Name: Homemade Sweet Cornbread Recipe (Moist & Buttery)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick); 1/2 cup sugar; 1 cup buttermilk*; 2 eggs, room temperature; 1 cup flour; 1 cup cornmeal; t tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp salt

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There’s nothing quite like a warm slice of this Homemade Sweet Cornbread Recipe fresh from the oven.

Slice of sweet cornbread topped with butter and a drizzle of honey. — *The Ultimate Sweet Cornbread Recipe.*

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Made with simple pantry ingredients and mixed together in just one saucepan, this easy recipe bakes up with a soft, tender crumb, buttery flavor, and the right amount of sweetness.

Golden homemade sweet cornbread baked in a white ceramic baking dish. — *Moist Homemade Sweet Cornbread Recipe.*

Whether you serve it as a side dish alongside a bowl of homemade hearty chili, gumbo, or soup, or enjoy it by itself with a generous drizzle of honey, this homemade cornbread is classic comfort food that has become a family favorite in our home.

The Players for Homemade Sweet Cornbread

Ingredients:

Butter – Melted butter adds rich flavor and helps create a moist cornbread, making the perfect side dish.
Sugar – Plain white sugar gives this cornbread its signature sweetness without overpowering the buttery flavor.
Buttermilk – Buttermilk gives the cornbread its fluffy texture. If you don’t have any on hand, make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup, then fill it with regular milk until it reaches 1 cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
Eggs – You’ll need 2 room temperature eggs for this best cornbread recipe.
Flour – All purpose flour provides structure while keeping the cornbread soft and tender.
Cornmeal – Yellow cornmeal gives this recipe its classic golden color and slightly sweet corn flavor. White cornmeal can also be used if that’s what you have on hand, though the color and flavor will be slightly different.
Baking Soda – Baking soda reacts with the buttermilk to help the cornbread rise, creating a light texture for this easy cornbread recipe.
Salt – A pinch of salt will help bring all of the flavors together creating a perfect balance of flavors.

Tools:

Baking Dish – You will need a 8″x8″ square pan to bake this homemade cornbread recipe. For more baking pan sizes, see the “Different Baking Pan Options” section below.

How to Make Homemade Sweet Cornbread

Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray and set the oven rack to the middle of the oven.

Mix the Batter

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from the heat and whisk the sugar into the melted butter until combined.

Melted butter in a saucepan. — *Melt butter in a small saucepan.*

Granulated sugar being added to melted butter in a saucepan. — *Melt butter in a small saucepan.*

Whisk in the wet ingredients of buttermilk and eggs until smooth.

Homemade buttermilk being poured into the saucepan with butter and sugar. — *Pour in the buttermilk to the sugar and butter mixture.*

Two room-temperature eggs added to the cornbread batter. — *Pour in the buttermilk to the sugar and butter mixture.*

Add the dry ingredients together of flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt and stir well. Do not overmix.

All-purpose flour being added to the cornbread batter. — *Dump in the white flour.*

Yellow cornmeal added to the sweet cornbread batter. — *Dump in the white flour.*

Bake the Sweet Cornbread

Pour the cornbread batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

Sweet cornbread batter being poured into a greased 8x8 baking dish. — *Pour the batter into a greased 8×8 baking dish.*

Bake on the middle oven rack for 28–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cornbread batter evenly spread in an 8x8 baking dish before baking. — *Bake the cornbread at 375 degrees F for 28-30 minutes.*

Freshly baked homemade sweet cornbread in a white 8x8 baking dish. — *Bake the cornbread at 375 degrees F for 28-30 minutes.*

Cool, Slice, & Serve

Allow the cornbread to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve the warm cornbread with butter, honey, or as is!

Slice of homemade sweet cornbread topped with butter on a cream colored plate. — *Serve warm with a pat of butter for the ultimate comfort food side dish.*

Different Baking Pan Options for Sweet Cornbread

This classic cornbread recipe is incredibly versatile and can be baked in several different pans. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as it will vary depending on the pan you use.

Muffin Tin

For individual servings, divide the batter evenly among a greased or paper-lined standard 12-cup muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full.

Bake at: 375°F
Bake Time: 16–20 minutes

9-Inch Round Cake Pan

A round cake pan creates a beautiful presentation for serving alongside soups, chili, or holiday meals.

Bake at: 375°F
Bake Time: 24–28 minutes

Cast Iron Skillet

A well-seasoned 8- or 9-inch cast-iron skillet creates crispy edges while keeping the center moist and tender.

Bake at: 375°F
Bake Time: 22–26 minutes

side view of cornbread next to a small bowl of butter and a serving utensil. — *Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe.*

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions

To Store:

Wrap any leftover cornbread with plastic wrap or transfer the leftover cornbread to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To Freeze:

To freeze cooled cornbread, place individual slices on a cooling rack and flash freeze in the freezer for 1 hour. Once frozen, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, then place the wrapped pieces in a freezer-safe bag or airtight freezer container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To Reheat:

To reheat frozen cornbread, allow the cornbread to thaw on the counter for an hour. Place onto a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 20-30 seconds at 50% power until desired warmth.

close up of a serving of cornbread on a plate with a butter bowl in the background. — *Family Favorite Sweet Cornbread.*

overhead view of cornbread in a white baking dish on top of a striped kitchen towel. — *Family Favorite Sweet Cornbread.*

Pin it for Later!

If you end up making this Homemade Sweet Cornbread, leave me a comment. I’d love to chat with you!

a pinterest graphic of cornbread in a white baking dish on top of a striped kitchen towel. — *Save this Homemade Sweet Cornbread Pin to Bake Later!*

Looking for other great recipes to serve this cornbread with? Check these out next!