Pumpkin Cornbread ~ if you haven’t tried it, this should be your first baking project this fall. It’s the perfect side dish for soups, stews, and chilis, and it’s a must on your Thanksgiving and holiday tables. It’s super moist, the texture is perfect and the flavor is game-changing.
Cornbread is one of the easiest baking projects imaginable, probably one of the very first recipes most of us learn to make.
The fact that it’s so quick and easy explains why it’s such a holiday staple, you can pretty much throw it together amid all the chaos with your eyes closed.
The only drawback to classic cornbread is that it can be, ahem, dry. Who among us hasn’t choked on a big old chunk of the stuff? First you cough, and the little dry crumbs get caught in your throat as you gasp for air, then you try to salvage the situation by taking a big gulp of red wine and then…you know the rest. But mercifully, this recipe solves all that ~ the dose of pumpkin puree makes this recipe extra moist.
I’m a pumpkin fanatic, and I try to wedge it into as many recipes as I can think of this time of year.
But I know if I’m not careful everything I make will end up tasting like pumpkin pie. I avoid using too much of the classic pie spices in my savory pumpkin dishes for that very reason. This time I used a combination of nutmeg and cardamom which gives is a subtle aromatic boost. My only dilemma is whether to serve this on Thanksgiving as is, or to make a Pumpkin Cornbread Stuffing out of it. I’ll probably do both 😉
I love it when a recipe can be laid out in broad strokes, it makes it so much more approachable.
This one is simply a matter of whisking the dry ingredients, whisking the wet ingredients, and mixing the two. This is another recipe that you could mix the dry and wet separately the night before and bake off the next day. Cornbread cooks quickly, so you could actually bake it while the turkey rests, and bring it to the table hot out of the oven.
Tip ~ try serving this pumpkin cornbread with a drizzle of my Hot Pepper Honey, it’s a winning combo!
Pumpkin Cornbread
Equipment
- 9 inch round cake pan or spring form pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom use cinnamon or ginger if you prefer
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp molasses
- 1/3 cup buttermilk or milk
Instructions
- Set the oven to 375F
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a small bowl, try to smooth out any brown sugar lumps.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together in a larger bowl. Add the dry to the wet, and mix until just combined.
- Turn into a buttered 9 inch spring form pan, spreading out evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool for a few minutes in the pan, then remove and serve warm.
Other cornbreads to try ~
- The Best Blueberry Cornbread
- Hatch Green Chile Cornbread
- Cheddar Kale Skillet Cornbread
- Fall Spiced Cornbread
52 Comments
Cindy
November 11, 2020 at 6:47 pmIf using for your pumpkin stuffing how far ahead can the cornbread be made?
Sue
November 12, 2020 at 5:49 amYOu can make the cornbread up to a week in advance, or even further if you want to freeze it.
Dan
September 8, 2020 at 6:02 pmWhat kind of cornmeal do u use in this recipe, yellow or white?
Sue
September 8, 2020 at 6:22 pmI use yellow.
Gemini Keyes
September 7, 2020 at 5:17 pmI don’t like corn bread but I think I will like it with this flavor added to it.
Johana
April 30, 2020 at 6:01 pmHi. Dying to try this unique combination of flavours. Was wondering if I could reduce the sugar? Not really into an overly sweet cornbread.
Sue
April 30, 2020 at 7:14 pmYes, feel free to reduce it up to half the amount.
Megan
February 12, 2020 at 6:14 pmThis is our favorite cornbread. My husband said not to make any others in the future. It’s awesome at the bottom of a bowl of black bean chili
Sue
February 12, 2020 at 6:24 pmNot to toot my own horn, but I have to agree with you Megan, love this stuff. For some reason I tend to save it for fall, but a bowl of black bean chili sounds pretty good right now.
Rachel
November 17, 2018 at 5:14 amIf I don’t have a springform pan, what do you suggest I use? Will and 8×8 do? Should I do them as minis in muffin tins? Thank you!
Sue
November 17, 2018 at 5:24 amIf you have a 9 or 10 inch cake pan that will work, I would line it with a circle of parchment. The bread should release easily after it cools a bit. A cast iron skillet (10 inch) works well. I haven’t tried this in an 8×8, I would think a 9×9 would be better. Muffins should work well too!
Rachel
November 17, 2018 at 6:56 amThank you! I’ll try the muffin tins since my only skillet is a grill-bottom
Karen
November 16, 2018 at 6:27 pmSo delicious, I may never make regular cornbread again!
chelsey
November 15, 2018 at 4:42 pmjust made this for the fun of it. subbed coconut sugar for the brown sugar because I had it and baked in a 9″x9″ for 26 min. it is not what I expected. very delicate and fluffy, but not the flavor for which I was hoping. if I try again I’ll sub ginger for the cardamom.
Sue
November 15, 2018 at 6:15 pmKeep trying, Chelsey, you should be able to tweak the flavor pretty easily to your liking.
Meghan
October 8, 2018 at 3:30 amSooo good! I was bummed because my first batch came out super dense, and I followed the directions to the T…until I realized I didn’t. Haha. I only put in a tsp of baking powder instead of a Tbsp, guess that what happens when you let your kids helps you bake and get distracted!! The second batch was right on point!
Sue
October 8, 2018 at 9:28 amI’m so glad, I adore this cornbread, I bet you’ll be making it for years to come 🙂
Karen
October 16, 2017 at 10:35 amI’ve made this three times in a month. It is wonderful!! Thank you!!!
Sue
August 25, 2018 at 2:35 pmIt’s probably one of my favorite recipes on the blog Karen, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
pam
November 23, 2016 at 7:07 amto make the recipe gluten free – which gluten free flour do you recommend?
Sue
November 23, 2016 at 8:12 amI like Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour mix, Pam, and I’ve also heard that Costco has a good one.
Leandra Wright
November 24, 2016 at 10:09 amIve been using almond flour and its been great!
Boomdog02
November 9, 2016 at 11:54 amcan I do this in a cast iron skillet?
Sue
April 30, 2020 at 7:28 pmAbsolutely!
Jimi Oke
November 21, 2014 at 2:13 pmDoubled the recipe for a 9×5. Took about 45 min to get done. Tasted even better the next day!
Sue
November 21, 2014 at 8:09 pmIt’s one of my true favorites on the blog, Jimi!
Matt
September 22, 2014 at 8:23 pmCan you sub the molasses for anything? Maybe 2 tablespoons of brown sugar seeing it has molasses in it? Thank you!
Sue
September 23, 2014 at 9:36 amI think that would work fine, Matt!
Jane Phelps
November 10, 2013 at 3:18 pmCooks up beautifully.
Tastes wonderful.
Nice twists on conventional Johnny cake recipe.
Sue
November 10, 2013 at 3:33 pmThanks Jane, glad to hear it works for you. I’ve made it numerous times and it’s super reliable!
Betty
November 29, 2013 at 6:44 amHello, do you put “fine” cornmeal or the other grain corn meal in this recipe?
Sue
November 29, 2013 at 8:11 amHi Betty! i used regular yellow cornmeal in this recipe.
Foodiewife
September 7, 2013 at 10:43 amI’m from the North– well, technically “West”. I like sweetened cornbread, which would make Southern Belles hunt me down and lecture me. Sold! Definitely adding this to my fall menu. Making this in my cast iron skillet!
Sue
September 7, 2013 at 2:18 pmLove the idea of making it in a skillet!
Lena
September 7, 2013 at 7:48 amThanks for sharing this Pumpkin Cornbread recipe. I will try it as so as possible.
Sue
September 7, 2013 at 2:23 pmLet me know how you like it, Lena!
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:02 pmSo glad to hear it, I’ll be making it again on Thursday!
Stav
November 19, 2012 at 2:55 amTired it today! Turned out so delicious! Thank you!
Anonymous
November 18, 2012 at 10:30 pmThis is beautiful! One question, could you also make this in a cast iron skillet?
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:04 pmSure, that would be really beautiful, too. I don’t use cast iron very often, but I would guess you’d want to grease the pan well, unless you have one of those vintage ‘perfectly seasoned by years of use’ pans!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
November 14, 2012 at 6:39 pmSue this is gorgeous! I have been waiting for the big reveal since you teased about it yesterday. And with the hot pepper honey, I would be in HEAVEN!
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:15 pmThe hot pepper honey on top was an unexpected surprise, it’s fun when things work out that way.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
November 15, 2012 at 2:20 amBeautiful! And, what a fun idea to combine cornbread with pumpkin!
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:05 pmThey are a natural together, Sarah. Hope you try it!
Rosita Vargas
November 15, 2012 at 12:27 amEsta receta me encantó se ve muy deliciosa luce preciosa la calabaza es mi adoración me encanta,lindas fotos gracias por visitarme,abrazos hugs,hugs.
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:05 pmThanks Rosita!
shannon weber
November 14, 2012 at 11:46 pmwhat an excellent combination! i would have never thought to put cornbread and pumpkin together, but i can’t for the life of me figure out why not. seriously brilliant. Although I shouldn’t relay the actual words which popped into my head when i first saw the title and the photos, it’s safe to say i was thrilled. 🙂
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:08 pmThanks Shannon, it is funny, isn’t it, how some combinations never see the light of day and others get used ad nauseum.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
November 14, 2012 at 11:39 pmI couldn’t wait to see this recipe – it sounds and looks amazing. Can’t wait until you decide whether or not to make dressing with it. Sounds wonderful!
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:10 pmThis is my go to cornbread from now on, for sure. And I did make the dressing and it was just as good as I’d imagined. I’m glad I did a dry run before the big day, I might have been afraid to try it otherwise.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen
November 14, 2012 at 9:07 pmFirst of all, this is gorgeous and second, I am a southerner so I love my cornbread. What a nice idea to use the pumpkin in it for Thanksgiving. It also would be great with soup.
Sam
Sue/the view from great island
November 19, 2012 at 8:13 pmI’m glad it got the thumbs up from an expert…thanks Sam!