This really is the best cornbread on the planet. It’s been my go-to tried-and-true recipe for over a decade. Fluffy, moist, PERFECT!

Sometimes a recipe comes along that changes your life forever. 

Dramatic? Not at all. Especially when it comes to this cornbread. It is honestly, truly the best cornbread on the planet. 

I am guilty of claiming to have found “the best” recipe and then inevitably find myself still trying other versions. Chocolate chip cookies, I’m looking at you. 

Piece of cornbread sliced in half with fluffy honey butter.

But when it comes to this cornbread, it has been my go-to recipe for over a decade.

Once I tried it, I knew it was the one. And I have never had a desire to make or try another cornbread recipe again. 

If you’ve made it, you know what I mean. 

Piece of cornbread on the side of the bowl of chili.

It is fluffy, moist, and super easy. 

Now, I know when it comes to cornbread, there are southern cornbread fans (sweet and cake-like) and northern cornbread fans (not sweet and crumbly). I like my cornbread fluffy, thick and sweet. 

Pan of cornbread with piece cut out.

Cornbread batter

This is a one-bowl cornbread batter. It comes really fast. 

The batter is simple: 

  • cornmeal (I use yellow cornmeal)
  • flour (all-purpose or a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat)
  • sugar (the amount in the recipe can easily be halved for a less sweet, but still delicious, cornbread)
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • wet ingredients: oil, melted butter, eggs, and milk
Step-by-step mixing up the batter for the best cornbread on the planet.

The batter is runny. And it’s ok if there are a few lumps here and there. 

It bakes up super fluffy and soft.

Baked pan of the best cornbread on the planet.

Fluffy Honey Butter

Now, let’s talk about this honey butter for a sec. Is it mandatory for this best-ever cornbread. 

Nope. I make the cornbread all the time without making the honey butter. But when I do make the honey butter, it is a combo that can’t be beat. 

There’s nothing quite like it. 

Mixing up ingredients for fluffy honey butter in glass bowl.

The honey butter is three simple ingredients: butter, honey, and marshmallow fluff. You can add a bit of vanilla, too, if you like. 

Sure, you can omit the marshmallow fluff and just go with honey and butter, but the marshmallow adds a light and fluffy texture that can’t be beat. 

Fluffy honey butter in a wood bowl.

Delicious served with everything from chili to tacos, here are a few other comments from people who have fallen in love with this cornbread:

Samantha says: I’ve been meaning to write a review for this recipe for awhile now. It is fantastic! Everything I’ve ever wanted cornbread to be! 

Maggie says: Fantastic. Over the past few years I’ve tried every cornbread recipe I could get my hands on had given up making it from scratch. It’s my new fav recipe.

Devanie writes: I loved this recipe. It came out perfectly moist and the texture was great. And so delicious. This is the only recipe I will use going forward. Thanks for sharing!

There are hundred more comments and reviews below (including readers who have made this recipe dairy and gluten-free).

Spreading fluffy honey butter on piece of best cornbread on the planet.

So go ahead. Make the cornbread. Make the honey butter. Or JUST make the cornbread. 

Either way, this cornbread is life changing. It has become a staple and a tried-and-true favorite. 

While I may play around with a million other recipes for a million other things, this is the only cornbread I’ll ever need. It’s the best of the best of the best.

Piece of cornbread out of pan on spatula.

FAQs for The Best Cornbread and Fluffy Honey Butter

How can I make these into muffins?

You can make these into muffins by using the same temperature and check at around 17-18 minutes.

Can I use buttermilk instead of regular milk?

Yes, I sub buttermilk all the time and it works great! I usually add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda as well.

Does this cornbread freeze well?

Yes, I’ve frozen this cornbread before and it warms up really well.

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The Best Cornbread

4.82 stars (215 ratings)

Ingredients

Cornbread:

  • ½ cup (85 g) cornmeal
  • 1 ½ cups (213 g) flour (see note)
  • cup (141 g) granulated sugar (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup oil
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 ¼ cups milk

Honey Butter:

  • 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (170 g) honey
  • ½ cup marshmallow fluff

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8X8- or 9X9-inch baking pan (I always use metal; glass pans will bake differently).
  • For the cornbread, in a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the oil, butter, eggs, and milk and stir with a whisk or rubber spatula until just combined. The batter will be runny.
  • Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • For the honey butter, whip all the ingredients together with an electric mixer. Best served at room temperature so it is soft and spreadable.

Notes

Flour: I often use half to 3/4 finely ground white whole wheat flour with good results – and sometimes I get crazy and use 100% whole wheat flour (always finely ground white wheat); the cornbread is a bit more dense with all wheat flour but still delicious.
Sugar: the sugar can be decreased by half with less sweet, but still good, results.
Doubled Recipe: this recipe doubles for a 9X13-inch pan (or 1 1/2 the recipe for a 9X13-inch pan for slightly less thick cornbread).
Serving: 1 Piece, Calories: 423kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 80mg, Sodium: 387mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 27g
Follow @MelsKitchenCafe on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #melskitchencafe. I love seeing all the goodness you are whipping up in your kitchens!

Recipe Source: My brother Nate and his wife, Kylie (love you forever!)
Recipe originally published August 2009; updated April 2020 with new photos, commentary and recipe notes

white plate with a split piece of cornbread and a knife with butter on the side