Craig Claiborne's Southern Cornbread

Craig Claiborne's Southern Cornbread is a timeless, golden masterpiece that captures the essence of Southern cooking. Made with a perfect blend of yellow cornmeal, buttermilk, and a touch of flour, this cornbread boasts a delightful contrast between its tender, fluffy interior and the irresistible crispy crust created by baking in a hot cast iron skillet. The addition of melted butter and a choice of bacon drippings or vegetable oil imbue the bread with rich, savory flavors. With just 10 minutes of prep time and a quick bake, this easy-to-make recipe is a versatile side dish that pairs beautifully with hearty chilis, barbecue, or a drizzle of sweet honey. For anyone seeking authentic Southern comfort food, this cornbread is a must-try classic!

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups Yellow cornmeal
• 0.5 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon Baking powder
• 0.25 teaspoons Baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 2 cups Buttermilk
• 2 large Eggs
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil or bacon drippings

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a 9-inch cast iron skillet in the oven to heat while you prepare the batter.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 3

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter until well combined.

Step 4

Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix; the batter should be slightly lumpy.

Step 5

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven using oven mitts and add the vegetable oil or bacon drippings to the skillet. Swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides of the skillet.

Step 6

Pour the batter into the prepared skillet, spreading it into an even layer. The batter should sizzle as it hits the hot skillet, which will help create a crispy crust.

Step 7

Place the skillet back in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 8

Remove the skillet from the oven and let the cornbread cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm with butter, honey, or your favorite accompaniment.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(979.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2164.4

Total Fat 109.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 46.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0g
Cholesterol 549.7mg	0%
Sodium 4696.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 255.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.1g	0%
Total Sugars 25.7g
Protein 51.1g	0%

Vitamin D 335.8IU	0%
Calcium 641.9mg	0%
Iron 10.8mg	0%
Potassium 1192.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.6%

Protein: 9.2%

Carbs: 46.2%