Winning Cornbread Recipe (Best Sweet Cornbread Ever!) (2024)

by Julie 70 Comments

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A sweet, salty and deliciously moist cornbread, this winning cornbread recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a hot bowl of chili or chicken noodle soup. It’s a crowd-pleaser (a chili cook-off winning recipe!) and this easy cornbread recipe is even worthy of serving along with your Thanksgiving dinner!

A few years ago, back when Ryan and I were living in Orlando, we entered Sadie into a neighborhood Doggie Derby competition. We learned about the event from someone at our favorite local dog park who said he thought Sadie would do fantastic in the race. When we heard about the format of the informal race – someone stands at the start line with the dog while another person calls the dog at the finish line – we had high hopes for our little speed demon. Sadie is incredibly motivated by running to me or Ryan when we call her and after several rounds of racing, Sadie ended up winning the entire competition. I’d try to play it cool and say we thought it was no big deal but we were two excited dog parents beaming with pride that day! And guess what? Sadie even got a trophy for her win!

Ever since Sadie’s Doggie Derby victory, Ryan and I have an ongoing joke that she’s going to be the last member of our little family to win any kind of award. Now that I think about it, we should probably stop making this joke since our family has expanded and we now have a toddler. I’m assuming Chase will win something at some point, right? At least a “Best Attitude” award which is what I got when I was on the swim team my freshman year of high school. (That should tell you something about my talent level in the sport.)

Well, the tides turned for the fa*gan family last Saturday evening when I shockingly won something. A REAL competition! Well, kind of. I won an annual chili cook off party’s prize for Best Cornbread. Does that count as “real?” Please let me have this one, you guys. There were 50(ish) people there and everyone had to cast votes to determine the best chili and best cornbread of the evening, so I’m going to go ahead and milk this one for all its worth.

Truthfully, I cannot claim the credit for my winning cornbread. I owe it all to you guys because three of you recommended the same cornbread recipe to me when I put a call out on the blog for recipe recommendations before the chili cook off. I personally prefer cornbread that is slightly sweet and a bit salty. I’m not as into the whole jalapeño or cheesy cornbread thing and when I saw three people recommended a recipe involving creamed sweet corn, the recipe immediately caught my eye.

I did some digging and cannot find the original source of the recipe. It just kind of seems to exist on the internet which often seems to be the case with tried-and-true recipe favorites. While I followed the base of the recipes to a tee (Jiffy cornbread muffin mix, sour cream, creamed corn), I added a little more sweetness to the recipe in the form of honey. I also added a bit of pink Himalayan salt both to the batter and on top of the cornbread before baking. I think both of these small additions ended up making a pretty big difference so I wanted to share my version of the recipe with you today!

I know we’re right in the middle of cornbread season (is that a thing?), so keep this recipe in mind the next time you find yourself whipping up a batch of chili or chicken noodle soup. It’s the perfect slightly sweet and savory side dish to get you through the chilly fall and winter months!

Also, this may be a little bold, but I think this recipe is good enough to make on Thanksgiving as well. Yep, I said it. And I only said it because when I baked another batch of this cornbread to photograph for the blog, I ended up eating two whole rows of it while I snapped away. I couldn’t stop!

Winning Cornbread Recipe

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Winning Cornbread Recipe (Best Sweet Cornbread Ever!) (6)

Winning Cornbread Recipe

★★★★★4.7 from 11 reviews

  • Author: Julie
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 16 pieces 1x
  • Category: side dish, bread
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Description

A sweet, salty and deliciously moist cornbread, this winning cornbread recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a hot bowl of chili or chicken noodle soup.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 1/2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (approximately 12 ounces)
  • 8 ounces full-fat sour cream
  • 1 cup creamed corn
  • 1/2 cup canola oil or melted coconut oil (refined)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pink Himalayan salt + more to sprinkle on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.
  3. Pour into an 8×8 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
  4. Sprinkle additional freshly ground pink Himalayan salt on top of the batter. Do not stir. (This will make the top of the cornbread deliciously salty.)
  5. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until top of the cornbread begins to brown and the middle of the cornbread is completely set.
  6. Allow to cool before serving.

Question of the Day

What was the last award or competition you won? What was the silliest/most random award you’ve won?

Winning Cornbread Recipe (Best Sweet Cornbread Ever!) (2024)

FAQs

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 is sweet cornbread made of? ›

Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix egg, sour cream, milk, and butter in a small bowl. Fold egg mixture into flour mixture until just moistened; pour into prepared baking dish.

Why don't southerners 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.

Is cornbread better with milk or water? ›

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

Can you add extra sugar to cornbread? ›

That being said, this is YOUR Sweet Cornbread recipe, so use as little or as much sugar as you would like. Here is the breakdown: 1 cup sugar = sweet.

Which makes better cornbread white or yellow cornmeal? ›

While either white or yellow cornmeal will technically work when making cornbread, yellow does make for a softer more tender bread. Milk is what is going to make sure our bread stays nice and moist as it acts as the binding agent. Baking powder is key for getting a nice tender and fluffy crumb.

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.

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

The thing that distinguishes Southern cornbread from, say Yankee cornbread, or any other cornbread one is likely to eat outside of the southern states, is that it is savory, not sweet, and it is made mostly with cornmeal.

Is cornbread good or bad for diabetics? ›

Diabetics should approach cornbread with caution due to its high carbohydrate content, which can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Traditional cornbread recipes often contain refined flour and added sugars, further exacerbating the issue.

Is cornbread good for your bowels? ›

Is cornbread hard to digest? A. Cornbread contains fibre, which is not easily digested or absorbed by the body and passes through the digestive system relatively intact. Fibre also controls bowel motions by softening and increasing the weight and size of the stool, all of which make it easier to pass stool.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk for cornbread? ›

Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add sour cream, butter, and eggs; stir until fully incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for cornbread? ›

You can substitute heavy cream for 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 cup sour cream, combined. You can also substitute the cream for milk. Use 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of milk plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter to the batter. The cornbread will have a close texture.

Is northern or Southern cornbread better? ›

The verdict: Northern cornbread's cakey texture and sweetness allow it to be a stand-alone dish, complete without any mix-ins. It can still be used to soak up other foods, like cranberry sauce, but its sweetness makes it less versatile than Southern cornbread, and more suited to accompany other sweet foods.

What's another name for Southern cornbread? ›

What is another word for cornbread?
cornponehoecake
hushpuppyjohnnycake
spoonbreadcorn bread
cornmeal breadSouthern cornbread
corn muffincorn pone
2 more rows

Is authentic cornbread sweet? ›

This traditional cornbread is made without flour, isn't sweet and has a crumbly texture. You can change the adaptable recipe to suit your cornbread preference. For a variation, substitute 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for the baking powder and use buttermilk instead of milk.

Is Cotton Country Cornbread sweet? ›

Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread

It's flavor is classic, without sweetness or too much saltiness, but it's a white cornbread.

References

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