Cornbread Without Buttermilk: Easy & Moist

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Cornbread without buttermilk is one of the BEST side dishes you can make. It's easy, moist, tender, and made with pantry staple ingredients. Ready in under 30 minutes, this lightly sweet, dairy free cornbread is a great side for holidays but easy enough for weeknights.

cornbread without buttermilk cut into slices with butter in cast iron pan.

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THE BEST CORNBREAD RECIPE WITHOUT BUTTERMILK
IS BUTTERMILK NECESSARY FOR CORNBREAD?
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CORNBREAD WITHOUT BUTTERMILK
WHAT IS THE BEST CORNMEAL TO USE?
HOW TO MAKE CORNBREAD WITHOUT BUTTERMILK
HOW TO BAKE IT IN A GLASS BAKING DISH
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
STORING NO BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD
EXPERT TIPS
FAQs
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS
Did you make this recipe?
Cornbread Without Buttermilk
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THE BEST CORNBREAD RECIPE WITHOUT BUTTERMILK

I'm planning on moving down south soon, so I KNOW that I need to up my cornbread game. However, I don't typically have buttermilk on hand but I still wanted to see if I could make a recipe that rivals true southern cornbread while keeping it easy, simple, and a (tiny) bit healthier.

I am happy to say that I accomplished my task. Even my dad who doesn't typically like cornbread had a couple of pieces and my mom even said that is was better than Cracker Barrel's. Both of which I'm going to take a a good sign.

I truly believe that this is the best cornbread recipe you can make without having buttermilk. It's moist and tender, with a light fluffy crumb that pairs so well with 4 Ingredient potato soup or chilis.

While it may not be your grandmother's recipe, it sure to hit the spot when you're aching for some cornbread but don't have buttermilk in the fridge.

IS BUTTERMILK NECESSARY FOR CORNBREAD?

No it is not! You can definitely bake up a moist, tender batch of southern cornbread without it. I actually use a non-dairy almond milk in my recipe to keep it dairy free.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CORNBREAD WITHOUT BUTTERMILK

ingredients for cornbread without buttermilk labeled with black text.

Kitchen Tools:

Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
Rubber spatula
8 inch cast iron pan

Ingredients:

Flour: You'll need a good quality all purpose flour to help form the structure of the cornbread. I like using King Arthur of Gold Medal brands
Cornmeal: As cornmeal is another main ingredient and flavoring agent, you'll want to use a good quality brand like Bob's Red Mill
Honey: I prefer my cornbread to have a bit of sweetness to it so I add a small amount of honey
Egg: An egg acts as the binding agent in this easy cornbread recipe. For best results, use a room temperature egg
Almond Milk: I used almond milk to replace the buttermilk and keep mine dairy free. Just like the egg, it's best if you use it room temperature
Avocado Oil: While most homemade cornbread is made with melted butter, I used avocado as a healthier replacement and to continue keeping this recipe dairy free
Baking Powder: Baking powder is the leavening agent and helps the bread to rise and become moist and fluffy rather than dry and dense
Salt: The salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor profile

Substitutions:

Honey: Use brown sugar or maple syrup in its place
Almond milk: Any non-dairy milk, such as oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk with also work. If you're not dairy free, feel free to substitute with whole milk
Avocado oil: Any neutral oil will work as a replacement as well as olive oil or melted coconut oil

WHAT IS THE BEST CORNMEAL TO USE?

I've found that the best cornmeal for cornbread is a fine or medium ground variety. It has a smooth texture that blends well with the flour and will result in a moist, tender cornbread. The best brands are Bob's Red Mill for a medium grind and Anson Mills for a fine grind.

I also prefer to use yellow cornmeal over white because it will give you a prettier color, and after all, we eat with our eyes first!

HOW TO MAKE CORNBREAD WITHOUT BUTTERMILK

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and place an 8 inch cast iron pan into the oven while it is preheating
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt
In a separate smaller mixing bowl whisk together the wet ingredients, almond milk, egg, honey, and avocado oil
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to gently fold everything together until there are no traces of flour
CAREFULLY pull the hot cast iron pan out of the oven and spray it lightly with non-stick cooking spray
Pour the homemade cornbread batter into the hot cast iron pan and use the rubber spatula to quickly spread it into an even layer
Place the entire pan back into the hot oven and bake for 23-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
Again, carefully pull the baked cornbread out of the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into it

flour and cornmeal whisked in a glass bowl. — **Whisk together dry ingredients**

milk and oil whisked in a glass measuring cup. — **Whisk together wet ingredients**

dairy free cornbread batter in black cast iron pan. — **Mix wet and dry ingredients together and pour into a hot cast iron pan**

no buttermilk southern cornbread baked in cast iron pan. — **Bake at 350 F for 23-25 minutes**

HOW TO BAKE IT IN A GLASS BAKING DISH

If you don't have an 8 inch cast iron skillet you can also bake it in an 8x8 inch glass baking dish. Here's how:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
Make the cornbread batter as directed above
Use a rubber spatula to scrape the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer
Bake at 350 degrees F for 19-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
Carefully pull the dish out of the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before cutting into it

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

While cornbread is a popular dish on your holiday table, it's also extremely versatile and can make a yummy side for all sorts of entrees. Here's a few ideas:

STORING NO BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD

Store any leftover cornbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.

three slices on dairy free cornbread in cast iron pan.

EXPERT TIPS

Be sure to preheat your cast iron skillet
Use quality ingredients for best results
Fine/ medium grind cornmeal is the best to use
Don't overmix the batter
In order to keep it as moist as can be once baked, it's best to cut slices as needed instead of pre-slicing the entire pan.

FAQs

Can I freeze homemade cornbread?

Yes, let it cool completely then slice. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil, and finally place the pieces into a freezer safe bag. It will stay good frozen for up to three months.

Am I able to make these into muffins?

You most definitely can! Grease your muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and fill the cups ⅔ of the way full. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Why is my no buttermilk cornbread so crumbly?

If it's too crumbly then chances are you measured your flour wrong. You do not want to pack the flour into the measuring cup, the best way to measure it is to use a spoon to scoop it into the measuring cup and shake off any excess once your cup is filled.

Why is it so dense?

Again, your flour might have been measured wrongly or your baking powder may have been expired. Too much flour would lead to a dry, dense cornbread, and expired baking powder won't rise which will also lead to a dense bread.

Can I make this recipe gluten free?

You can try substituting the all purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten free flour brand, but I have not tested it and cannot guarantee results.

What's the difference between Southern cornbread and Northern?

There's a lot of debate about the differences between Southern and Northern cornbread, but after researching here's what I concluded.
Southern cornbread is cakier in texture due to the use of more eggs, can be made with white or yellow cornmeal, and is a bit more buttery as well.
Northern cornbread, on the other hand, isn't as sweet and is made with fewer eggs which gives it a more crumbly texture.

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS

While cornbread without buttermilk is delicious plain, it's even better with fun mix-ins! Here's some ideas for you to try:

Caramelized onions
Chopped jalapenos
Bacon bits
Cheddar cheese
Minced garlic

cast iron pan of southern cornbread without buttermilk topped with pats of butter.

Did you make this recipe?

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