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.
Recipe Notes
If you don't have a cast iron skillet, prepare the brown butter in a separate saucepan and bake the cornbread in a greased 8x8" pan.
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
October 9, 2014 at 5:28 amCast 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.
Lucie says
October 26, 2014 at 4:54 pmA 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.
Manali @ CookWithManali says
October 9, 2014 at 9:19 amNow you are tempting me to buy a cast iron skillet! This bread looks fantastic, love the texture! Pinned!
Rachel Conners says
October 9, 2014 at 11:02 amI’ve seriously used mine almost daily since getting it!! Thanks for the pin, Manali!
Matt Robinson says
October 9, 2014 at 9:42 amThis is one amazing cornbread, love the flavors!!
Julia @ Sprinkled With Jules says
October 9, 2014 at 9:49 amI 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
Annie @Maebells says
October 9, 2014 at 11:09 amYou 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!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
October 9, 2014 at 12:26 pmI 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
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
October 9, 2014 at 12:49 pmCornbread is my absolute favorite, especially when the weather gets cooler! I absolutely love that you used browned butter and sage. Sounds so amazing, Rachel!
[email protected] says
October 9, 2014 at 2:02 pmCast 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. :)
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says
October 9, 2014 at 2:13 pmUm cast iron skillets are da best!!! So glad to see you got one…those cookies. CANT WAIT!
Steph K. says
October 9, 2014 at 2:25 pmYumm – 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?
Rachel Conners says
October 9, 2014 at 9:18 pmYup – I had no problems with sticking, and that’s what that last tablespoon of butter in the pan will help prevent :)
Claudia @Breakfast Drama Queen says
October 9, 2014 at 2:30 pmOooh, this sounds delicious! Such an interesting take on cornbread!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
October 9, 2014 at 2:35 pmI love that you added sage to this and the texture looks absolutely perfect!
Fareseason says
October 9, 2014 at 4:04 pmWow this sounds and looks delicious! Pinned!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
October 9, 2014 at 4:39 pmMy skillet kind of changed my life, too! And… I make cookies with my 10 inch… no shame? This cornbread sounds amazing, I love sage. Can’t wait to see what other skillet goodies you’ll come up with!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
October 9, 2014 at 5:53 pmI am right there with you being behind on the whole skillet thing…um, seeing this absolutely delicious sounding cornbread I need to go find mine and make this asap! I just came across your blog because you commented on mine (thank you) and it is absolutely gorgeous! I’ll definitely be a regular :)
Rachel Conners says
October 9, 2014 at 9:20 pmAw thanks girl!! Just found yours too and am loving it!
Michele @ Two Raspberries says
October 10, 2014 at 5:00 amlove this, I love corn bread muffins so this looks totally delicious, I’ve never had it like this before! YUM-O!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
October 10, 2014 at 5:31 amThis cornbread is seriously calling my name!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
October 10, 2014 at 8:34 amI could eat cornbread for every meal, forever and never get sick of it! I LOVE it in a cast-iron skillet, nothing beats that crisp crust it gets! And HELLO brown butter and sage, my absolute favorite fall flavor combo!
Mira says
October 10, 2014 at 10:02 amI love the idea of baking in a cast iron skillet! I have one, but never use it (I don’t know why!) This bread looks absolutely delicious and I have to try it! Pinned!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
October 10, 2014 at 11:21 amYay for a cast iron skillet girl :) Love that you made cornbread – the browne butter and sage sound fantastic in here!
PassTheKnife says
October 10, 2014 at 11:32 amThere’s nothing more comforting than a nice slice of cornbread! And the skillet will help give it that nice crunchy crust on the outside!
Rachel Conners says
October 10, 2014 at 11:52 amThe crust is the best part! :)
Mary Frances says
October 10, 2014 at 2:53 pmI still have to get one too … this is like deja vu (looking at you donut pan ;) ) Mmm, skillet cornbread sounds like the perfect fall side dish!
Ashley says
October 11, 2014 at 4:47 pmI never had a cast iron skillet until last year and now I’m obsessed! This looks awesomeeee. You had me immediately at brown butter :)
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
October 12, 2014 at 2:06 amHello! :-)
I have a skillet that looks almost exactly like yours and so as I was reading this post I got all exciting about trying to find ways to use it again!
I think my first recipe to try in it should be this cornbread … it sounds amazing with the creamed corn in it!
Rachel Conners says
October 12, 2014 at 9:16 amThanks Helen! The creamed corn helps keep this cornbread super soft and flavorful :) and go find that skillet! It needs to be loved!
Julie | This Gal Cooks says
October 13, 2014 at 5:47 pmI love love LOVE my cast iron skillet! In fact, it’s the only skillet I use anymore, unless I’m making a huge one skillet meal that requires my larger stainless steel skillet. I may break down and buy a 12 inch cast iron, though. I’d much rather use cast iron!
Anyways, this bread, OMG, it looks so good. Brown butter and sage in a cornbread recipe is genius!
Alicia says
September 29, 2017 at 7:12 pmHi,
Have you experimented with the recipe to make it gluten free or do you have a suggestion on how to do it?
I am living in Mexico & I think I could get all the ingredients to make this!
Rachel says
October 2, 2017 at 12:06 pmHi Alicia, I don’t have a GF version of this recipe at this time but I’m hoping to have a gluten free cornbread recipe up soon!