Ever wondered how to make that real classic southern-style cornbread? Well, there’s a lot of debate about what separates the real-deal ‘southern’ cornbread from the regular stuff, but we think there’s one factor — cook that cornbread in sizzling, cast-iron skillet!
Cornbread prepared in a skillet is a signature Southern tradition. What’s great about this preparation is that you get a delicious crunchy crust on the bottom of the cornbread, unlike other kinds that tend to crumble or flake apart.
Let’s get cooking, y’all!
Here’s what you’re gonna need to make Southern cornbread as yummy as Grandma’s:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
½ cup maple syrup
2 ¼ cups buttermilk
3 large eggs
1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup maple syrup
2 ¼ cups buttermilk
3 large eggs
1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS (from NY Times Cooking):
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. On the stovetop, in a 11- or 12-inch skillet (ovenproof and preferably cast iron), melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan to lightly coat sides and bottom, until the foam subsides and the butter turns a deep nut brown. (Watch carefully to see that it does not burn.)
- Pour brown butter into a large bowl. (Do not wipe out the pan.) Whisk the maple syrup into the butter, then whisk in buttermilk. The mixture should be cool to the touch; if not, let cool before whisking in the eggs. Then whisk in the cornmeal, flours, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
- If the skillet is no longer hot (cast iron retains heat longer than other metals), reheat it briefly on the stove for a few minutes. Scrape batter back into it. Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into it emerges clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the skillet for 10 minutes before slicing.
Difficulty Level (1 – 10): 5
Look at that, you’ve made yourself some yummy Southern cornbread, it was that easy! For an extra hand in the kitchen, check out the video below.
