Classic Southern Cornbread Recipes

CLASSIC SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. When hot, heat a 10-inch cast iron skillet in oven until very hot, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. Combine all but about 1 teaspoon of the butter, buttermilk, and egg. Stir into the dry ingredients just until blended. Stir in chiles, if desired.
• Remove skillet from oven to a trivet or hot pad. Using a pastry brush, quickly coat pan with the remaining teaspoon of melted butter.
• Pour batter into pan, filling each triangle about 2/3 full. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pan, cool completely on rack.

REAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the corn meal, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, butter, and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Heat a dry 12 inch cast iron skillet over high heat for 2 minutes. Add corn oil to skillet, swirl oil around to coat bottom and sides. Leave remaining oil in pan. Return to high heat for 1 minute.
• Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and cook on high heat until bubbles start to form in the center. Remove from stove.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree F (200 degree C) oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

CLASSIC CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with vegetable oil.
• Whisk the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg, vegetable oil and buttermilk, then fold into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 15 minutes before serving.