Americas Test Kitchen Corn Bread Recipes

SKILLET CORNBREAD WITH CHIVES

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven and set skillet on rack; preheat to 450°F.
• Meanwhile, whisk cornmeal, sugar (if using), kosher salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl to combine. Whisk egg and buttermilk in a medium bowl; add to dry ingredients and mix to incorporate.
• Carefully remove skillet from oven, add lard, and swirl in pan to coat. Scrape batter into skillet (it should sizzle around edges on contact). Bake cornbread until top is golden brown and center is firm, 15-20 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.
• Spread butter over cornbread, top with chives, and sprinkle with sea salt.

THE PERFECT CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spray 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
• In food processor or blender, process brown sugar, corn kernels, and buttermilk until combined, about 5 seconds.
• Add eggs and process until well combined (corn lumps will remain), about 5 seconds longer.
• Using rubber spatula, make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
• Pour wet ingredients into well.
• Begin folding dry ingredients into wet, giving mixture only a few turns to barely combine.
• Add melted butter and continue folding until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish; smooth surface with rubber spatula.
• Bake until deep golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack rack 10 minutes.
• Best served warm; leftovers can be wrapped in foil and reheated in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

DOUBLE-CORN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
• Pulse corn, sour cream, eggs, and hot sauce in food processor until corn is coarsely chopped and mixture is combined.
• Fold corn mixture into cornmeal mixture, then stir in melted butter.
• Add vegetable oil to 9-inch round cake pan, and place the pan in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
• Take out of oven and quickly add batter; return pan to oven.
• Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.
• Cool cornbread in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes.
• Serve warm.

ALL-PURPOSE CORNBREAD (BEST OF BOTH REGIONS)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spray 8-inch-square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl until combined; set aside.
• In food processor or blender, process brown sugar, thawed corn kernels, and buttermilk until combined, about 5 seconds.
• Add eggs and process until well combined (corn lumps will remain), about 5 seconds longer.
• Using rubber spatula, make well in center of dry ingredients; pour wet ingredients into well.
• Begin folding dry ingredients into wet, giving mixture only a few turns to barely combine; add melted butter and continue folding until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish; smooth surface with rubber spatula.
• Bake until deep golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack 10 minutes; invert cornbread onto wire rack, then turn right side up and continue to cool for about 10 minutes longer.
• Cut into pieces and serve.