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Honey Butter Cornbread is one of the best sides of all time! This viral recipe is a hit for a reason. It’s perfectly golden and sweet thanks to the warm honey butter.
Using just a few pantry staples, you can make this soft, moist, buttery cornbread in under an hour!
Having lived in the south for 9 years, I can make cornbread with my eyes closed. I’ve worked on this cornbread recipe for years and it is perfect. Unlike many cornbread recipes, this recipe focuses on keeping the cornbread soft and moist, so whether you eat right away or save for later, you can guarantee magic in each bite! Make this for friends and family with caution because after they try this delicious sweet honey cornbread, they’ll beg you to make it all the time!
It’s also the cornbread I put on my Thanksgiving table every year. Scroll down for how to make it ahead and bake it for a crowd.
If you love my recipes, try my other southern staples like my Banana Pudding, Fried Chicken, and Smothered Chicken.
Table of Contents
- Why Everyone Loves This Recipe
- Ingredients You Need to make Honey Butter Cornbread
- How to make Honey Butter Cornbread step-by-step (with photos)
- Recipe Variations
- Let’s make Honey Butter Cornbread with @themoodyfoody Toni Chapman
- Honey Butter Cornbread for Thanksgiving
- What to Serve with Honey Butter Cornbread
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Honey Butter Cornbread Recipe
Why Everyone Loves This Recipe
- It has the perfect texture: For the perfect cornbread, you want a moist yet crumbly texture. The creamed corn is the secret ingredient of this recipe and ensures the cornbread stays nice and soft during baking.
- It’s versatile: You can add just about anything to this delicious cornbread recipe. Bacon, jalapenos, and cheddar are just a few extras you can add to the mixture to jazz it up!
- It’s easy: This recipe is genuinely foolproof and beginner friendly. The ingredients are affordable and you can have a delicious side on the table in under an hour. Forget the boxed mix and elevate your dinner table with delicious homemade cornbread.
Ingredients You Need to make Honey Butter Cornbread
- Yellow Cornmeal: I like to use Indianhead brand. I find that it is the best, but you can use whatever high quality cornmeal you can find at the grocery store!
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the best type of flour for this recipe.
- Granulated Sugar: Sugar will make your cornbread sweet, you can also use cane sugar.
- Baking Powder: This is the leavening agent to make the cornbread rise.
- Kosher salt: Just a pinch of salt!
- Milk: Milk creates a thick batter and helps give the cornbread its buttery texture. Whole milk or 2% works best.
- Eggs: I use large eggs.
- Creamed Corn: This is my secret ingredient! Trust me, it makes the cornbread creamy and delicious. And if you are concerned about corn kernels in the bread, I promise you will barely even notice.
- Vegetable Oil: Oil keeps the cornbread moist and tender.
- Honey: You can also use agave, but honey is best for the right consistency and flavor!
- Butter: Use unsalted butter for this recipe.
How to make Honey Butter Cornbread step-by-step (with photos)
- Prepare the oven for baking: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a cast iron skillet or 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Make the honey butter: In a small saucepan, melt together the butter and honey, until smooth.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Mix together the wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, stir together the milk, eggs, oil and creamed corn, until well combined.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients: Make a well (a hole in the center of your dry mixture) and pour the wet mixture into it.
- Mix and bake: Stir just until no dry flour remains (a few small lumps are fine). Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 20 minutes, then brush a layer of honey butter over the top and keep baking for about 15 more minutes (35 minutes total).
The cornbread is ready when it’s golden brown and a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. - As soon as it comes out of the oven, brush the rest of the honey butter over the top. Let it rest a few minutes before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Add additional flavor: If you are looking for a way to jazz up this cornbread, mix in cooked bacon, jalapenos, or cheddar cheese for more savory flavors. Fresh blueberries are also a good addition for a sweet flavor!
- Make muffins: While I love baking this cornbread in a baking dish, you can make cornbread muffins. Fill the batter 3/4 of the way full greased muffin cups. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make Ahead: While fresh is always best, you can make this cornbread the night before serving. Simply bake the cornbread, allow it to cool to room temperature and then cover it in plastic wrap. Brush it with extra honey butter before serving.
Let’s make Honey Butter Cornbread with @themoodyfoody Toni Chapman
Honey Butter Cornbread for Thanksgiving
Bake it the day before: Oven space is tight on Thanksgiving, so bake the cornbread the night before. Let it cool completely, cover it tightly, and keep it at room temperature. Right before dinner, warm it in the oven while the turkey rests and brush it with fresh honey butter.
Feeding a crowd: For a big table, make two batches in two pans rather than one overfilled pan, so the middle bakes through. Cut it into squares ahead of time so guests can grab and go.
Make the honey butter ahead: Melt the honey and butter together up to 2 days early and keep it in the fridge. Rewarm it before brushing.
What to Serve with Honey Butter Cornbread
- Creamy Mac & Cheese
- Roasted Cajun Butter Turkey with Turkey Gravy from Drippings
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole and Southern Fried Cabbage
- Cornbread Dressing and Sweet Potato Casserole
- For New Year’s Day: Black Eyed Peas
Want a twist? Try my Sweet Potato Cornbread or Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I eat honey cornbread with?
This cornbread is a delicious side dish that goes with anything! I love making it with my Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, Black Eyed Peas, or my delicious Creamy Mac & Cheese
Can I substitute yellow cornmeal with a different type?
Sure, feel free to experiment with different types of cornmeal. Just keep in mind that the texture and flavor may vary. For me, yellow ground cornmeal is the best. I love using the brand Indianhead.
Can I use a different pan instead of an 13×9 pan?
Absolutely! You can use a baking pan of your choice. If the pan size differs from the recommended one, you may need to adjust the baking time.
Is it possible to reduce the amount of sugar for a less sweet cornbread?
Certainly, adjust the sugar according to your taste preferences. You can start by reducing the sugar and then fine-tuning it in future batches.
How do I know when the cornbread is done?
Insert a wooden pick into the center, and if it comes out clean or with a few crumbs (not wet batter), your cornbread is ready. It usually takes about 35 minutes, and the top should be golden brown.
I don’t like corn, can I omit it?
The creamed corn helps keep the cornbread moist. If you don’t like the texture of corn, you can blend it.
How long can I store the cornbread, and is there a special storage method?
Wrap the cornbread tightly or keep it in an airtight container. It stays good for a few days at room temperature. To keep it longer, freeze it wrapped well, then thaw and warm it with a fresh brush of honey butter.
Here is an awesome multifunctional set that I use for storing anything that needs to be air tight!
If you love this recipe, please leave me a review! It means a lot to me! <3
Honey Butter Cornbread
Ingredients
- 2 cups yellow cornmeal
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 can creamed corn 15 oz
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
Honey Butter
- 4 tbsp honey
- 4 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Make the honey butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, then stir in the honey until smooth. Remove from the heat. You can also melt them together in the microwave in 20-second bursts.
- Preheat: Heat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 13x9 baking pan or a cast iron skillet.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, creamed corn, oil and eggs until well combined.
- Combine: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture and stir just until no dry flour remains. Don't overmix; a few small lumps are fine.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the greased pan, smooth the top and bake for 20 minutes.
- Brush and finish baking: Brush a layer of honey butter over the top, then bake for about 15 more minutes (35 minutes total), until golden brown and a toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Glaze: As soon as it comes out of the oven, brush the rest of the honey butter over the top.
- Rest: Let it rest a few minutes before slicing and serving.
For Storage
- Store: Once cooled, wrap the cornbread tightly or keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. For longer storage, freeze it wrapped well, then thaw and warm before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this today using half of the recipe on a 8×8 using fine corn meal and it was great, not as sweet as I thought. Definitely make double the amount of honey butter to put some extra while you serve.
Best cornbread ever!
Absolutely awesome recipes
Delicious 😋 Made it to take to a friend’s place to accompany chilli, everyone loved it!
Delicious! Kid approved, even with a few visible kernels of corn. Multiple people have asked for more and/or the recipe.
I followed this recipe exactly and holy smokes it was better than any cornbread I ever made! Make it and add more honey butter before serving! Everyone loved it. I won’t change a thing.
The honey butter cornbread was a hit, we loved it sooo much, that we are adding it to our Holiday meals. Thank you so much!
Phenomenal! Every time I make this recipe, I get compliments from everyone who tries it. Love it!
Best homemade corn bread recipe! This is my second year making it and it has been a hit!
This is the best cornbread I’ve ever tried! I brought them to my family on thanksgiving and they raved about them!! I’m keeping this recipe for the future! Also, it was super easy to make!