Cast Iron Cornbread Southern Recipe

Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread is a southern classic. This buttermilk skillet cornbread is a quick and easy recipe to make and it tastes delicious. I love this recipe because it is so simple to prepare and can be served with any dish. It is a southern classic that everyone should try at least once.

I find this recipe tastes better when cooked in a cast iron skillet and served hot at the table. Besides serving this recipe for brunch, lunch, and dinner, I have also served it for breakfast.

Southern Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

Serving Size:

2 ounces

Time:

1 hour

Difficulty:

Easy

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups coarsely ground cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup whole milk
1 cup buttermilk (Can be substituted with the equivalent of regular milk, if buttermilk is not available)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted to be added to recipe ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for greasing skillet

Directions

Place a 9-inch cast iron skillet inside the oven and preheat to 400℉.
In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients.
Remove the hot skillet from the oven. Liberally coat the bottom and sides of the hot skillet with the remaining butter. This is the key to crispy edges!
Pour the batter into the skillet and place it back in the oven. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until the center is firm using the toothpick or butter knife test.
Allow to cool for 15 minutes and serve.

Why cook cornbread in a cast iron skillet?

Cornbread is traditionally made on a heavy cast iron skillet, and that’s exactly how I make mine. Because cast iron skillets get very hot and retain heat extremely well, you’ll get a wonderful golden brown crispy crust. There is no doubt that this is the best part of cornbread!

Does cornbread have to be cooked in cast iron?

Cornbread gets its crispy, buttery crust when it is poured into a hot skillet. By retaining heat, cast iron produces a dark, golden crust and crisp edges while baking. In the event that you do not have a cast iron skillet, you can use an ovenproof skillet, baking dish, or even a pie dish.

Do you grease the cast iron pan for cornbread?

Yes. To make the perfect cast iron skillet cornbread recipe, first, preheat your oven to
400 degrees and place the skillet inside. After the oven has reached the desired temperature, remove the skillet from the oven, and liberally apply unsalted butter to the sides and bottom. You can also substitute greasing the skillet with butter, by using bacon fat or oil. Finally, add the cornbread mixture to the skillet and return it to the oven for 20 – 25 minutes.

What is the difference between Northern cornbread and Southern cornbread?

Cornbread made in the northern part of the country isn’t very sweet and has a crumbly texture created by using fewer eggs and yellow cornmeal. White or yellow cornmeal can be used to make Southern-style cornbread, which is buttery and has a cake-like texture due to the use of additional eggs.