Monument Circle Spiced Cornbread with Maple Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-01 · Updated 2026-05-01

A moist and tender cornbread enriched with warm spices and served with a sweet maple butter, inspired by the iconic Monument Circle's enduring spirit. This American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

The cast-iron skillet we’d sear this in → Best Cast Iron Skillets for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease an 8-inch square baking pan with 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until evenly combined.
3. Step 3: In a separate medium bowl, whisk 1 cup buttermilk, 1 large egg, and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter until smooth and slightly frothy.
4. Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix to keep the cornbread tender.
5. Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
6. Step 6: While baking, prepare the maple butter by combining 1/4 cup room temperature unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup in a small bowl; beat with a fork until creamy and fluffy.
7. Step 7: Remove the cornbread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm with a generous spread of the maple butter.