Description
Ina Garten’s brown butter corn bread blends rich, nutty flavors with classic Southern comfort. Warm, golden slices pair perfectly with hearty soups or chili, inviting you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups whole milk
- 2 extra-large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 2 tbsps baking powder
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- Flaked sea salt (such as Maldon) for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat: Position oven rack in center and warm to 350°F, preparing for golden, crusty cornbread.
- Brown Butter Technique: Melt butter in cast-iron skillet over medium heat, carefully transforming into rich, nutty amber liquid with caramelized milk solids. Transfer browned butter to mixing bowl, preserving skillet’s seasoning.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk milk into browned butter, then gently incorporate eggs to create a smooth, cohesive mixture without temperature-induced scrambling.
- Dry Ingredient Composition: Sift flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and kosher salt into large bowl. Create a central crater, then pour butter-milk blend into dry ingredient basin.
- Batter Development: Fold ingredients using delicate spatula strokes, maintaining rustic, slightly lumpy texture. Allow 15-minute resting period for ingredient hydration and flavor melding.
- Skillet Preparation: Redistribute batter into original cast-iron skillet, leveling surface and sprinkling with delicate flaked sea salt for enhanced flavor profile.
- Baking Process: Slide skillet into preheated oven, baking 25-30 minutes until toothpick reveals minimal moist crumbs and surface displays characteristic golden-brown cracks.
- Serving: Allow cornbread to rest briefly, then slice into wedges. Serve warm or at ambient temperature for maximum gustatory pleasure.
Notes
- Butter Browning Technique: Watch the butter carefully to achieve a rich, nutty brown color without burning, as this step develops deep, complex flavors critical to the cornbread’s taste profile.
- Batter Resting Importance: Allowing the batter to rest for 15 minutes helps ingredients hydrate and settle, resulting in a more tender, evenly textured cornbread with better overall structure.
- Cast-Iron Skillet Advantage: Using an unwashed cast-iron skillet creates a natural non-stick surface and adds a subtle seasoned flavor while helping to develop a crispy, golden exterior.
- Salt Finishing Touch: Sprinkling flaked sea salt on top enhances the cornbread’s flavor complexity, creating a delightful contrast between the sweet batter and savory salt crystals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg