Adapted from my sweet Mom's recipe, this cornbread bakes up tender, golden, and gently sweet—thanks to buttermilk and a bit of honey. I sometimes bake it as muffins like she did, but mini loaves feel just right for freezing and gifting. Toast a slice with butter for a snack, or serve warm beside your favorite soup or stew.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Cornbread
-
Tender crumb with buttermilk richness + honey sweetness
-
One-bowl batter; bake as muffins, a 9×9 pan, or mini loaves
-
Freezer-friendly for easy sides on busy nights
Ingredients for Sweet Cornbread
-
1 cup cornmeal
-
1 cup all-purpose flour
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
-
1 tablespoon baking powder
-
1 teaspoon kosher salt
-
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
-
2 eggs
-
1 cup buttermilk
-
1/4 cup local honey, if available
How to Make Sweet Cornbread (Step-by-Step)
-
Prep. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray a loaf, muffin, or square pan with baking spray. If using a muffin tin, line cups with papers.
-
Mix dry. In a large bowl, whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
-
Add wet. Stir in melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, and honey until just combined—do not overmix.
-
Bake. Pour batter into your pan:
-
12 muffins: 15 minutes
-
9×9 baking dish: 20–25 minutes
-
Mini loaf pans: ~20 minutes
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean and the top is lightly golden.
-
-
Serve. Cool briefly, slice, and serve warm with butter. Great with soup, chili, or braised short ribs.
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
-
Room temp: Wrap and store up to 2 days.
-
Freeze: Cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp.
-
Reheat: Warm slices in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes or toast lightly; add butter or honey.
Variations
-
Muffins like Mom: Bake in a standard muffin tin; brush tops with warm honey.
-
Cheddar-Jalapeño: Fold in 1/2 cup shredded cheddar + 1 minced jalapeño.
-
Brown Butter: Swap melted butter for browned butter for nutty depth.