Ultimate Vegan Cornbread Recipe

This easy vegan cornbread recipe is spectacular! Fluffy and moist, it's just sweet enough, rich and buttery with a kiss of heat from jalapeño peppers. Ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish, it will be your new go-to side dish with any meal especially vegan chili!

There's nothing like the smell of cornbread baking in the oven! This vegan version of Southern-style buttermilk cornbread is no exception. It's loaded with corn flavor and has the perfect cornbread texture - golden crust, moist and tender crumb dotted with kernels of corn and flecks of jalapeño peppers. We love it served warm with whipped salted maple butter. You’ll never need another homemade cornbread recipe after this one!

Why this is the Best Vegan Cornbread!

This vegan cornbread recipe is bursting with corn flavor (from two sources) and it tastes divine! It’s perfectly sweet, tender but not cakey, and crumbly but not falling apart. I can’t recommend it enough!

• Quick and easy: This is a simple cornbread recipe to make from scratch, and clean up is a breeze.
• Affordable: Cheap and easy, this homemade cornbread is made with basic pantry ingredients.
• Customizable: Make your cornbread sweet or savory, smooth or rustic, and keep it simple or load it up with all the add in!
• Versatile: Make cornbread in a cast iron skillet, a baking pan or make vegan cornbread muffins! See recipe card notes for cooking details.

Cornbread Ingredients

This recipe is made with only a handful of pantry ingredients (no egg and no dairy needed!):

• All purpose flour: I use all purpose flour for this recipe. But use 1:1 gluten free flour (like Bob's) for gluten free cornbread.
• Stone ground cornmeal: For the signature golden color and corn flavor. A medium stone ground cornmeal is the ideal texture for rustic cornbread while a fine grind cornmeal produces a more refined cakey texture. I typically make a medium-fine grind!
• Pantry items: Baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Vegan butter: For buttery rich flavor and tender moist crumb.
• Vegan buttermilk: Made by mixing non dairy milk with acid. In my testing, I found that soy milk and white vinegar or apple cider vinegar had the strongest curdling response (but you can use any non-dairy milk). The buttermilk boosts the creaminess and adds flavor.
• Maple Syrup: The hint of sweetness in this cornbread recipe comes from maple syrup.

Ingredient Variations and Notes

You've got some room to customize this stone ground cornbread recipe to make it your own family recipe:

• Hint of garlic: Slice a clove (or two) of garlic in half and put it in the hot skillet at the same time as the butter for a hint of garlic in the buttery golden bottom crust. Spectacularly subtle.
• Spicy, savory, sweet mix Ins: I always add niblets of corn (for the freshest corn flavor), green onions, and diced jalapeños to the cornbread batter to add texture, flavor, and color. These are optional, but highly recommended.
• Oil vs butter: I use melted vegan butter in this recipe for both flavor and texture. Some recipes call for oil instead of butter and some use a combination of both - your choice.
• Level of sweetness: Sub any sugar for maple syrup if you prefer. Reduce the sugar to ¼ cup if you like a less sweet cornbread. If you're used to a sweeter cornbread, bump up the sugar.
• Make it Cheesy: Stir some grated, dairy-free jalapeño jack or Tex-Mex cheese into the cornbread batter before baking.

How to Make Vegan Cornbread

You may be surprised to learn that vegan cornbread is pretty darn easy to make from scratch. It takes only a few steps and is ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish. Let's make some together:

1. Start by preheating the oven to 425º F. Stick a cast iron pan* in the oven at the same time. Use an 8-10" cast iron pan (the smaller the skillet, the thicker the cornbread).
2. While the oven heats up, mix together the wet ingredients. Stir the vegan buttermilk ingredients together and let it curdle while you melt the vegan butter.

3. Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
4. Prep the veggies: Slice the green onions and jalapeños (if using).
5. Mix the cornbread batter: Pour the wet ingredients (buttermilk, maple syrup, and melted butter) into the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.

6. Fold in any add-ins now (reserving some for sprinkling on top). The batter will be thick and pourable. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes to hydrate the cornmeal and flour.
7. Prepare the cast iron skillet: Once the batter is ready, remove the very hot cast iron pan from the oven (wear oven mitts). Add a tablespoon of butter and a clove (or two) of garlic sliced in half and swirl it around the bottom and sides of the skillet. Remove the garlic with a spoon.

8. Bake your cornbread: Swirl the cornbread batter into the hot skillet, sprinkle with reserved green onions and jalapeños (or add sliced jalapeños to the top). Return the skillet to the oven and reduce the temperature to 375º F. Bake until golden and the center is set and springs back to touch. This should take ~20 to 25 minutes.
9. Enjoy!: Let the baked cornbread cool for at least 15 minutes (or longer). Lots of time to admire how pretty it is - then slice and devour it with salted maple butter.

Expert Tips

Here's a few tips that will ensure your vegan cornbread is golden, moist and tender, but not too crumbly:

• Hot cast iron skillet: Just like making sourdough bread and overnight bread, a sizzling hot skillet will ensure an incredible crust. Swirling garlic butter on the bottom of the hot skillet right before pouring in the cornbread batter adds another layer of flavor and texture to the bottom crust.
• The perfect crumb and crust: If you cook the cornbread at too low a temperature it dries out. A higher temperature to start maximizes the bread rise and sear on the bottom crust, then lowering the temperature finishes cooking the inside for a perfectly moist and tender center.
• Million Dollar Tip: I know you're going to want to dig into your cornbread immediately because it smells so dang fantastic; but learn from my mistake. LET THE VEGAN CORNBREAD COOL for at least 15 minutes. Vegan cornbread is tender because of no eggs to bind it. It's really tender when hot, but firms up as it cools. No one wants their cornbread in their lap.

What Goes with Cornbread

We love this vegan skillet cornbread as a savory, buttery side dish on the Thanksgiving table and it pairs perfectly with the fiery intensity of vegan chilli. Plus it's a hit at barbecues, potlucks, and family get togethers. More serving suggestions:

• Find my Easy Vegan Lentil Bolognese recipe here
• With soups like: Vegan Tomato Bisque Soup, Vegetable Bean Soup, Broccoli Cauliflower Curry Soup
• Vegan Caesar Salad
• At brunch with maple butter, homemade jam, and fresh berries!

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover cornbread, it keeps well wrapped on the counter or in the fridge for up to a week. Pop it wrapped into the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Incredible Vegan Baking Recipes

Don't believe the rumors that vegan baking is boring, bland, and gummy. It's not and here's proof:

• Flaky Vegan Biscuits
• Easy Pillowy Soft Dinner Rolls
• Easiest No Knead Bread
• Ultimate Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
• Gooey Vegan Monkey Bread
• Vegan Apple Crumble

If you tried my divine Vegan Cornbread Recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and review below! Follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more delicious vegan recipes.
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