This Brown Butter Sage Skillet Cornbread has a tender interior with a crisp, buttery crust that’s perfect slathered with honey butter!
WHY have I never had a cast iron skillet before? I’m seriously way behind the times on this one, but I’ve been really missing out. UNTIL NOW.
I really didn’t think it was possible to be that excited about a piece of cookware, but here I am. I got a 10″ cast iron skillet a few weeks ago for my birthday at Sur La Table (thanks Dad!), and haven’t been able to stop using it ever since. Confession: I also ordered another 6-inch one from Amazon. It’s adorable and perfect for many things (*ahem* SKILLET COOKIES – coming soon).
Now that I have them, I don’t know how I ever lived without them. The most awesome things about cast iron are it’s ability to retain lots of heat, and that you can just throw them from the stove into the oven. The retained heat really helps your baked goods get awesome crusts, like the one on this cornbread.
Ah, it’s too good! You let the skillet get super hot in the oven with some melted butter, then you add some cornmeal to the bottom of the pan. THEN you add your batter, which sizzles with the butter and the cornmeal and starts forming the crunchy, browned crust. Then into the oven the whole shebang goes, and 15-17 minutes later, you have steaming, beautiful cornbread.
The brown butter and sage flavors are subtle, and get more pronounced the day after baking. They make this cornbread special by giving it a little something extra without compromising the simplicity of cornbread. The batter is kept moist with the can of creamed corn, and that also adds in the corn kernels that I love so very much in cornbread. A slice of this served warm with honey butter? You won’t be able to resist.
This is amazing served up with some soup or chili. It’s starting to get foggy and gross around here, and soup or chili and cornbread, slathered with honey butter, is the perfect thing to warm you right on up.
If you don’t have a skillet…don’t fret. Just make this in an 8×8″ pan and you’ll be golden. The crust may not be as delicious, but the cornbread will still be delish!
And really: don’t forget the honey butter! Enjoy :)
Brown Butter Sage Skillet Cornbread
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon plain cornmeal, divided
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 stick, 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
- 1 14.75 ounce can creamed-style corn
- 10 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 1/4 cup cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a 10" cast iron skillet (see notes if you don't have one), melt 1 stick butter over medium low heat. Add in fresh sage leaves and continue to cook until the butter turns golden brown, 5-7 minutes. Be very careful when browning the butter - it can burn very quickly!
- Pour all of the butter into a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of butter into the skillet and place in the oven until batter is ready. Remove sage leaves and chop them very finely. Add the eggs, creamed corn, and chopped sage and whisk to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold until just combined.
- Remove skillet from the oven. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cornmeal evenly on the bottom of the skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet and smooth the top. Bake until cornbread is golden yellow, about 15-17 minutes. Don’t over bake - you don’t want your cornbread to be dry! Remove from the oven and cool completely. Serve with honey butter.
Notes
Cast irons are the best! I have one and it’s is the most used item in my kitchen. My favorite is using it to pan sear meat when it’s too cold to use the grill outside.
I’m in love with this cornbread. It looks so moist and crumbly. And that flavor combo! Wow! Pinned.
A word of caution. Using cast iron too often can lead to toxic iron overload. Please read up on this. I love my cast pan but if I’m using it too often (cause I want the quick even heat) I’ll put parchment under the food.
Now you are tempting me to buy a cast iron skillet! This bread looks fantastic, love the texture! Pinned!
I’ve seriously used mine almost daily since getting it!! Thanks for the pin, Manali!
This is one amazing cornbread, love the flavors!!
I love this! I have a cast iron skillet my dad got me a couple months ago. I’ve only made desserts in it so far, but I’ve been meaning to make something savory! Looooove cornbread
You are so right!! Once you start using cast iron you won’t be able to go back! It is all my mom cooked with growing up, so she gets all of us kids one piece every year for Christmas so eventually we will have loads of it! :) I loooove the look of this cornbread, brown butter and sage?! Count me in!
I too just recently go some cast iron pans and have been going crazy over them. Everything just seems to taste better :D I love cornbread and I’m loving the brown butter here. Pinning
Cornbread is my absolute favorite, especially when the weather gets cooler! I absolutely love that you used browned butter and sage. Sounds so amazing, Rachel!
Cast iron pans are the best. I use mine all the time. Love making cornbread in one. This cornbread sounds amazing. Sage is one of my favorite smells this this time of year. The kitchen must smell amazing with this cornbread in the oven. :)
Um cast iron skillets are da best!!! So glad to see you got one…those cookies. CANT WAIT!
Yumm – this looks wonderful! I’m assuming all the wonderful brown butter will prevent the cornbread from sticking to the bottom, right? I’ve had issues having things stick to the skillet before. Any tricks of the trade to share?
Yup – I had no problems with sticking, and that’s what that last tablespoon of butter in the pan will help prevent :)