Maple Brown Butter Cornbread

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This flavorful and delicious recipe for Maple Brown Butter Cornbread will have you wondering if it’s actually cake. Moist with sweet brown butter and pure maple syrup, it’s perfect as a snack or dessert.

stack of maple brown butter cornbread

I love combining unique flavors, so this cornbread is right up my alley. With the sweetness of pure maple syrup and browned butter, you can enjoy this sweet treat as a dessert or a snack.

The texture of this maple brown butter cornbread is moist, but it has a welcoming crumble to the crumb and a rich sweetness from the maple syrup and brown butter.

This is my third variety of cornbread, but this recipe is sweeter than my Southern Cornbread. And you’ll find that it’s more of a dessert cornbread, unlike my Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins.


Why this recipe works

  • Using fine cornmeal keeps the cornbread from drying out.
  • Pairing the cornbread with maple and brown butter adds not only sweetness but flavor that is unlike any other cornbread.
  • The addition of maple syrup also adds extra moisture.
maple brown butter cornbread topped with maple butter

Maple Brown Butter Cornbread

I’m from the south and grew up eating cornbread all the ways possible. I’ve had it fried, baked in sheets, muffins, savory, sweet, crumbled in a glass of milk, served alongside chili, mixed with baked beans…

You name it, I’ve probably had it. But there’s one cornbread that stands out among all the others. Boston Market’s cornbread. It’s like cake!

Although today’s cornbread isn’t exactly like the one we remember, it is so sweet and delicious; you will swear it is a piece of cake.


How to make Maple Brown Butter Cornbread

  1. Brown the butter and set aside to cool.
brown butter in a white sauté pan
  1. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
  2. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients.
  3. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients.
wet ingredients being poured into dry ingredients
  1. Mix until just blended.
cornbread batter mixed in a bowl
  1. Add to a greased pan.
cornbread batter being poured into a pan
  1. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
freshly baked cornbread still in the pan
  1. Serve with maple butter.
maple brown butter cornbread stacked

Tips For Success

  • Follow the recipe closely. Mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately before combining them helps prevent over mixing, which will make the cornbread tough.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. Batters mix evenly when all the ingredients are about the same temperature. Set the ingredients out about one hour before beginning and allow the brown butter to cool before using it.
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding one teaspoon of lemon juice (white vinegar works too) to ¾ cups of whole milk. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will appear curdled, this is normal.

Freezing & Storing

Storing: Wrap the cooled cornbread tightly or place in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To Freeze: For longer storage, freeze baked and cooled cornbread for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving or warm it in the microwave or in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.

maple brown butter cornbread stacked
4.79 from 23 votes

Maple Brown Butter Cornbread

This wonderful maple brown butter cornbread is moist and packed with the flavor of maple and the enhanced richness of brown butter.
Prep Time :20 minutes
Cook Time :30 minutes
Total Time :50 minutes
Servings :16
Author :Jen Sobjack

Ingredients

For the cornbread

  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup (120 g) yellow cornmeal
  • 1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup (177 ml) buttermilk
  • ¾ cup (177 ml) pure maple syrup

For the Maple Butter

  • ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Instructions
 

Make the cornbread

  • Heat the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. As the butter melts, swirl the pan frequently. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the butter turns a light amber color and has a nutty aroma. Watch it closely, it can go from brown to burnt rather quickly. Remove from heat, transfer to a small glass bowl, and let cool.
  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and lightly flour an 8×8-inch square baking pan. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, maple syrup, and cooled butter. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just blended.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Make the butter

  • In a small bowl, stir the butter and maple syrup until blended. Serve with the warm cornbread.

Video

Notes

  • Follow the recipe closely. Mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately before combining them helps prevent over mixing, which will make the cornbread tough.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. Batters mix evenly when all the ingredients are about the same temperature. Set the ingredients out about one hour before beginning and allow the brown butter to cool before using it.
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding one teaspoon of lemon juice (white vinegar works too) to ¾ cups of whole milk. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. The mixture will appear curdled, this is normal.
Make ahead tip
  • To Store: Wrap the cooled cornbread tightly or place in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • To Freeze: For longer storage, freeze baked and cooled cornbread for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving or warm it in the microwave or in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 93mgPotassium: 150mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 301IUCalcium: 59mgIron: 1mg
*Nutrition Disclaimer
Course :Appetizer
Cuisine :American
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Recipe Rating




36 Comments

  1. Freshly made maple syrup must be the best thing ever. Second only to this cornbread! Two of my favorites in every bite!

    1. There’s nothing quite like it. And it’s heaven in cornbread!

  2. This cornbread looks so incredible, Jen! I love the browned butter and maple syrup in here! And with the maple butter too? It sounds perfect!

    1. It really was the perfect combination! I’ve eaten far more than I should!

  3. Holy moly this looks sensational girl! I want some of this right now. And thank you so much for including my cornbread. Yours is the next I want to try!

    1. Thanks, Jocelyn! I just know you’re going to love it!

  4. YUM! I LOVE cornbread. I usually have the savory kind, but this sweet version looks amazing. I’ve never tried Boston Market cornbread and sadly, we don’t have Boston Market in Utah anymore. I can’t wait to make this at home! Pinned!

    1. Awe, boo for no longer having a Boston Market in Utah! I haven’t seen one in ages, so I’m not sure if there are any at all anymore. If you have the chance you really should try this one. It’s so good. And it can be dessert!

  5. I love cornbread in just about any variety, but I totally agree — Boston Market’s was always one of the best. This recipe sounds SO good. Pinned!

    1. I’m so glad you know what I’m talking about! Are they even still around? I have moved so much since leaving NC and haven’t seen once since. Hubs swears we ate at an Arby’s/Boston Market combo in VA a few years ago but I don’t remember this at all!!

      1. I think that there are still a few left, but not any where I live. 🙁 I think it’s been AT LEAST 10 years since I’ve stepped foot in one as well. Such a “thing” of my childhood!

  6. Jen, I LOVE this cornbread!!! Grandma’s trusted recipe is always a good place to start and love the maple butter. . ohmygawd!!!

    1. Thanks so much, Alice! This is now my favorite recipe. It’s so special!

  7. I would love to go to a maple festival! How fun! And this cornbread sounds SO good, Jen! I love making this and slathering it with honey and butter. The addition of maple and brown butter sounds amazing! Pinned!

    1. They had so much fun there! I was a bit jealous. The cornbread was the best! You need to try it, Gayle!

  8. Annie @Maebells says:

    5 stars
    This is basically perfect! I adore cornbread, it is probably my favorite food. But I usually prefer savory cornbread to sweet, BUT I think this would change my mind!