Southern Cornbread Recipe With Corn
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This Southern cornbread recipe, which features corn, is my go-to dish for soul food Thanksgiving menus, Christmas dinners, and Sunday meals throughout the year!
Cornbread enthusiasts everywhere love this recipe for its perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors. I have shared this recipe on note cards countless times in person. Now, I’m finally formalizing it for easy online sharing!
Best cornbread with corn kernels
The best recipes often come with a twist, and today, I’m applying that philosophy to a beloved comfort food: Southern cornbread. By incorporating not only corn but creamed corn, cream cheese, and a dash of sugar in with the cornmeal, I’vediscovered the secret to creating cornbread that is not only moist but also packed with flavor!
This isn’t just another cornbread recipe. It’s a reinvention of a classic Southern dish. With these unique additions, the humble cornbread transforms into a show-stopping side that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
Ingredients
In my quest to create the best cornbread recipe, I’ve come up with a mix that tops them all! These select staple pantry ingredients have been chosen carefully for an unforgettable comfort food experience.
- Cornmeal – Yellow cornmeal is the foundational building block, infusing your bread with that classic, made-from-scratch texture. You can use white cornmeal instead of yellow, but the bread will not have the same golden color.
- All-purpose flour and baking powder – Contribute to the texture of soft homemade bread.
- Creamed corn – For that deliciously sweet pop of corn in every bite, enhancing moisture, texture, and flavor. You can use canned creamed corn, the most commonly used option, or homemade creamed corn.
- Cream cheese – Lends a creamy softness to the crumb, making each slice irresistibly tender.
- Butter – Not only does it enrich the flavor, but it also contributes to a wonderfully moist cornbread.
- Sugar – A hint of sweetness balances the savory, enhancing corn’s natural sugars, though the sugar is entirely optional.
What kind of corn to use in cornbread with corn
This recipe intentionally calls for creamed corn because of its syrupy sauce that adds moisture to the cornbread and a softened texture that’s just right for including kernels of corn. You may yield a drier result if using corn that’s not creamed.
How to make cornbread with corn
As someone from the South, I’ve always wanted to master the art of baking the perfect homemade cornbread without relying on a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix. (No shade, Jiffy! In fact, I share a delicious creamed corn recipe that pairs well with the beloved Southern box mix HERE!) Adding butter, creamed corn, and cream cheese to the cornbread batter enhances the moistness and infuses each bite with delightful sweet and savory flavors!
- Preheat the oven and simultaneously melt the butter in the baking dish.
- Combine the ingredients: cornmeal, creamed corn, optional sugar, and cream cheese.
- Pour in the melted butter and mix.
- Add the cornbread batter to the baking dish.
- Bake, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Best texture for cornbread
Using medium-grind cornmeal will yield the best texture for this recipe, creating a crust with brown, crispy edges, with the center of the bread remaining tender due to the addition of creamed corn, butter, and cream cheese.
These ingredients help make the bread softer and not dry and crumbly. The corn kernels provide the perfect texture as they are delicate and not overwhelming, softened by their creamed base.
What to add to cornbread
Let’s be clear–This cornbread recipe doesn’t require any toppings. Soul food cornbread is exceptional on its own! However, here are a few favorite Southern toppings.
- Butter and honey – The most traditional way of serving cornbread.
- Jalapeños – Because some like it hot!
- Barbecue Sauce – Great for BBQ season!
- Cranberries – These add a varied sweetness to cornbread and can create a new holiday tradition!
- Pineapple – A delightful Caribbean-inspired sweet treat that’s great any time of year!
- Sliced tomatoes – Similar to dipping in succotash, serve sliced tomatoes on the side, in a salad, or as Southern fried green tomatoes to add color and refreshing flavor contrast.
What to serve with corn kernel cornbread
In the South, cornbread is commonly served in place of dinner rolls and yeast bread. It pairs wonderfully with any meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Cornbread is particularly delicious alongside meats, beans, and leafy greens, such as the beloved collard greens of Southern cuisine.
You can find some of my favorite authentic soul food recipes HERE, including those that complement a classic Southern cornbread made with corn.
Equipment
- Hand-held or stand mixer with a mixing bowl
- 8"x8" glass baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal medium grind
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 cup creamed corn canned or homemade
- ⅔ cup cream cheese softened or whipped
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the butter in an 8×8 baking dish (or similar size) and melt in the oven for approximately 5 minutes.
- While the butter is melting, mix the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, creamed corn, cream cheese, and optional sugar in a medium-sized mixing bowl until well combined.
- Pour the melted butter from the baking dish into the mixing bowl and mix again.
- Pour the cornbread batter into the baking pan or skillet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until the cornbread's edges are crisp and the top is golden. (To check if the cornbread is done, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, it's ready.)
- Remove the cornbread from the oven and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes to make slicing easier. After resting, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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OMG! This recipe made me drool! LOL
LOL! Enjoy 😉