This Honey Butter Cornbread is so damn good, and the perfect side piece to go along with all your favorite main entrees. Cooked up in a cast iron skillet for the crispiest of edges; this moist + flavorful cornbread is brushed with honey butter excellence that sends it over the top! It’s the best cornbread you’ll ever have, y’all!

honey butter cornbread squares stacked on top of each other in cast iron skillet

I can’t explain to you enough just how much I adore this very recipe. Cornbread is one of those side items that doesn’t get enough love, and today we are living in all its glory. From cookouts to cozy weekend delights to holiday festivities; cornbread will always be that girl…idc idc argue with a wall. It’s the signature piece that goes along with dang near any and everything if ya ask me.

Honey Butter Cornbread! 🍯 🙌🏾

That’s right. Traditional cornbread is good, sure, but baby…honey butter cornbread will have you dropping to your knees, mmm. This cornbread is super moist and tender, rich and flavorful, and seriously delectable beyond comprehension! It comes together so quickly in a good ole cast-iron skillet for extra crispy edges, too. Pair this cornbread alongside your favorite main entrees or snack on it as-is, it’s insanely delicious! This one is a personal family favorite.

sliced honey butter cornbread in cast iron skillet

Why This Cornbread Recipe Is Bangin’:

  • FLAVORRR: Listen, everyone makes their cornbread different. I’ve always leaned on the fact that a solid cornbread recipe should be extra flavorful and not bland. And friends, that’s exactly what my honey butter cornbread promises to give you, flavor. The flavors are perfectly balanced between sweet and savory with pops of deep richness as well.
  • SOUTHERN FLAIR: Over this way, we go hard for anything filled with that American South touch. We’re gonna cook this cornbread in a cast iron skillet which ensures a crisp bottom and even crispier edges. The magic of cast iron cooking is incomparable, y’all. Not to mention, this is the kind of cornbread that screams somebody’s Black elder was on cornbread duty and came all the way through, ha. The cornbread that you know is gonna hit oh so good.
  • SOPPED UP & DREAMY: Oooooo when I tell you that the combination of honey + butter go together real badddd, gah. It’s the savory and sweet finale that finishes this cornbread and makes it unlike any other cornbread. Every inch of this cornbread is sopped up with that honey butter that soaks into the crevices. Whew, this honey butter cornbread checks all the boxes 🤤!
ingredients for honey butter cornbread laid out on white surface

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • Yellow cornmeal: You’ll need fine yellow cornmeal for this recipe.
  • Flour: Classic all-purpose flour, check.
  • Brown sugar: Adds deep flavor and moisture from the molasses.
  • Salt: To help balance all of the flavors.
  • Baking powder & baking soda: The two leavening agents for texture.
  • Buttermilk: What is cornbread without beloved buttermilk tho?! It adds a delightful tang and flavor while promoting a moist, tender crumb.
  • Honey: Pure honey for the cornbread batter and topping.
  • Eggs: Need these for the perfect structure and lift.
  • Butter: It’s used in three different ways in this honey butter cornbread: to coat the skillet, inside the cornbread batter, and the finished topping! 🧈
hand pouring butter into cornbread batter

How To Make The Best Honey Butter Cornbread:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  • Preheat the oven & skillet. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Then place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven to preheat as well to get it nice and hot. 
  • Combine the dry ingredients. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk the dry ingredients very well to thoroughly combine and then set the bowl aside.
  • Combine the wet ingredients. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, honey, and eggs. Whisk the wet ingredients well to combine. 
  • Bring the cornbread batter together. Pour the wet ingredients into the cornmeal/flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix until just combined.
  • Lastly, add butter. Then pour in the melted butter and use the same rubber spatula to fold the melted butter into the batter, again, until just combined.
cornbread batter poured into cast iron skillet
cornbread batter in cast iron skillet

Prep Skillet & Bake Cornbread:

  • Butter up dat skillet. Take the preheated skillet out of the oven. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into the skillet and brush the melted butter all over the bottom surface and up the sides of the cast iron skillet.
  • Add batter to skillet. Pour the cornbread batter into the prepared skillet and use an offset spatula to smooth the top if needed.
  • Bake the cornbread at 425°F until set, about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. 
honey butter drizzle being poured onto cornbread

Finish The Honey Butter Cornbread:

  • Prep the honey butter topping. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and honey until combined. Immediately pour it over the hot cornbread and spread to cover the surface. Let it sit to soak into the cornbread. 
  • Serve. Slice the cornbread into squares or wedges and serve warm. Enjoy! 👅
cornbread squares with pat of butter on small beige plates

What To Pair This Lucious Honey Butter Cornbread With?

Honestly, this honey butter cornbread pairs so well alongside nearly any of your favorite main dishes! And serving ranges from soups to apps to entrees! But here are our favorite pairings to go along with this cornbread:

I highly recommend this cornbread to go with your fav hearty dinners, holiday festivities like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and everything in between as well! Aaahh, it’s one of my top requested recipes to make for any occasion! 🤙🏾

honey butter brushed onto cornbread squares in cast iron skillet

Ain’t no cornbread like my Honey Butter Cornbread. This cornbread recipe is one of our staples and forever go-to’s! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More side dishes you can’t miss:

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honey butter cornbread squares stacked on top of each other in cast iron skillet

Ridiculously-Good Skillet Honey Butter Cornbread

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 9
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Southern
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Description

This Honey Butter Cornbread is so damn good, and the perfect side piece to go along with all your favorite main entrees. Cooked up in a cast iron skillet for the crispiest of edges; this moist + flavorful cornbread is brushed with honey butter excellence that sends it over the top! It’s the best cornbread you’ll ever have, y’all!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups fine yellow cornmeal
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for skillet

Honey Butter Topping:

  • 3 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons honey

Instructions

  1. Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Then place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven to preheat as well. 
  2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk the dry ingredients very well to thoroughly combine and then set the bowl aside.
  3. In another medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, honey, and eggs. Whisk the wet ingredients super well to combine. 
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the cornmeal/flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
  5. Then pour in the ½ cup melted butter and use the same rubber spatula to fold the melted butter into the batter, again, until just combined without over-mixing.
  6. Carefully take the preheated skillet out of the oven. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into the skillet and use a pastry brush (or something similar) to brush the melted butter all over the bottom surface and up the sides of the cast iron skillet.
  7. Pour the cornbread batter into the prepared skillet (you’ll see/hear the batter sizzling as it hits the preheated skillet due to the skillet being hot) and use an offset spatula to smooth the top as needed.
  8. Bake the cornbread at 425°F until set, about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. 
  9. For the honey butter topping, in a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and honey until combined. Immediately pour it over the hot cornbread and spread to cover the surface. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes to soak in nicely. 
  10. Slice the cornbread into squares or wedges and serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Gluten-free needs? Swap the all-purpose flour for any gluten-free baking flour as a 1:1 ratio (we love Bob’s Red Mill gf flour!).
  2. Please read blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: The Mindful Hapa