Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter
A golden, slightly sweet cornbread with a perfect crumb, served with a drizzle of honey butter. This southern-inspired breakfast ready in about 37 minutes combines yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, teaspoons baking powder into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 8, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet with 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil and place in oven to heat while prepping batter.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup buttermilk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until smooth.
- Step 3: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined—do not overmix. Carefully remove hot skillet from oven, pour in batter, and bake for 20-22 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Step 4: While cornbread bakes, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter with 2 tablespoons honey in a small saucepan over low heat until bubbly. Serve cornbread warm with honey butter spooned over top.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter take to make?
Total time is about 37 minutes (15 min prep + 22 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a busy morning; prep components the night before to save active time.
How do I store leftover Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven; egg- or grain-based items may need a splash of milk or water to refresh texture. Cold-served items (overnight oats, smoothies) keep 2–3 days in the fridge.
Can I substitute ingredients in Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Johnson's Smoky Southern Cornbread with Honey Butter?
Southern breakfast like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
