Best Homemade Cornbread Recipe

A white pan with cornbread inside of it with a spatula picking up a piece of it.

This Homemade Cornbread Recipe has been a family favorite for years! With it's crisp golden crust and a soft & moist middle. Thanks to the special ingredients like buttermilk and applesauce, this cornbread recipe is always a winner. Learn all the secrets to making it just right at home.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cornbread recipe, homemade cornbread, moist cornbread recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Extra Time 30

Servings

Calories 215kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

1½ cups yellow cornmeal
1½ cups buttermilk
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter melted & slightly cooled
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons applesauce (I use sweetened)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons honey

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cornmeal and buttermilk until blended. Allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375° F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
After the 30 minute rest time for the cornmeal/buttermilk mix, add the melted butter, applesauce, sugar, honey, and eggs to the cornmeal mixture and stir until combined well.
Gently stir in the dry ingredients, with a silicone spatula, and mix until combined and no flour streaks remain.
Pour the cornbread batter into the prepared pan and bake for 23-30 minutes or until the center is set, the cornbread is golden browned, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Allow the cornbread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Serve cornbread with butter and honey, if wanted.

Notes

Buttermilk : I use low-fat buttermilk in this recipe.

Applesauce : I measure the applesauce from a jar. If you are using the smaller 4 ounce containers of applesauce, then use two (4 oz) containers applesauce.

Sugar : If you want a sweeter cornbread then try using 1/2 cup sugar + use sweetened applesauce. Likewise, if you want a less sweet cornbread then use unsweetened and/or also use less sugar (1/4 cup sugar).

Tip : I make the recipe with sweetened applesauce + 1/3 cup sugar called for in the recipe above.

Butter : I use salted butter. Unsalted butter may be used, but increase the salt to 3/4 teaspoon. Or less depending on preference. If using salted butter, follow recipe as is.

Nutrition