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!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (4)

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.

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (5)

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!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (6)

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

How healthy is homemade cornbread? ›

Cornbread is a quick bread usually made using cornmeal, flour, vegetable oil, baking powder, and eggs. Although it's relatively high in carbs and sodium, it contains several important nutrients, including phosphorus, selenium, and B vitamins.

What does adding an extra egg to cornbread do? ›

The yolk will make the texture more dense and smooth, a bit brownie-like, while the fact that your original batter was too thick means that the additional liquid will help the baking powder achieve better leavening, giving you an airier texture.

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.

Is cornbread good for high blood sugar? ›

Corn contains carbohydrates, which are majorly high in starch content and eating corn may raise blood sugar levels, so individuals with diabetes need to monitor their intake and manage portion sizes.

Can Type 2 diabetics eat cornbread? ›

Yes, you can eat corn if you have diabetes. Corn is a source of energy, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's also low in sodium and fat.

Is corn bread healthy or unhealthy? ›

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.

What happens if I put 2 eggs instead of 1? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

What can I substitute for 2 eggs in cornbread? ›

Now, check these substitutes and observe how they work for your next best dish.
  • Ground flax seeds. Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are a good substitute for eggs in cornbread. ...
  • Silken Tofu. Silken tofu is best used in its purest form. ...
  • Vegan mayo. ...
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Carbonated water. ...
  • Aquafaba. ...
  • Winter squash.
Nov 29, 2022

Can I use half-and-half instead of milk for cornbread? ›

Cornbread FAQ

Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

Which is healthier cornmeal or flour? ›

Cornmeal has fewer calories, sodium and carbs but more fibre than white flour. Cornmeal is also gluten-free. People who have an allergy to gluten can consume cornmeal. White flour is refined flour which doesn't have much nutrition and has very low fibre.

What is best bread for diabetics? ›

When deciding which breads to buy and which to avoid, make sure you read the nutritional information thoroughly. The American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar.

Can diabetics eat bananas? ›

A person with diabetes can enjoy bananas in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The vitamin, mineral, and fiber content of bananas may even offer health benefits for people with diabetes, as long as an individual does not eat excessive portions.

Can a diabetic have cornbread? ›

Cornbread is delicious and a great accompaniment to any meal. However, it is not a good idea if you are a diabetic. The high starch and cornmeal contents are carbohydrates which are broken down into sugar in the body. Sugar is extremely dangerous for people with diabetes, so it is best to avoid it.

Is Oatmeal good for a diabetic? ›

A cup of cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup of dried oats) contains approximately 30 grams of carbs, which can fit into a nutritious meal plan for people with diabetes. Oatmeal is high in fiber and nutrients but low in saturated and trans fats and sugar and can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

What are the benefits of homemade cornbread? ›

Corn bread is a good source of several nutrients. Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, folates and vitamins A, B-6 and B-12 are found in corn bread. Unfortunately, prepared mixes may also contain extra sodium, sugars and animal fats. It's much better for you if you make your own from scratch.

Is cornbread better for you than regular bread? ›

White bread is rich in calories, whereas cornbread is 60% lower in calories — white bread has 238 calories per 100 grams, while cornbread has 96 calories. Therefore, cornbread has more nutrients than white bread. Consequently, you can consider it to be healthier.

Is homemade cornbread better than store bought? ›

Chili is one of my favorite fall meals, but a bowl of chili isn't complete without a delicious batch of cornbread. Today I'll compare homemade cornbread to several boxed mixes. Both are quick and easy to prepare and inexpensive, but homemade cornbread tends to be much healthier because it contains fewer ingredients.

Is cornbread better than regular bread? ›

In general, cornbread can be slightly healthier than traditional wheat bread in terms of fiber content, as cornmeal is a good source of fiber. However, this can vary depending on the ingredients used in each recipe and the portion size consumed.

References

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