Ina Garten’s Brown Butter Skillet Cornbread Recipe for a Golden Finish

Brown butter skillet cornbread transforms an ordinary side dish into a culinary experience that begs to be savored.

Kitchen magic happens when simple ingredients combine with unexpected techniques and rich, nutty flavors.

Warm, golden crumbs promise comfort and nostalgia with every single bite.

Rustic cooking techniques elevate this classic recipe beyond standard expectations, creating something truly memorable.

Skilled home cooks understand that proper technique makes all the difference between good and extraordinary.

The magic lies in carefully browning butter, which adds complex depth and remarkable complexity to traditional cornbread.

Brown Butter Skillet Cornbread That Shines

• Elevate Flavor with Brown Butter: Browning butter transforms ordinary cornbread into a nutty, rich delicacy with deep caramel undertones that dance on your taste buds.
• Enjoy Hassle-Free One-Skillet Wonder: This recipe minimizes cleanup by using the same cast-iron skillet for browning butter and baking, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious results without excessive dishes.
• Create Perfectly Textured Cornbread: The 15-minute resting period allows cornmeal to hydrate, resulting in a tender, moist interior with a beautifully crisp golden exterior that provides delightful contrast in every bite.
• Customize with Gourmet Sea Salt Finish: Sprinkling flaked sea salt on top adds a sophisticated touch, creating delicate crunch and enhancing the bread's complex flavor profile with a subtle salty kick.

Everything You’ll Need for Skillet Cornbread

Main Ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and soft texture to the cornbread.
• Cornmeal: Gives classic corn flavor and creates a traditional rustic texture.

• Butter: Adds rich flavor through browning, creates golden color and tender crumb.
• Milk: Provides moisture and helps bind ingredients together smoothly.

• Baking Powder: Helps cornbread rise and become light and fluffy.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Eggs: Connects ingredients, adds richness and helps cornbread hold its shape.

• Sugar: Brings subtle sweetness and helps with golden brown exterior.

• Flaked Sea Salt: Provides a delicate crunch and flavor enhancement on top.

Baking Brown Butter Cornbread at Home

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Set your oven to toasty 350°F (180°C). This will create the perfect environment for our golden cornbread.

Step 2: Create Liquid Gold

• Butter

Melt over medium heat, watching carefully as it transforms from pale yellow to rich brown. The magical brown bits will add incredible depth of flavor. Pour this liquid gold into a mixing bowl, scraping every delicious morsel.

Step 3: Blend Moisture Makers

• Milk
• Eggs

Pour milk into the browned butter, then gently incorporate eggs. Pro tip: Add eggs slowly to prevent scrambling.

Step 4: Craft the Dry Foundation

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Cornmeal
• Baking powder
• Kosher salt

Create a small crater in the center of these ingredients.

Step 5: Marry the Mixtures

Pour the butter-milk magic into the flour crater. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Embrace a few lumps – they’re signs of tender cornbread. Let the batter rest and get acquainted for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Give the batter a final gentle stir and pour into the same skillet used for browning butter. Smooth the top and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Listen for the toothpick test – when it comes out clean, your cornbread is ready. A few cracks on top are a beautiful badge of honor.

Result: A rustic, golden cornbread that’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with a rich, nutty flavor that’ll make mouths water.

Tips for Golden Brown Cornbread

• Master Butter Browning: Keep a close watch during browning to capture that perfect golden color and rich nutty fragrance without burning.
• Gentle Mixing Technique: Combine ingredients with a light hand, stopping just when everything blends to maintain the cornbread's tender, airy texture.
• Resting Magic: Allow the batter to sit for 15 minutes, letting dry and wet ingredients meld together for a more cohesive, smooth final product.
• Sizzling Skillet Secrets: Use a hot skillet straight from browning butter to instantly crisp the cornbread's edges and create a delightful golden crust.
• Finishing Salt Flourish: Sprinkle flaky sea salt moments before baking to elevate flavor and add a delicate crunch that makes this cornbread truly memorable.

How to Store Cornbread Like a Pro

• Seal in Flavor Vault: Tuck your cornbread into a heavy-duty freezer bag, pressing out all air pockets to prevent freezer burn. This method preserves the golden, buttery goodness for up to 3 months, ensuring a delicious backup when sudden bread cravings strike.
• Chill and Protect: Slide cooled cornbread into an airtight container or wrap it snugly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 3-4 days, keeping the edges tender and preventing moisture loss. Pro tip: Place a paper towel underneath to absorb excess condensation.
• Quick Revive Technique: Sprinkle a few drops of water over the cornbread before reheating to restore moisture.

Ways to Add Flair to Cornbread

• Cheesy Jalapeño Cornbread: Add 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 2-3 finely chopped jalapeños to the batter for a spicy, zesty kick that brings extra warmth and flavor.
• Herb-Infused Southern Style: Mix in 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives to elevate the cornbread with aromatic, garden-fresh notes.
• Bacon and Green Onion Cornbread: Fold in 1/2 cup crispy crumbled bacon and 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions for a savory, smoky version that adds incredible depth and crunch.
• Honey Maple Cornbread: Swap 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1/4 cup maple syrup and drizzle honey on top after baking for a sweet, rich finish that caramelizes beautifully.

Cornbread Closing Tips

Ina Garten’s brown butter skillet cornbread elevates comfort cooking with its golden-brown exterior and rich, nutty flavor profile.

Culinary enthusiasts will appreciate the delicate balance between simplicity and sophistication in this classic recipe.

Cast-iron skillets provide unparalleled heat distribution, creating an irresistible crispy crust that crackles with each bite.

Browned butter adds depth and complexity, transforming ordinary cornbread into a memorable side dish.

Flaked sea salt sprinkled on top provides elegant finishing touches that complement the bread’s rustic charm.

Sophisticated yet accessible, this cornbread invites you to savor southern hospitality with each delectable slice – so grab your skillet, share this recipe, spread the love, and let your taste buds dance with delight!

Ina Garten Brown Butter Skillet Cornbread Recipe

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Southern comfort meets gourmet elegance in Ina Garten’s brown butter skillet cornbread, a golden delight that merges rustic tradition with refined technique. Skillet-baked with nutty brown butter and a perfect crumb, this cornbread promises a warm, irresistible experience you’ll savor down to the last delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal, such as Quaker
• 2¼ cups whole milk
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• Flaked sea salt, such as Maldon, for sprinkling

Binding Ingredients:

• 2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 180°C / 350°F, ensuring the rack is positioned in the center for even heat distribution.
2. Transform butter into a golden elixir by melting it in a spacious 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Watch meticulously as the butter develops rich, nutty brown specks. Transfer the caramelized liquid, including all flavorful sediment, into a medium mixing bowl.
3. Gently incorporate milk into the browned butter, then carefully introduce eggs, whisking until harmoniously blended. Exercise caution to prevent egg curdling by avoiding direct contact with hot butter.
4. Create a dry ingredient foundation by combining flour, granulated sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and kosher salt in a large mixing vessel. Craft a central crater to receive the wet ingredients.
5. Cascade the butter-milk mixture into the dry ingredient hollow. Fold with a rubber spatula, embracing slight lumps for a rustic texture. Allow the batter to relax and hydrate for 15 minutes, letting ingredients mingle and develop depth.
6. Give the batter a final gentle stir, then pour into the same skillet used for browning butter. Smooth the surface with deliberate strokes. Sprinkle flaked sea salt across the top for a sophisticated flavor accent.
7. Slide the skillet into the preheated oven, baking for 25–30 minutes. Monitor until a inserted toothpick emerges clean and the surface displays a characteristic artisan-like crackle. Let the cornbread rest briefly before serving to allow structural setting.

Notes

• Sprinkle flaky sea salt moments before sliding the skillet into the oven for a gorgeous crunchy exterior that elevates the entire cornbread experience.
• Preheat your cast-iron skillet with the browned butter to ensure a perfectly crisp, golden-brown crust that will make your cornbread irresistible.
• Let the batter rest quietly for 15 minutes, allowing the cornmeal and other ingredients to fully hydrate and create a more tender, smooth texture.
• Gently mix the batter only until ingredients are just combined, preventing overmixing that can turn your cornbread tough and dense.
• Keep a watchful eye on the butter while browning, removing it from heat the instant it turns golden and releases a rich, nutty fragrance to prevent burning.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice (serves 10)
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 11g
• Sodium: 380mg
• Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 33g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 80mg