Description
Ina Garten’s brown butter skillet cornbread elevates a classic Southern comfort dish with rich, nutty flavors. Warm cast-iron skillets and golden-brown edges promise a delectable experience that will make readers crave this comforting side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (750 mL) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (250 mL) yellow cornmeal, Quaker
- ½ pound (226 g) unsalted butter
- 2¼ cups (540 mL) whole milk
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tbsps baking powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- Flaked sea salt, Maldon, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F with rack centered for uniform baking.
- Brown Butter Transformation: Melt butter in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, developing rich golden-brown color with aromatic nutty specks. Transfer caramelized butter and sediment to a mixing bowl.
- Liquid Integration: Blend milk into browned butter, then whisk eggs carefully to prevent curdling. Maintain smooth temperature transition for optimal mixture consistency.
- Dry Ingredient Assembly: Combine flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Create a central well to receive liquid ingredients.
- Batter Development: Pour butter-milk mixture into dry ingredient crater. Fold gently with rubber spatula, maintaining rustic lumpy texture. Allow 15-minute resting period for ingredient hydration and flavor melding.
- Skillet Preparation: Restir batter, then pour into original skillet. Smooth surface evenly and garnish with delicate sea salt flakes for enhanced flavor profile.
- Baking Finale: Bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick emerges clean and surface displays golden crackled finish. Rest briefly after removing from oven to stabilize cornbread structure before serving.
Notes
- Butter Browning Technique: Carefully brown butter to develop deep, nutty flavors without burning, watching for golden-brown specks that indicate perfect caramelization.
- Egg Tempering Trick: Slowly mix milk into browned butter before adding eggs to prevent curdling and maintain a smooth, silky batter texture.
- Resting Batter Magic: Allow cornbread mixture to rest for 15 minutes, enabling dry ingredients to fully hydrate and flavors to meld for a more complex taste profile.
- Skillet Seasoning Hack: Use the same cast-iron skillet for browning butter and baking, which enhances natural seasoning and adds extra depth to the cornbread’s flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg