Fluffy and Moist Sweet Potato Cornbread

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Sweet potato cornbread with a honey butter glaze is perfectly fluffy and moist, with a tender crumb. In under 1 hour, you can have this mouthwatering soul food side dish on the table for Sunday dinners and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For more delicious sweet potato recipes try my Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, and this Baked Microwave Sweet Potato recipe.

Sweet potato cornbread is enhanced with ingredients like honey, vanilla, and pumpkin spice so it tastes more sweet than savory. And there is not a dry crumb in sight! If you love rich, buttery cornbread that nearly tastes like dessert, then this cakey, moist sweet potato cornbread recipe is perfect for you!

This year, I'm excited to take part in Eat the Culture’s 2023 Holiday Recipe Exchange: Party Pairings for All the Holidays! Holidays often revolve around communal moments – sharing stories, laughter, and, of course, food. This year's roundup is all about those delightful 'lite bites' and drinks that set the tone for festive gatherings. 

I had the pleasure of partnering with Stefani from Savor and Sage, who crafted a delicious Cauliflower and Fennel Soup. This soup pairs perfectly with my Sweet Potato Cornbread! Learn more about Eat the Culture and find a complete list of recipes from all participants here.

Share these recipes with your friends and loved ones and follow each participant by using the hashtags #HolidayswithETC, #PerfectPartyPairings, and #ETCHOLIDAYS2023 on Instagram

Why you will love Sweet Potato Cornbread:

Better Than Boxed Cornbread! Skip the box of Jiffy. This homemade cornbread tastes MUCH better and it is incredibly easy to make.

A Great Holiday Side Dish! This is essential for any holiday feast; right along with roasted turkey, mac and cheese, and collard greens. It has warm spices that pair well with other rich dishes.

Ultimate Soul Food Dish! This recipe combines two beloved southern side dishes: sweet potatoes and cornbread. It has the creamy sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes and the rich, buttery goodness that is traditional cornbread.

Sweet Potato Cornbread Ingredients

To make sweet potato cornbread, you will need the following ingredients:

1. All-purpose flour: This is an essential ingredient for the structure of the cornbread.
2. Yellow cornmeal: This recipe is incomplete without coarse cornmeal for that familiar texture.
3. Granulated sugar: Add this for sweetness. You can also use brown sugar.
4. Baking powder & baking soda: These leavening agents help the cornbread rise and achieve a fluffy texture.
5. Seasoning: Balance the sweetness with a bit of salt and add a warm spiced quality by using pumpkin pie spice. This also adds to the fall flavors.
6. Eggs: Use large eggs at room temperature.
7. Honey: Add this natural sweetener for some extra sweetness. Or use maple syrup instead.
8. Vanilla extract: This gives the cornbread a vanilla flavor that makes it taste like cake.
9. Butter: Use unsalted, melted butter.
10. Buttermilk: To achieve that tender crumb, you need to use buttermilk.
11. Sweet potato: You can not achieve sweet potato flavor without this! Mashed and cooled.
12. Orange food coloring: This is an optional ingredient but highly recommended. It makes the orange color more vibrant. It adds to the fall flair.

Honey Butter Glaze

1. Butter: Use melted, unsalted butter.
2. Honey: This gives the cornbread a beautiful gloss, and also imparts a sticky sweet flavor.
3. Pumpkin pie spice: Alternatively, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg.

How to Make Sweet Potato Cornbread

Prepare

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Once the oven is preheated, place a 10-inch cast iron skillet into the oven and heat it up for 5 minutes. Alternatively, use a 9×9 square baking pan, or a 12-cup muffin pan instead.

Boil, Cool, Peel, and Mash Sweet Potatoes

Boil the sweet potatoes whole until they are fork-tender.

Once they cool, remove their skins and use a potato masher (or an electric mixer) in order to mash them.

Alternatively, you can peel them and cut them into chunks, then boil and mash. Allow them to cool completely after mashing.

Then add your flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk it to combine. Set it aside. 

In a separate bowl, add your eggs, honey, vanilla extract, melted butter, buttermilk, mashed sweet potatoes, and food coloring. Use a high-speed mixer or a whisk, and mix it until the sweet potato mash is fully incorporated.

Once everything is combined, pour your dry ingredients into the large bowl with the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold everything together until it is combined, careful not to over-mix the sweet potato mixture.

Bake Sweet Potato Cornbread

Rub your hot cast iron skillet down with a pad of butter, then pour the sweet potato cornbread batter directly into it. 

Place it in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until it is completely set. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cornbread, if it comes out clean (dry), then it is done. Remove the hot skillet from the oven. Do not overbake the cornbread or it will be dry!

Combine the butter, honey, and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl and heat it up in the microwave for about 30 seconds so that the butter can melt. Stir until combined. 

Use a toothpick to poke small holes in the top of the cornbread, then pour your honey butter all over the top. Finally, enjoy!

Tips and Variations for the Best Sweet Potato Cornbread

• Cool the sweet potatoes completely before adding them to the eggs. Otherwise, the eggs will begin to cook.
• Do not overmix the cornbread batter or it will come out tough and dry. Mix only until the ingredients are combined.
• Use this recipe to make sweet potato cornbread muffins. Just use a muffin pan instead of a skillet. They should take about 25-30 minutes to cook max. Check them after 20 minutes.
• Once the cornbread has cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

FAQ

Is cornbread considered a sweet bread?

Cornbread is incredibly versatile. It can lean more toward sweet or savory, depending on the recipe.

What is the difference between northern cornbread and southern cornbread?

Traditional southern cornbread does not contain sugar. Alternatively, northern cornbread usually includes sugar and tends to be more cake-like than its southern counterpart.

What keeps cornbread moist?

Using oil in the cornbread batter results in moist cornbread. But other ingredients (like the sweet potatoes and buttermilk used in this recipe) can also contribute. Keep your cornbread moist for longer by immediately covering it with either foil or a towel. If it is exposed to air for an extended amount of time, it will dry out much quicker.

More holiday side dishes you’ll love

• Delicious Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes
• Deluxe Cheesy Hash Browns
• Cheddar Broccoli Rice Casserole

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