This cornbread with honey butter is sweet, savory, tender, and so easy to make! This recipe comes together in MINUTES with just ONE bowl! So easy to prepare and to pop in the oven for a delicious, comforting week night meal! Best of all this recipe is made with no egg, easily made vegan, and made with simple ingredients! Don’t forget about the creamy honey butter on top! YUM!
This recipe is perfect for your next barbeque, dinner party, or potluck event! But also super easy to make as a side for your next weeknight meal and made in ONE bowl! This cornbread recipe also travels super well to any party or event!
For another delicious, and savory, bread recipe, see my black pepper focaccia recipe!
Cornbread Ingredients
The best part of this cornbread with honey butter recipe, is that it only contains 8 ingredients plus a 3 ingredient honey butter! Most of which you likely already have in your pantry or fridge! For this flavorful, and fluffy, cornbread recipe you will need the following ingredients:
Cornbread
- Butter-Unsalted butter is recommended for this recipe but if you only have salted butter then you can just omit the salt ingredient step in the recipe.
- Milk-I used whole milk for this recipe that is room temperature but feel free to use your preferred milk. Soy milk, oat milk, and almond milk would work great here!
- Apple cider vinegar-The apple cider vinegar is added to the milk to make homemade buttermilk, a very important step in this recipe to help the corn bread rise without egg.
- Ground corn meal-Ground corn meal that is finely ground is preferred for this recipe.
- Bread flour-I used bread flour for this recipe but all purpose flour also works for this recipe.
- Brown sugar-You can also use granulated sugar or coconut sugar for this recipe!
- Baking powder-Don’t skip the baking powder step to help the corn bread rise.
- Salt-Sea salt or kosher salt is preferred for this recipe.
Honey Butter
- Butter-Unsalted butter is recommended for this recipe but if you only have salted butter then you can just omit the salt ingredient step in the recipe.
- Honey-Feel free to use agave nectar instead of honey for this recipe, just as delicious!
- Salt-Sea salt is perfect for honey butter!
See recipe card for additional details and quantities.
Cornbread Instructions
For the full instructions and measurements for how to make this delicious recipe, please skip down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Use the following step-by-step instructions for how to make this delicious cornbread with honey butter:
In a large mixing bowl add the butter, milk/vinegar mixture, cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Use a whisk to mix the ingredients gently until just combined.
Pour mixture into the greased 9 inch round cake pan.
Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top and a tooth pick comes out clean in the middle. Allow to cool.
For the butter, combine the softened butter, salt, and honey in a small mixing bowl until combined. Set aside.
Spread the honey butter on top of your cornbread. Enjoy!
Hint: The apple cider vinegar is added to the milk to make homemade buttermilk, a very important step in this recipe to help the cornbread rise without egg. Don’t skip this step.
Homemade Cornbread Substitutions
Are you gluten-free or vegan? This recipe has the following substitutions so that you can still enjoy this easy cornbread recipe!
- Gluten-free – instead of bread, or all purpose, flour, feel free to substitute for 1:1 gluten free flour.
- Vegan – use vegan unsalted butter, vegan milk, and agave nectar to make this recipe easily fully vegan.
Easy Cornbread Variations
There are so many fun topping variations for this easy bread recipe that can add even more flavor!
- Jalapeno Cheddar – add pickled, or canned, jalapenos and cheddar cheese as additional ingredients to this recipe for a spicy twist!
- Bacon – use crumbled bacon, or prosciutto, and cheese to this recipe for a delicious fun variation.
- Parmesan Thyme- add parmesan cheese and dried thyme as additional ingredients to this recipe for a fun spin!
For a savory dish that would pair perfectly with this cornbread recipe, see my creamy mushroom soup recipe!
Equipment
The three main pieces of equipment needed for this recipe are a large mixing bowl for mixing the cornbread, a small mixing bowl for making the honey butter, and a 9 inch round cake pan for baking your cornbread.
Cornbread Storage
Store your baked cornbread in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.
You can also freeze your bread in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend double wrapping your cornbread in parchment paper and plastic wrap before storing the bread in a container in the freezer. This will help ensure freshness longer.
Top tips
- The apple cider vinegar is added to the milk to make homemade buttermilk, a very important step in this recipe to help the cornbread rise without egg. Don’t skip this step.
- Use a whisk to mix the ingredients gently until just combined, be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Ensure that your ingredients are all room temperature for making your cornbread.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, people do put sugar in cornbread. This yields a sweeter, more dessert style cornbread recipe.
The difference between southern cornbread and sweet cornbread is the sugar. Sweet cornbread is typically made with sugar and topped with honey, while southern cornbread is not made with sugar and has a more savory flavor.
You can absolutely substitute oil for butter in cornbread such as, canola oil or vegetable oil.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this sweet cornbread recipe:
Cornbread With Honey Butter
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 9 Inch round cake pan
- 1 Small bowl
Ingredients
Cornbread
- 1/3 Cup Unsalted butter Melted and room temperature
- 2 Cups Whole milk Or your preferred milk and room temperature
- 2 Tsp Apple cider vinegar
- 2 Cups Ground corn meal
- 1 Cup Bread flour Or all purpose flour
- 1/4 Cup Brown sugar
- 2 Tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
Honey Butter
- 1/4 Cup Unsalted butter Room temperature and softened
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
Instructions
Cornbread with Honey Butter
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease your 9 inch round cake pan. Melt your butter and set aside to cool down to room temperature. Add the apple cider vinegar to the milk, mix, and set aside for 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl add the butter, milk/vinegar mixture, cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients gently until just combined.
- Pour mixture into the greased 9 inch round cake pan. Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top and a tooth pick comes out clean in the middle. Allow to cool.
- For the butter, combine the softened butter, salt, and honey in a small mixing bowl until combined. Set aside.
- Spread the honey butter on top of your corn bread. Enjoy!
This is the best home made cornbread I’ve ever had!!!