Bacon Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Recipes

JALAPENO, BACON AND CHEDDAR CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Arrange the bacon strips flat in a single layer in the bottom of a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until rendered and crispy, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to one end of a paper-towel-lined plate to drain (save room for the jalapeno!). Add the jalapeno to the bacon drippings and cook until softened and slightly browned, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the jalapeno to the plate next to the bacon. Roughly chop the bacon and return to the plate.
• Carefully remove 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the pan, leaving the rest. Keep the pan at the ready for baking the cornbread.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, oil and eggs in a medium bowl. Add the buttermilk mixture to the cornmeal mixture and use a rubber spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet until completely incorporated. Mix in the Cheddar, bacon and jalapeno.
• Using a pastry brush, spread the bacon drippings up the sides and around the bottom of the pan. Heat the pan over medium-low heat until the fat just starts to sizzle. Pour in the cornbread batter, allowing the heat to quickly set the bottom crust.
• Put the pan into the oven and bake until golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cornbread comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and baste the top crust with the butter. Cool for 20 minutes before serving.

BACON-JALAPENO-CHEDDAR CORNBREAD

Steps:

• For the cornbread: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Liberally grease 12 muffin cups or mini cast-iron skillets with cooking spray or oil.
• Put the bacon in a skillet over medium heat and cook until browned and crisp, about 7 minutes. Set the bacon aside to cool on a paper towel-lined plate, then chop finely. Reserve the grease in the skillet for the glaze.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a separate bowl, mix together the buttermilk, oil, whole egg and egg yolk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the cheese, jalapeno and reserved bacon until just incorporated.
• Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake until the edges are crispy and the tops are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the glaze: While the cornbread bakes, prepare the glaze. In the skillet that you cooked the bacon in, add the bourbon to the saved fat and bring to a boil (the bourbon may flame!). Add the honey and stir. Strain the glaze through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside.
• When the cornbread is out of oven and still hot, brush the glaze on the tops of each muffin.

JALAPENO-BACON SKILLET CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Whisk the cornmeal, all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
• Put the bacon in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet; set over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is browned and crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the skillet.
• Add the diced onion to the hot skillet and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute. Transfer the onion and garlic to a separate plate and set aside. Keep the skillet over low heat.
• Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, honey and jalapenos in another large bowl; add the onion and garlic and whisk to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until combined (do not overmix).
• Brush the bottom and side of the skillet with the fat left in it (add a pat or two of butter if there's not enough). Carefully add the batter (it should sizzle) and sprinkle the bacon evenly on top. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the top is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.