

Light, tender, and moist, this recipe is perfect for dipping, dunking, or slathering with butter.

It’s the perfect bread to serve alongside your favorite hearty soups, stews, and chili recipes!

adding honey on top of Homemade Cornbread slices

Ingredients for Cornbread

Dry Ingredients – All-purpose flour is the base of the recipe and adds structure and texture. Baking powder helps it rise while eggs help bind it all together.

Cornmeal – Yellow cornmeal is the star of this cornbread recipe. It gives a distinct yellow color and adds flavor and texture.

Sugar – A touch of sweetness to balance out the flavors.

Buttermilk – Adds a tangy flavor, but it also helps the cornbread rise, making it fluffy and moist (see recipe notes for substitution).

Butter – Butter adds richness and flavor and helps create a golden brown crust.

Buttermilk Substitution

Buttermilk adds a rich flavor and the acidity helps this bread rise. You can replace buttermilk by placing 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in a 1 cup measuring cup and filling it with milk. Stir and let it rest for 5 minutes before using.

This soured milk mixture can be used in almost any recipe calling for buttermilk.

baking powder , flour , cornmeal , eggs , buttermilk , sugar , salt and butter with labels to make Cornbread

How to Make Cornbread

This easy cornbread recipe is perfect to slather in honey butter or dunk into a bowl of homemade chili!

  1. Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl per the recipe below. Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
  2. Combine the two just until moistened.
  3. Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake until fluffy.

Variations

This homemade cornbread recipe is super moist and tender with just a hint of sweetness. This is not an overly sweet cornbread (and it is great in stuffing or dressing).

I sometimes add a cup or so of corn kernels if I have them on hand (either canned and drained or frozen/defrosted). Other additions include diced jalapenos, shredded cheese, crumbled bacon (or bacon drippings in place of some of the butter), or fresh herbs.

Tips for Fluffy Moist Cornbread

  • Like most quick bread recipes (such as banana bread), mix the batter just until moistened. Overmixing can cause a dry, tough cornbread.
  • Check the cornbread a few minutes early to ensure it doesn’t overbake. If a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, the cornbread is done.
  • Let the cornbread cool at least 10 minutes before cutting so it doesn’t fall apart.
  • Serve warm or reheat in the oven or microwave to reheat.
pieces of Homemade Cornbread with butter on top

How to Store Cornbread

Cornbread is a delicious and moist quick bread and should be stored in a tightly sealed container at room temperature (or in the fridge).

To 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. Thaw by letting it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

If you’d like to reheat it, wrap it in foil and reheat it in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350°F.

More Savory Quick Breads

Did your family love this homemade Cornbread recipe? Leave us a rating and a comment below!

Homemade Cornbread with melted butter
4.87 from 101 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Homemade Cornbread Recipe

This simple cornbread recipe is light, fluffy, and delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 9 servings

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk or soured milk, see notes
  • cup butter melted

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
  • Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Notes

Buttermilk substitute: Buttermilk adds flavor as well as helps this cornbread recipe rise nicely. If you don’t have buttermilk, place 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar in a 1 cup measuring cup. Fill to 1 cup with milk and stir. Let rest 5 minutes and use in place of buttermilk.
Optional Additions: Add 1 cup corn kernels, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or 1 finely diced jalapeno pepper to the batter before baking.
Cornbread is great served with honey butter.
4.87 from 101 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 232 | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine American

Recipe adapted from Chile Cheddar Cornbread.

pieces of fluffy Cornbread on a palte
Homemade Cornbread pieces on a plate with writing
close up of Homemade Cornbread with writing
taking a slice of Homemade Cornbread out of the pan and plated dish

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Comments

  1. I make a lot of cornbread and try different recipes all the time. While all the ingredients are pretty similar, they are not exactly the same. I really like this recipe. It uses double the amount of eggs of most recipes, more baking powder and no baking soda. This must be the reason. I find it very light and not overly sweet.

  2. Thank you for this cornbread recipe. Have not tried it yet. In the past, I used Quaker Yellow Corn Meal. Was a perfect recipe also. But, at sometime, the company ( I think) changed something regarding their meal. It’s not the same! What brand of yellow corn meal do you use? Thank you fora reply.
    Sandra M.

    1. Hi Sandra, you should be able to use any brand of cornmeal in this recipe with the same results each time!

    2. I also used Quaker Corn Meal for decades and thought their cornbread recipe was the best. I agree that their cornmeal has changed, and not for the better. I stopped using it several years ago. I order yellow cornmeal from War Eagle Mill in Rogers, AR. They have many wonderful products that they mill themselves.