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Ignite your taste buds with my Hot Honey Southern Cornbread recipe, where the classic comfort of Southern cornbread meets the irresistible allure of hot honey, delivering the perfect balance of sweetness + spice in every delightful bite. This cornbread recipe is a delicious side dish that elevates any meal, but be warned—it tends to disappear from the table fast! Gluten-free + Dairy-free Option.
With the holiday season on the horizon, I'm buzzing with Thanksgiving menu ideas, and a must-have staple is the irresistible Hot Honey Southern Cornbread—sweet, savory, and spicy all in one. A beloved favorite in my family, especially during the cozy season, its divine texture strikes the perfect balance of moistness and fluffiness, crowned with a delightful crisp golden crust.
This cornbread recipe is the perfect balance of moistness and tenderness, blurring the line between bread and cake. If you love cornbread, you definitely need to try my Brown Butter Pumpkin Cornbread, Honey Butter Cornbread Drop Biscuits and this Southern-Style Cornbread Stuffing next! There's nothing quite like baking it right in your trusty skillet-- a classic dish that begs to be shared right at the table. This Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans recipe is a simple, staple side dish that compliments any Thanksgiving table!
The best part? It's easily adaptable to gluten-free, making it a welcomed addition to your table as a tempting appetizer, complementary side dish, or a satisfying snack. Plus, the Hot Honey gives it the perfect blend of spicy + sweet.
Alright, let's talk cornbread – the ultimate Southern bread sensation! Picture this: it's made from cornmeal, and it's got this charming, slightly sweet, and nutty flavor. Down South, it's like an essential part of the culinary DNA. But here's the cool part – it's incredibly versatile. You can bake it up in all sorts of flavor, shapes and sizes. Whether it's cozying up to other dishes or going solo, cornbread is basically the Southern must-have you'll want on your plate.
To make this cornbread, you'll start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and generously grease your favorite oven-safe cast iron skillet.
Simply mix your dry ingredients, combine with the wet ingredients, and bake until golden. This is a super tried + tested recipe and you probably already have most of the ingredients at home!
Here's what you need to make this Thanksgiving side dish:
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Hot Honey Southern Cornbread . Everything from my fave baking sheet, skillet, mixing bowls, high-powered blender, cooking utensils, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Follow these tips to make your Hot Honey Southern Cornbread recipe absolutely perfect:
If you don't have any hot honey on hand or you simply just want to make your own hot honey, no worries! It's really simple and only requires a few ingredients.
You'll need: 1 cup raw organic honey (or regular honey), 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
To create your own hot honey, just bring to a simmer all ingredients in a saucepan and then remove it from heat and let it cool before adding in with the remaining sauce ingredients. Feel free to store any remaining hot honey in an airtight glass jar (straining red pepper flakes) if desired and keep stored for up to 6 months at room temp.
This Hot Honey Southern Cornbread recipe is a definite must-have on my Thanksgiving menu, and it's a versatile choice that I'll enjoy throughout the fall season and beyond. Here are some tasty options to serve with your cornbread:
Now that you have a glimpse of how this cornbread complements your Thanksgiving table, here are some additional ideas for enjoying it throughout the fall season and beyond:
Southern Fried Chicken: For a southern-inspired meal, serve cornbread alongside crispy fried chicken. The combination of savory and sweet is simply irresistible.
Soups: Serve cornbread with a comforting soup, such as Creamy Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup or Apple Cheddar Sweet Potato Soup it adds substance and a pleasant sweetness to the meal. And if you need more fall soup inspiration simply type in 'soup' into Orchid + Sweet Tea's search bar.
Cheese + charcuterie: Create a delightful cheese and charcuterie board with slices of cornbread. The sweet + savory + spicy notes of the cornbread complement various cheeses and cured meats. Be sure to check out my tips on How To Make the Best Charcuterie Board
Brunch: Incorporate cornbread into your brunch menu by serving it alongside scrambled eggs, bacon (or candied bacon), and fresh fruit for a sweet and savory brunch experience.
Literally, one of my favorite hot honey brands is Mike's! I love using it on everything from chicken to sandwiches, you name it. It's so versatile and can be easily used in:
You can store your leftover cornbread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days for optimal freshness. Simply reheat cornbread in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit when ready to serve again. In addition, you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Just thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven when ready to serve.
Yes! To make this cornbread entirely gluten-free, simply ensure that the cornmeal is GF-friendly as well as the flour. I like to use Bob's Red Mill GF 1-to-1 baking flour.
Yes-- Simply opt for a dairy-free butter like Miyoko's!
Certainly! Adjust the amount of Hot Honey to suit your spice preference, creating a milder or spicier version.
Now that you've fallen in love with this Hot Honey Southern Cornbread in this recipe, you'll want to check out these other Southern staples for the entire family:
If you tried this Hot Honey Southern Cornbread recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea
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