Description
Ina Garten’s brown butter corn bread brings Southern comfort to your table with rich, nutty flavors. Golden cornmeal and silky brown butter create a perfectly balanced side dish that helps complete any hearty meal you serve.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups whole milk
- 2 extra-large eggs
Garnish:
- Flaked sea salt (such as Maldon) for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by setting the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center.
- Melt butter in a 12-inch (30.5 centimeters) cast-iron skillet over medium heat, carefully watching to achieve a rich brown color without burning. Transfer the browned butter, including the flavorful brown bits, to a medium mixing bowl, leaving the skillet unwashed.
- Incorporate milk into the browned butter, whisking thoroughly to combine. Gradually add eggs, mixing carefully to prevent curdling from direct contact with the warm butter.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and kosher salt. Create a central well in the dry ingredients, then pour the butter-milk mixture into this depression.
- Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients using a rubber spatula, maintaining a slightly lumpy texture. Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes, enabling the ingredients to settle and hydrate.
- After resting, give the batter a quick stir and pour it evenly into the original cast-iron skillet. Smooth the surface with the spatula and sprinkle generously with flaked sea salt.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge with just a few moist crumbs. The top may develop attractive surface cracks during baking.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Butter Browning Requires Attention: Keep a vigilant watch while browning butter to achieve a perfect deep golden color without burning.
- Temperature Matters for Eggs: Cool melted butter slightly before incorporating eggs to prevent unwanted scrambling.
- Resting Enhances Texture: Allowing batter to rest enables cornmeal and flour to fully absorb liquids, creating a more harmonious and tender crumb.
- Cast-Iron Skillet Creates Magic: Preheated cast-iron delivers an irresistibly crispy exterior while maintaining a soft, moist interior.
- Toothpick Test Confirms Perfection: A clean or slightly moist toothpick signals your cornbread has reached ideal doneness, ensuring a delectable result.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg