Crispy homemade cornbread topped with an incredible maple butter an easy sweet and savory cornbread. A Thanksgiving side dish that everyone will love! Simple to make, it’s on the table in just 30 minutes!

A piece of homemade cornbread on a white plate with a fork
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Every now and then, I just love a piece of cornbread. Last weekend we visited one of our favorite lake destinations, Big Cedar Lodge, for lunch. We wandered the property decorated for fall enjoying the views and the leaves blowing in the gentle breeze.

By the time we ordered lunch, I was getting a little hangry and my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I talked Chris into ordering a couple things with me so that we could share. We enjoyed homemade cornbread with maple butter until the last crumble, leaving the cheeseburger behind.

I am an extremely picky cornbread eater – it has to be just perfect. Slightly crunchy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside and loaded with butter. But this, well, this was better.

While I traditionally love cornbread with Honey Butter, this is a delicious twist you can’t resist!

Homemade Cornbread Ingredients

  • Cornmeal
  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Whole Milk
  • Buttermilk
  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Bacon
  • Green Onion
  • Maple Syrup

How To Make The Best Sweet and Savory Cornbread

  1. Prep – Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Warm a casserole dish or cast iron skillet in the oven while preparing the batter.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients – Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients – Blend in milk, buttermilk, eggs and butter.
  4. Remove Dish – Remove hot dish from oven and coat with butter. Reduce oven to 375 degrees.
  5. Fill + Bake – Pour batter into the skillet and bake 23 minutes. Broil 1 minute for an extra crispy top!
  6. Make Topping – In a skillet over medium heat, lightly cook bacon. Add fresh cracked pepper, maple syrup, and 8 Tbsp butter and pour over warm cornbread and garnish with green onion {so delicious!} to serve warm.

What To Serve With Homemade Cornbread

Can you ever have too many options when it comes to Thanksgiving sides? Serve this alongside all of your favorites!

Close up of the maple topping on the bread

Homemade Cornbread With Maple Topping

There is something different about this homemade cornbread – it’s maple butter topping! Poured over the hot bread, the maple butter seeped into the bread giving it an incredibly sweet and savory flavor that I have never experienced before.

You can make this cornbread with maple butter like you do poke breads to encourage the butter to melt into the bread. It’s made in a cast iron skillet cornbread recipe and broiled for a minute at the end to get the crispy cornbread crust I’ve come to love!

As I mentioned before, I first tried this cornbread during a casual lunch. That means this dish by no means needs to be confined to just one holiday. You can make it for any occasion, and it will always be a crowd pleaser.

You can also cut the recipe in half and it makes for the perfect weeknight side dish. I love pairing this with my 10-minute easy chili on cold nights because there’s nothing better than a hot bowl of chili and some cornbread to warm you up. Cap the night off with a warm cup of Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider by the fire, and you’ll have yourself the perfect night in.

homemade cornbread recipe with maple butter topping on a white plate

Sweet, meets savory in the delicious cornbread recipe, and it’s simply to die for! Once you make it, you’ll never want to make cornbread any other way. I can’t wait to be able to pass this recipe down to my girls as they get older, and I hope you do the same.

Make Ahead

If you are planning a big feast on Thanksgiving, you can make this cornbread ahead of time. Bake the cake, don’t pour the topping over, and cover with foil. You can then gently reheat it in the oven and pour the sweet topping over the top before serving.

Tips

  • Broil the cornbread after baking it for an extra crispy top.
  • Use a high quality maple syrup for the richest taste.
  • Bake the bread in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
  • Serve warm to the table.
Cornbread in a casserole dish with a spoon

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homemade cornbread recipe with maple butter
5 from 1 vote

Homemade Cornbread with Maple Butter

Crispy homemade cornbread topped with an incredible maple butter an easy sweet and savory cornbread Thanksgiving side dish that everyone will love!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 23 minutes
Total: 33 minutes
Servings: 12
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Ingredients  

  • 1 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 tablespoon butter melted
  • 3 thick slices of bacon
  • green onion
  • black pepper
  • 1/8 cup maple syrup
  • 8 tablespoon butter melted

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Warm a casserole dish or cast iron skillet in the oven while preparing the batter.
  • Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend in milk, buttermilk, eggs and 7 Tbsp butter.
  • Remove hot dish from oven and coat with 1 Tbsp butter. Reduce oven to 375 degrees.
  • Pour batter into the skillet and bake 23 minutes. Broil 1 minute for an extra crispy top!
  • In a skillet over medium heat, lightly cook bacon. Add fresh cracked pepper, maple syrup, and 8 Tbsp butter and pour over warm cornbread and garnish with green onion {so delicious!} to serve warm.

Julie’s Tips

 If you half the recipe it’s the perfect amount to make for family dinner night. 
Broil the cornbread after baking it for an extra crispy top.
Use a high quality maple syrup for the richest taste.
Bake the bread in a pre-heated oven for the best results.Serve warm to the table.
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 454mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 567IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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11 Comments

  1. I love your blog,I’m doing the cornbread today. I have a new email address and canceling my old one how can I add my new?

    Thanks,Susan

  2. Mmmm, the maple butter sounds delectable!! If you like your cornbread crunchy heating your iron skillet in the oven with oil first is the way to go!! Haha, says the southern girl. 😉

    1. That works great as well – I wanted to offer an option for those who don’t own a cast iron skillet and my ceramic does just as well with butter in the oven. Crunchy cornbread is the best, isn’t it?