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“This 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” ~Megan
Cornbread is one of the easiest baking projects imaginable, probably one of the very first recipes most of us learn to make. It’s delicious, and the recipe is so forgiving ~ there are a million ways to change it up. Like my pumpkin cornbread, for instance. A little pumpkin puree, some brown sugar, and a dash of molasses makes it the best cornbread I’ve ever tasted. It’s the perfect side for Thanksgiving, and I can’t even tell you how many fall meals we round out with a batch of this deliciously moist cornbread.
what you’ll need for pumpkin cornbread
- canned pumpkin puree
- Libby’s is the brand I usually buy, it’s consistently good quality. You’ve heard this a million times…but don’t confuse it with canned pumpkin pie filling!
- eggs
- brown sugar
- vegetable oil
- molasses
- corn meal
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- cardamom and nutmeg
- sub cinnamon for the cardamom if you like.
what type of cornmeal to use
You have lots of leeway here; any type of cornmeal will work for cornbread, just keep in mind the way your choice will affect the final product.
- Fine Cornmeal: Creates a soft, cake-like cornbread with a smooth texture.
- Medium Cornmeal: Results in moist, flavorful cornbread with a slightly grainy texture, striking a balance between tenderness and heartiness.
- Coarse Cornmeal (Polenta or Stone-Ground Cornmeal): Produces rustic, hearty cornbread with a pronounced corn flavor and a satisfying crunch due to larger particles.
Additionally, cornmeal can be white or yellow:
- White Cornmeal: Usually milder in flavor, producing a delicate, lighter-colored cornbread.
- Yellow Cornmeal: produces the classic ‘corny’ flavor and a deeper, golden yellow cornbread.
I love it when a recipe can be laid out in broad strokes
Pumpkin cornbread is the kind of approachable recipe that could easily be memorized.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together in a larger bowl.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet, just until combined.
- Turn into your pan and bake.
To make this recipe ahead for the holidays you can 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!
what to expect
This is a savory quick bread, meant to be served with meals in the same way you’d use regular cornbread.
The pumpkin gives this cornbread a nice moist texture and subtle flavor.
You won’t get hit over the head with a pumpkin spice vibe, I use just a hint of spice.
pumpkin cornbread tips and faqs
Yes, a 9″ square pan will work fine. If you use a standard 9×5 loaf pan you may need to bake it a little longer to get it cooked through the center.
Yes, just be sure it’s a 9″ size.
Yes, but I recommend draining or cooking down your fresh puree until it has the thick consistency of canned pumpkin, for best results.
Like many cornbread recipes this one does include a bit of sugar. Brown sugar adds moisture and brings out the flavors in this pumpkin cornbread without making it taste overtly sweet.
Yes. While I chose to underplay the pumpkin spice vibe, you could use a pumpkin spice blend to emphasize it.
Yes, use a good quality gf baking mix in place of the wheat flour. Cornmeal is naturally gluten free, but if you’re sensitive make sure yours is produced in a gluten free facility.
Yes, it freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely before wrapping and freezing to avoid condensation.
I use it in the same way I use plain cornbread: with soups and chiles, mostly. But also for when I need an easy quick bread to round out a fall meal like meatloaf, pot roast, or roast chicken, for instance.
Honey or even a hot honey would be nice. You could serve with cranberry butter, pumpkin butter, or apple butter as well.
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
- ½ tsp ground cardamom, use cinnamon or ginger if you prefer
- ¼ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large 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 together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and spices in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, eggs, pumpkin, oil, molasses, and buttermilk. Make sure it all gets thoroughly combined.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet, mixing just until there's no dry flour left.
- 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 or continue to cool to room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Other cornbread recipes to try
- The Best Blueberry Cornbread
- Hatch Green Chile Cornbread
- Boston Market Style Cornbread Recipe
- Cranberry Cornbread
- Perfect Cornbread Recipe
So delicious, I may never make regular cornbread again!
just 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.
Keep trying, Chelsey, you should be able to tweak the flavor pretty easily to your liking.
Sooo 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!
I’m so glad, I adore this cornbread, I bet you’ll be making it for years to come 🙂
I’ve made this three times in a month. It is wonderful!! Thank you!!!
It’s probably one of my favorite recipes on the blog Karen, I’m glad you liked it 🙂
to make the recipe gluten free – which gluten free flour do you recommend?
I like Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour mix, Pam, and I’ve also heard that Costco has a good one.
Ive been using almond flour and its been great!
can I do this in a cast iron skillet?
Absolutely!
Doubled the recipe for a 9×5. Took about 45 min to get done. Tasted even better the next day!
It’s one of my true favorites on the blog, Jimi!
Can you sub the molasses for anything? Maybe 2 tablespoons of brown sugar seeing it has molasses in it? Thank you!
I think that would work fine, Matt!
Cooks up beautifully.
Tastes wonderful.
Nice twists on conventional Johnny cake recipe.
Thanks Jane, glad to hear it works for you. I’ve made it numerous times and it’s super reliable!
Hello, do you put “fine” cornmeal or the other grain corn meal in this recipe?
Hi Betty! i used regular yellow cornmeal in this recipe.
I’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!
Love the idea of making it in a skillet!