• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Sweet Pea Chef
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
×
You are here: Home » Recipes » Breads

Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe

Updated: Sep 24, 2024 · Published: Feb 9, 2011 by Lacey Baier · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. · 51 Comments

Jump To Recipe!

This easy cornbread recipe makes a healthy, moist, and fluffy sweet cornbread that is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Plus get my best tips for how to store cornbread, how to freeze cornbread, how to reheat cornbread, and what to do with leftover cornbread.

Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe | This Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe makes a moist, fluffy and healthy sweet cornbread that can be enjoyed for dinner with a homemade chili | A Sweet Pea Chef this RECIPE

Like many things in my life, I am quite particular about my cornbread. I absolutely hate dry, crumbly, bland, stale cornbread. Well — maybe I should be more clear… I’ll eat it, but I won’t enjoy it. You get the difference, right?  I knew you would.

So, when I make my cornbread, I want it to be sweet — but not too sweet — moist, delicate — but with texture — and it’s got to have little bits of corn in it.  Those are the rules.

Done!  This sweet cornbread recipe is so delicious… it’s the best cornbread recipe I’ve come across and, trust me, I’ve looked and cooked and eaten.  A lot.

The top crust is crunchy while the rest is moist, sweet cornbread-y goodness. Believe it or not, you don’t even need any butter to eat it. It’s THAT good.  Plus, it’s super easy to make and ready before you know it.

I make this recipe in either a 9-inch spring-form cake pan or a square baking dish, but it could also make tasty little cornbread muffins if you’d like. Pair this cornbread with my homemade chili and you have yourself a very nice thing going on.  Very nice, indeed!

Oh, I almost forgot – this easy cornbread recipe is also healthy. Healthy cornbread?  Yes, it is possible!  This is not my first healthy bread recipe, ya know... I posted other healthy bread recipes on the blog, including a pumpkin bread recipe, a chocolate zucchini bread recipe, an apple pumpkin bread recipe, and a cranberry orange bread recipe.

But let’s get back to the best homemade sweet cornbread since it is the star of the day.

A mixing bowl with fresh corn in it. The corn will be used in the Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe.

HOW TO MAKE CORNBREAD

Some people like sweet cornbread while others like their cornbread savory. It’s a matter of taste. I like mine mildly sweet so I use raw honey and fresh corn in the recipe. This is an easy cornbread recipe that involves only a few simple steps. To make sweet cornbread:

  1. combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl;
  2. in a separate mixing bowl combine the wet ingredients;
  3. add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix well but make sure you don’t overmix.
  4. transfer the sweet cornbread mixture to a greased pan;
  5. bake in the preheated oven until the cornbread is ready. Test it with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, the sweet cornbread is ready.

How to make cornbread healthy:

  • replace all-purpose flour with spelt flour;
  • replace sugar with raw honey;
  • replace vegetable oil with coconut oil;
  • remove butter.

A large mixing bowl filled with the dry ingredients required by the Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe including spelt flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and sea salt.
Pouring the wet ingredients (egg, honey, almond milk, coconut oil and corn) for the Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe over the dry ingredients.

HOMEMADE CREAMED CORN

I like my cornbread recipe with corn and I essentially make a quick version of creamed corn by mashing the fresh or frozen corn kernels before adding them to the mixture. This makes it a lighter option and no refined sugar added alternative to using creamed corn in the recipe.  Plus: tasty corn in the cornbread = my kinda cornbread!

Mixing together the dry and wet ingredients for the Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe.
The cornbread mixture in a pan ready to be transferred to the oven to be baked.

HOW TO MAKE CORNBREAD MOIST

Here’s the thing, I never in my life found a person who likes dry cornbread. EVER. Learning how to make cornbread moist is definitely the key to a delicious sweet cornbread.

If you want your sweet cornbread to be moist and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, make sure you don’t over mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.

And, if you want ultra moist cornbread, add in an egg and some freshly mashed corn kernels.  Works like a charm!

Freshly baked sweet cornbread in the pan being sliced.

FREEZING AND REHEATING CORNBREAD

Sweet cornbread can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer. If you want to bake sweet cornbread for later, you totally can since freezing cornbread is definitely possible.

How to freeze cornbread:

  1. Cool the sweet cornbread;
  2. Wrap it in aluminum foil or put it in a Ziploc bag; This will prevent the cornbread from losing its moisture and drying out.

How to reheat cornbread:

  1. Thaw the cornbread at room temperature before unwrapping it from the foil or removing it from the bag.
  2. Remove it from the Ziploc bag or from the aluminum foil and you can:
  • reheat the cornbread in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds or until heated through;
  • reheat the cornbread in the oven at 350 degrees F wrapped in aluminum foil for approximately 15 minutes.

Close up of a slice of sweet cornbread that's being removed from the pan with a spatula.

HOW LONG DOES CORNBREAD LAST?

Properly stored cornbread can last:

  • for 2-3 days at room temperature;
  • up to a week in the fridge;
  • 2 to 3 months in the freezer.

How to properly store and how to keep cornbread moist:

  • Cover the sweet cornbread with aluminum foil or plastic wrap
  • Or place it in a Ziploc bag.

View from the top of 3 slices of sweet cornbread on a serving plate. The plate is decorated with fresh corn. Next to the plate can be seen the pan with the rest of the sliced cornbread and the spatula that was use to remove the slices from the pan and a slice of cornbread that sits on the table.

WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER CORNBREAD

Leftover cornbread is a rare occurrence in my house. We all love it that much. However, if you somehow end up with cornbread leftovers, you can:

  • use it to make stuffing (Thanksgiving is around the corner so baking an extra batch of sweet cornbread is not at all a bad idea);
  • make sweet cornbread croutons – it’s super easy to make croutons at home. All you have to do is to cube the cornbread, place the cubes on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven (at 350 degrees F) until the crumbs are dry and crunchy;
  • make breadcrumbs – to make cornbread crumbs use a blender or a food processor to whirl the croutons until they transform into crumbles.

Pouring honey over 3 slices of sweet cornbread placed one on top of the other on a serving plate.

3 HEALTHY CHILI RECIPES TO PAIR WITH SWEET CORNBREAD

Cornbread is an American staple that goes well with so many different types of food. But nothing compares to the cornbread + chili pairing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. This amazing combo is perfect for cold Fall or winter evenings when all you want to do is cuddle up on the couch with a warm and satisfying bowl of chili in one hand and sweet cornbread in the other one. Do you agree? That’s what I thought! So here are 3 healthy chili recipes that go amazingly well with the sweet cornbread.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHILI

If you don’t know How To Make Homemade Chili, I have all the tips for you. Plus a healthy and delicious recipe. And don’t worry, chili has complex flavors but it’s actually very easy to make.

An overhead image of a bowl of Homemade Chili made with ground beef, pinto beans, green and red bell peppers, canned diced tomatoes, black olives, yellow onion, garlic, olive oil and tomato sauce, garnished with grated cheddar cheese, green onions and greek yogurt.

This hearty homemade chili is full of meat, veggies, and beans deliciousness, it makes a great weeknight dinner, you can prep it ahead, and is only 235 calories. Plus it’s amazing with sweet cornbread. Get the recipe.

TEXAS CHILI RECIPE

Whether you’re a Texan or not, Texas Chili is a dish you should definitely try. Texas chili is not made with beans like other chilies. But it contains other yummy ingredients such as ground beef, onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, hot sauce, and chili powder.

Horizontal image of a singular bowl of a Texas chili recipe which is used to celebrate Texas Independence Day.

This spicy Texas chili will definitely warm up your days. It has enough heat to do it. But it will also make your taste buds super happy because it’s filled with chili goodness. Get the recipe.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH POT CHILI

Another hearty and totes delicious chili is this Butternut Squash Instant Pot Chili. Vegan, gluten-free, and paleo friendly, this chili is ready in only 20 minutes. Hooray for instant pots, right?

Bowl of butternut squash instant pot chili, where you can see the cooked, diced butternut squash, cooked black beans, tomatoes, and it is topped with fresh avocado, lime wedge, jalapeno, and cilantro.

However, if you don’t have an instant pot, the good news is you can convert this Instant Pot chili recipe into a slow cooker recipe. Tips for how to do it in the post. Get the recipe.

Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe | This Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe makes a moist, fluffy and healthy sweet cornbread that can be enjoyed for dinner with a homemade chili | A Sweet Pea Chef

Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe

Lacey Baier
This easy cornbread recipe makes a healthy, moist, and fluffy sweet cornbread that is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Plus get my best tips for how to store cornbread, how to freeze cornbread, how to reheat cornbread, and what to do with leftover cornbread.
4.67 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 8 minutes mins
Cook Time 16 minutes mins
Total Time 24 minutes mins
Course Bread, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 16 squares
Calories 109 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • Square Baking Dish 8x8

*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup corn, thawed or fresh
  • 1 cup spelt flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅓ raw honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted and cooled, plus more to grease baking dish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Grease and square baking dish and set aside.
  • Mash corn using potato masher and set aside.
  • Combine dry ingredients (spelt flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and sea salt) in a large mixing bowl.
  • In a separate, smaller mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients (egg, honey, almond milk, coconut oil and corn).
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Try not to over-mix.
  • Add to the prepared pan and smooth out evenly.
  • Bake 16-18 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick or knife to the center of the cornbread comes out clean.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 squareCalories: 109 kcalCarbohydrates: 14 gProtein: 2 gFat: 4 gSaturated Fat: 3 gCholesterol: 10 mgSodium: 170 mgPotassium: 125 mgFiber: 2 gVitamin A: 30 IUVitamin C: 0.2 mgCalcium: 54 mgIron: 0.8 mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @asweetpeachef on Instagram so we can check it out.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

« Healthy Homemade Chili
Cooking 101: Proper Knife Care »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.67 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Valerie

    January 12, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    OMG! Doubled the recipe because I have a bunch of big boy kids eating my chili tonight and wanted enough cornbread. Not a big cornbread person until today. Just had some honey butter on the piece I served myself and it was wonderful. Still haven't called my boys to dinner, but my daughter says she loves it. Guess I better let everyone else know dinner is served. lol

    Reply
  2. Gabby

    October 04, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    What a great find! I was looking for an amazing sweet cornbread recipe to replace the one I lost and stumbled on this one, which is JUST as great! I make this as often as I can, its so tasty!

    Reply
  3. Gail

    January 30, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    OMG.....this recipe was soooo easy and sooooo delicious. I am from South Africa so the only cornbread that I could make was from the box. Never again! My mom hates anything that comes from a can or a box so since I am going home next week, I am going to surprise her with this recipe. Corn is a huge favorite in our house! THANK YOU LACEY, you have just made me look really good! I stumbled on this recipe and am so glad I did! IT'S AMAZING!! THANK YOU!!!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      February 02, 2013 at 8:40 pm

      Hi Gail!! You're so very welcome 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lowlow

    November 11, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    What could I substite for the milk? My son is alergic to milk????

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      November 11, 2012 at 8:24 pm

      You could try plain soy milk or rice milk instead of dairy. Good luck!!

      Reply
  5. Heather

    January 12, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    Best. Cornbread. In. The. History. Of. The. World.

    Oh my goodness. I made this the other day, and my husband DEVOURED it. Literally ate half the pan in one sitting.

    This is amazing and I bow down to you for making this.

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      January 13, 2012 at 3:12 pm

      Haha! Thank you so much for the very kind review, Heather. You just made my day.

      And made me want ti make some cornbread, too! 😉

      Reply
  6. Anina

    January 10, 2012 at 9:03 am

    Perfect recipe, I am very particular about my cornbread too, apparently in the same ways as you are!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      January 13, 2012 at 2:44 pm

      😉

      Reply
  7. Chris

    December 20, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    I just made this recipe, and I too found it fantastic. Nothing I would change! Thanks for posting, I'm adding it to my 'menu'!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      December 28, 2011 at 2:33 pm

      Hooray!! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jules

    December 12, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    How cool to make my own cornbread - never going to buy store bought again! And who knew the secret recipe was creamed corn?! You're the best Lacey, thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      December 20, 2011 at 3:05 pm

      Oh, you flatter me, Jules 😉

      Reply
  9. tammy

    November 17, 2011 at 11:43 am

    Do you self rising cornmeal?

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      November 17, 2011 at 8:47 pm

      No, Tammy, I use regular ol' cornmeal

      Reply
  10. the wicked noodle

    July 21, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Corn is my absolute favorite vegetable, and right now since it's summer I just can't get enough. Love the recipe, thanks!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      July 21, 2011 at 1:22 pm

      You are so very welcome! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  11. Marcus

    May 02, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I saw this recipe last night and decided to try it for myself today. I grew up in Texas, so I've had my fair share of cornbread, but have never made it. Well, this was delicious! I just had two slices of it for lunch with some hot sauce. Uh...is that bad?

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      May 02, 2011 at 10:43 pm

      No, it's not bad at all, Marcus! 😉 It actually sounds quite tasty. I've never tried it with hot sauce -- will do next time I make it 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  12. Katherine

    February 24, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    Hi Lacey!
    I made your cornbread to go along with some soup I made last night. It was all that and a box of chocolates! It was easy, moist, slightly sweet, and did I mention it was also easy? I like easy. Every year for our family halloween party we make homemade chili and just pair it with prepackaged mixed cornbread. This is now on our family recipe list and why wait for Halloween, right? Thanks, it was perfect!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      February 24, 2011 at 9:26 pm

      I like easy, too! So glad you enjoyed it, Katherine. We love it 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jason

    February 15, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Looking good. You can't beat a home made cornbread. I can smell it already.

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      February 15, 2011 at 10:35 pm

      And it smells soooo good! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Jason!

      Reply
  14. D M Bertnick

    February 09, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    I agree with NanaBread... Lacey, you have a way with words and capturing images of your recipes that makes me feel so Pavlovian!!! If I keep reading your BLOG, I'm going to have to get a cover for my keyboard to keep the drool out.

    Historically, I only eat cornbread once a year for the very reasons you describe - but I keep trying and hoping for something I can really sink my teeth into! THIS recipe just went on my to-do list for the week. David

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      February 09, 2011 at 1:58 pm

      Thanks, David! I hope you find this cornbread recipe to be worth more than the yearly attempt!

      Reply
  15. NanaBread

    February 09, 2011 at 10:21 am

    Way to play to my southern heartstrings, Lacey. I'm making soup later, and I think this will be the perfect side. Thanks for sharing it.
    PS - is it wrong to want to lick your computer screen?

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      February 09, 2011 at 10:30 am

      Ooh, cornbread and soup sounds fantastic, Jeanne. Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
Newer Comments »

Primary Sidebar

Lacey Baier Weight Loss Coach drinking a smoothie and smiling

HEY THERE!

I'm Lacey! Nice to meet you 🙂

I’m a Cleanish Lifestyle Coach, YouTuber, and Blogger. I live in Austin, TX with my husband, 4 kids, and 2 mini Aussies. I'm here to help you transform your life through delicious clean eating recipes and science-backed knowledge!

Learn more →

newsletter image that promotes the cleanish square a newsletter focused on eating healthy and making good choices

New Year, New You!

  • peaches in a bowl
    How to Freeze Peaches (For Smoothies!)
  • Top 14 Healthy Soda Swaps written in text with healthy homemade soda in the background of various colors.
    Top 14 Healthy Soda Alternatives
  • lacey holding up an iced caffe americano to demonstrate a healthy starbucks drink
    Top 10 Healthiest Starbucks Drinks (Hot and Cold) + How To Order Healthy At Starbucks!
  • Do Vitamins Break Your Fast? AVOID These 6 Supplements That Are Breaking Your Fast
  • Do ACV Gummies Work?
    Do ACV Gummies Work?
  • Lacey before and after thumbnail
    4 Tips From a Weight Loss Coach (Who's Actually Been There)

Popular Recipes

  • high protein fruit smoothies all lined up in a row
    5 High Protein Fruit Smoothie Recipes
  • Top down photo of 7 day meal prep
    7-Day Meal Prep For Weight Loss
  • meal prep for inflammation
    5-Day Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Plan
  • Banana Protein shake
    Banana Protein Shake
  • side view of healthy creamers in a row
    How to Make Coffee Creamer + 5 Easy Coffee Creamers
  • top down view of slow cooker chicken meal prep
    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

Most Popular

  • 130+ Meal Prep Ideas
  • 25+ Protein Smoothie Ideas
  • How To Meal Prep
  • Ultimate Guide to Meal Prep Containers
  • Benefits Apple Cider Vinegar
  • How To Quit Sugar
  • Ultimate Smoothie Guide
  • Meal Prep For Weight Loss
Cleanish Protein Ad
Lacey Baier Cook Book Waiting List

Footer

↑ back to top

Sweet Pea Chef

  • Subscribe
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Shop

Recipes

  • Paleo Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Keto Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Soup Recipes
  • Videos

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2024 Cleanish LLC

Privacy Policy Terms Editorial Policy

Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe | This Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe makes a moist, fluffy and healthy sweet cornbread that can be enjoyed for dinner with a homemade chili | A Sweet Pea Chef
  • 264

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.