Healthy Cornbread Recipe (2024)

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This healthy cornbread recipe lightly sweetened with honey is moist yet light and fluffy texture. Plus, it’s better for you because it’s made without refined flour or sugar. Perfect chili pairing or holiday side dish!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (1)

I don’t know about y’all, but I freaking LOVE cornbread.

It’s 100% my favorite Thanksgiving side dish or any holiday side dish. I can’t wait to eat this cornbread as part of my gluten-free cornbread stuffing recipe this year. It’s going to be so much better than using cornbread from a box!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (2)

I’ve been working on this recipe for years now, and I’m so excited that I finally made a healthy cornbread recipe that tastes DELICIOUS! Why was it so hard to come up with one?

Well, friend, since you asked…

The key ingredient I wanted to use in this recipe was whole-grain cornmeal. Like other whole-grains, whole-grain cornmeal has the nutritious outer layer of the corn kernel intact before being ground into a meal. In contrast, de-germinated cornmeal is more like a refined white flour where the husk (along with all the vitamins, fiber, and protein) is removed.

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (3)

Although it’s better for you, it can be a little tricky to work with because it’s more likely to crumble. So, you have to combine it with another flour to help bind everything together.

In the past, I’ve tried whole wheat four, but no matter what recipe I followed or tried to create, it always came out too dry and crumbly. But THIS time, I chose to use almond flour and eureka!!!!

Light, fluffy cornbread that’s not too crumbly, perfect for dipping in chili!

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The other change I decided to make was to OMIT buttermilk in favor of using the cream of tartar. It’s just that I don’t often have buttermilk in my house, and I wanted a recipe I could make any time the craving for this yellow wonderbread hits.

I nailed that because as long as you have the whole-grain cornmeal, you will probably have all the rest of the ingredients.

How to Make Healthy Cornbread

Here is a quick rundown of how to make this fabulous healthy cornbread recipe!

Preheat your oven then, combine all your dry ingredients (whole-grain cornmeal, almond flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, salt) in a large bowl.

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Then add in your wet ingredients and whisk until just smooth. This is a quick bread, so do not overmix, or you will see a ton of tunneling and uneven rising!

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You’ll want to be quick about getting the quickbread into the pan and the oven. The combo of baking powder, soda, and cream of tartar will cause it to start to bubble if you wait more than a minute to get it into the oven. This is fine, it’s normal, but the sooner it goes in the oven, the better.

Then, wait 25-35 minutes and BING! Delicious healthy cornbread with no refined flour or sugar!

Ingredient Swaps:

I often get asked about ingredient swaps in recipes, so here is what you need to know:

Whole-Grain Cornmeal: To make cornbread, you must have cornmeal. What if you only have de-germinated (refined) cornmeal? Yes, this recipe will work, but it won’t be refined flour free. Do not omit or swap entirely, or it won’t be cornbread anymore. (Yes, you’d be surprised, someone will ask that! Insert crying laughing emoji.)

Almond Flour: Almond flour is unique in its macronutrient breakdown (fat/protein/carbs) and therefore is not substitutable with any other flour. I would not recommend substituting or omitting it.Do not substitute almond meal for almond flour. The result will be dry and crumbly if you do. (If this is your first time buying almond flour, click here to see all the other things you can do with it.)

Baking Powder:Do not omit.

Baking Soda: Do not omit.

Cream of Tartar: Optional gives the bread it’s unique “cornbread flavor,” so if you omit it, please understand that you might not have the traditional “cornbread taste.”

Salt: You can choose to omit the salt, but the bread may taste a whole lot sweeter. Salt kind of balances out the sweetness.

Eggs: I have not tried vegan egg substitutes, but if you do, please let us know! I think flax eggs would work just fine!

Butter: You need oil to get the traditional texture of cornbread. I used 100% grass-fed butter, but you could also use coconut oil (will give a coconut taste) or vegan butter (my favorite is Miyokos.)

Honey: Do not omit; this works as both a binder and a sweetener. For vegan, please sub brown rice syrup.

Milk: I have not tried anything other than almond milk, but any dairy or non-diary milk should work. If you chose to omit the cream of tartar, you could try buttermilk here. I haven’t tried it, though!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (7)

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (8)

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4.05 from 43 votes

Healthy Cornbread Recipe

Healthy cornbread lightly sweetened with #honey is moist yet light and fluffy texture. Plus, it's better for you because it's made without refined flour or sugar. Perfect chili pairing or holiday side dish.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Course: Breads, Breakfast, Side Dish, Side Dishes, Sides

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cornbread, dairy-free cornbread, gluten-free cornbread, healthy cornbread, healthy cornbread recipe

Servings: 16 servings

Calories: 212kcal

Author: Kelli Shallal MPH RD

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F and grease an 8 x 8 baking dish with butter (or butter sub.)

  • Combine dry ingredients (whole-grain cornmeal, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt).

  • In another bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, milk, and honey, whisk until there is a smooth consistency.

  • Add in eggs, honey, milk, and butter into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, DO NOT OVERMIX.

  • Immediately pour the mixture into a baking dish and place in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and edges of cornbread are golden brown.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 173mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 216IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg

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Healthy Cornbread Recipe (9)

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can corn bread be healthy? ›

Additionally, cornbread contains several B vitamins, including thiamine, niacin, folate, and riboflavin. All of these nutrients play key roles in brain function, protein synthesis, and immune health ( 6 , 7 ).

What is a good substitute for milk in cornbread? ›

Water: The simplest substitute for milk in cornbread is water. You can use water as a 1:1 replacement for milk in your Jiffy cornbread recipe [3].

Which is healthier, cornbread or biscuits? ›

All things being equal and without specific nutrition information, we might give the edge in healthfulness to cornbread, because of corn being a whole grain. Additionally, because both biscuits and cornbread tend to be rich, keep portion size in mind: have only one or even half, and don't top with added butter!

What is a substitute for baking powder in cornbread? ›

If baking powder is unavailable, the following substitutes may be appropriate for your recipe: buttermilk, plain yogurt, molasses, cream of tartar, sour milk, vinegar, lemon juice, club soda, self-rising flour, or whipped egg whites.

Can you eat cornbread while losing weight? ›

Cornmeal, the primary component of cornbread, is a whole grain. Whole-grain meals supply essential fibre to the diet. Even though cornbread has a good amount of fibre, it is still not recommended for weight loss due to its high carbohydrate content. However, it will not raise your weight if consumed in moderation.

Is homemade cornbread healthy? ›

Cornbread can be a healthy choice as it provides some nutrients, such as fiber and protein. However, it's also high in calories and carbohydrates, and it may be high in fat and sugar depending on the recipe and ingredients used.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk for cornbread? ›

Sour Cream can be substituted for milk in cornbread but will need to be thinned. I recommend using 75% sour cream and 25% water. Sour Cream will also change the taste of the cornbread and will add a slight tangy flavor which can be counteracted by using a small amount of vanilla extract.

What can I use to make Jiffy cornbread if I don t have milk? ›

You can just use water instead which is what most cornbread mixes ask for in the first. I've used both before and it normally turns out good either way. If you don't want to use water though some other milk substitutes are usually other dairy products like yogurt, sour cream, or half and half.

Can you use almond milk instead of milk in cornbread? ›

Almond milk – For moisture. If you don't keep almond milk on hand, feel free to substitute a different type of milk. My homemade oat milk or regular cow's milk would work here too. An egg – It adds richness and helps the cornbread puff up in the oven.

Can I eat cornbread everyday? ›

Pros and Cons of Including Cornbread in Your Diet

While cornbread is a good energy source and offers plenty of health benefits from vitamins, minerals, and a small amount of protein, along with small amounts of essential amino acids, there are a few reasons you may want to limit the amount of cornbread you eat.

Is it good to eat cornbread everyday? ›

Yes! Cornbread is a nutritious, whole-grain food that can offer various health benefits. It can be a delicious way to improve your overall health. Eating cornbread offers benefits from reducing the risk of heart disease to promoting digestive health.

Why am I craving cornbread? ›

Skipping meals or not eating a well-balanced diet can lead to imbalances in our blood sugar levels, which can trigger cravings for sugary or starchy foods, like corn. Eating regular, balanced meals can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce cravings.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for cornbread? ›

Skillet cornbreads are meant to be denser and flatter than those baked in square or loaf pans. For that reason, they don't generally require baking powder or white flour, relying instead on a small amount of baking soda to keep the bread from being pancake-thin.

What happens if you use baking soda instead of baking powder in cornbread? ›

If you accidentally add baking soda instead of baking powder to a recipe, it can affect the taste and texture of the final product because the two ingredients have different functions in baking.

Why use baking soda in cornbread? ›

Salt: To enhance the flavors. Baking powder & baking soda: To help the bread rise. Eggs: Needed for moisture and structure. Milk: Whole buttermilk is best for this recipe.

Is cornbread better for you than wheat bread? ›

Corn bread contains carbohydrates and provides vitamins A, C, and E, as well as B-complex vitamins. It has double the amount of polyunsaturated fats (the good kind) than wheat or barley, although not as much as oat bread.

Which is healthier rice or corn bread? ›

Corn is a great source of potassium, which is said to help lower blood pressure, and it's a better source of antioxidants than wheat, rice or oats. It's especially high in carotenoids, the antioxidants that help keep your eyes healthy. And naturally, corn is high in fibre. Time to dig up that cornbread recipe!

How healthy is cornmeal? ›

Cornmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber and is fortified with a micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, and D3 per USDA Commodity Requirements.

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