Southern Cornbread with a Steady Rise

Set out unsalted butter cubed, all-purpose flour, and granulated sugar before you start Southern Cornbread with a Steady Rise. The batch is written for 12 people.

Count on 10 minutes of prep, 20 minutes of cooking, about 30 minutes from the first measurement to the plate.

Ingredients Method

What goes in the bowl

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter cubed
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• ¾ cup finely ground yellow cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 large eggs
• ⅔ cup crème fraiche or sour cream
• ⅔ cup whole milk

How the cooking goes

1. Warm the oven to 350°F and butter an 8-inch baking dish or cast iron skillet. If you are making crispy cornbread, pop that pan in the oven.
2. In a small saucepan or in the microwave, melt the milk with cubed butter. You find this easiest to do on the stovetop. Be sure it is just melted and not too hot, or you’ll need to let it cool before combining with the eggs.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder and salt). Keep it to one side.
4. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until no streaks remain, then whisk in the crème fraiche.
5. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the egg mixture. Do this slowly while whisking constantly, because it’s a little warm and you don’t want to cook your eggs.
6. Gradually whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Adding it slowly in the beginning will keep the dry ingredients from clumping. Try not to over mix by adding the next addition when the last one is almost incorporated.
7. Tip the batter into the buttered pan and spread it out so it bakes evenly..
8. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the top provides a little resistance when pressed lightly or until a cake tester comes out clean.

After it comes off the heat

Wait until the loaf is cool before slicing. Wrap it at room temperature, and freeze slices you will not eat in a couple of days.

If you want another plate from Quick breads, open Pumpkin Bread with a Steady Rise and Nutella Banana Bread with a Steady Rise.