Sweet and Spicy Cornbread
Today’s jalapeno cornbread is a sister to my classic buttermilk cornbread recipe. It has a perfect balance of sweet and heat with just the right amount of kick from fresh jalapeno (though it’s definitely not a straight-up spicy cornbread). It’s also incredibly moist and tender, thanks to buttermilk and some sugar–in other words, it’s cornbread perfection!
You will love this jalapeno cornbread because it:
Comes together quickly and easily WITHOUT a mixer Makes great for pairing with chili and so many other dishes (more suggestions below!). Has a balanced flavor without being too sweet or spicy. Tastes incredible, but is even better with a dab of honey butter.
This is actually an update of an old recipe that wasn’t cutting it for me any longer. While the old recipe tasted just fine, it was a bit too crumbly. Granted cornbread ought to have some crumble, but I wanted an excuse to revamp things 😄 Don’t worry though, if you were a fan of the original recipe, you can still find it at the bottom of the recipe card below!
What You Need
Cornmeal. I stick with yellow cornmeal here, but you can always use white cornmeal if that’s what you have on hand. Keep in mind white cornmeal will have a more delicate flavor though! Jalapeno. You’ll want to de-seed and finely dice your jalapenos before adding them to the cornbread. Just like when making my jalapeno poppers, you should wear gloves while doing this–jalapeno hands are no fun! Buttermilk. A key ingredient! Buttermilk adds moisture and flavor to our jalapeno cornbread. If you don’t have the real stuff on hand, use my easy buttermilk substitute. Sugar. Yes, this is a sweet cornbread! Don’t worry though, it’s not overly sweet or cakey. We’ll use a blend of sugars for best flavor: both granulated and light brown sugar.
SAM’S TIP: If you don’t like sweet cornbread, you can always adjust the sugars to taste. I do recommend trying this recipe as written at least once though! Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Jalapeno Cornbread
SAM’S TIP: Do NOT over-mix your batter! Like any quick bread (muffins, pancakes, etc.), this jalapeno cornbread will become too dense when over-mixed, specifically when combining the wet and dry ingredients. Looking for more quick and easy breads? Try my garlic cheese drop biscuits! Enjoy! Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube.
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