Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (2024)

Soft, sweet, buttery, and consistently delicious every time… this is the only vegan cornbread recipe you’ll ever need.

Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (1)

Easy vegan cornbread recipe

Say hello to your new favorite cornbread.

The recipe is super easy to make, with just a few basic ingredients you can always keep on hand. No eggs, no milk or butter, and no flax seeds or expensive specialty flours.

It’s the perfect plant based healthy comfort food for serving alongside a bowl of homemade tortilla soup or vegetarian bean chili.

Also try this Vegan Mac and Cheese

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Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (4)

This homemade cornbread recipe is suitable for multiple special diets, as it can be made egg free, dairy free, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, and oil free.

The recipe reminds me of the famous Jiffy cornbread mix I grew up on, just without all the preservatives and hydrogenated lard.

With a tender and moist texture and soft buttery flavor, it has all the homestyle goodness of the classic Jiffy version and yet is much healthier for you (and secretly vegan!) at the same time.

Readers also love these Vegan Brownies

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What do you eat with cornbread?

Vegan cornbread is the perfect side for a main dish of Vegetarian Chili or a thick and hearty soup, such as my favorite Lentil Soup Recipe.

It’s also delicious smothered in gravy (try this Mushroom Gravy) or served alongside roasted vegetables, sweet potato salad, vegetable stew, baked beans, mango salsa, or crumbled into milk and topped with berries or sliced banana and peanut butter for a filling and healthy breakfast.

And of course it’s a great recipe for any holiday party or big event, including Christmas, Easter, New Years Day (where cornbread is thought to represent good luck and prosperity thanks to its golden color), or a vegan Thanksgiving dinner feast.

I brought it to Super Bowl Sunday one year – along with these Buffalo Cauliflower Wings – and people couldn’t get enough!

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What type of cornmeal is best?

Typically, cornbread from scratch is made with either fine or medium ground cornmeal.

Course cornmeal (the kind used to make polenta) technically works here, but the texture of the finished product will be somewhat gritty.

For this recipe, feel free to use either white or yellow cornmeal. Regular cornmeal should be available at grocery stores in the same section as flour; or whole grain cornmeal is often at health food stores or Whole Foods. Either will work here.

Healthy cornbread ingredients

This simple cornbread is made with pantry staple ingredients, including flour, cornmeal, vinegar, salt, baking powder, and sweetener of choice.

Feel free to use fresh, frozen thawed, or canned and drained corn.

Cornbread is great topped with vegan butter spread, peanut or almond butter, strawberry jam, or even coconut butter.

Or stir a handful of blueberries, raisins, or jalapeños into the batter just before baking. You can also use it to make stuffing or as the base for a savory southern style cornbread casserole.

While I like to use nondairy butter spread, oil or even almond butter also work. Or if you need a low-fat version, you can replace the fat with an equal amount of applesauce. The resulting texture will be a bit gummy, but if you’re used to fat-free baking, that shouldn’t be a problem as long as you’re not serving the low-fat version at a party where the guests are expecting traditional cornbread.

Trending this week: Chia Pudding Recipes

Above – watch the vegan cornbread recipe video

How to make vegan cornbread

To make the cornbread, start by whisking together all liquid ingredients.

Let the batter sit for at least 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line or grease an 8×8 pan.

Combine all ingredients, pour into the prepared pan, and bake for 25 minutes on the oven’s center rack.

The recipe texture is much better the second day, so let sit overnight—very loosely covered—before tasting if possible.

This easy cornbread recipe is great for meal prep.

You can cook it in a square or round pan or cast iron skillet, or you can even turn it into vegan corn muffins if you’d prefer.

Leftovers can be loosely covered an refrigerated for 2-3 days, or you can also slice and freeze them for a rainy day!

Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (8)

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Vegan Cornbread

A soft and delicious homemade vegan cornbread recipe.

Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (10)

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Print Recipe

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Yield 9 large squares

5 from 22 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk of choice
  • 1 tbsp white or cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp applesauce
  • 3 tbsp buttery spread, oil, almond butter, or additional applesauce for fat-free
  • 1 1/3 cup corn
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup spelt, white, oat, or gf ap flour
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp sugar or your favorite sweetener of choice

Instructions

  • To make the cornbread, whisk together all liquid ingredients and let sit 10 minutes or more. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line or grease an 8×8 pan. Combine all ingredients, pour into the pan, and bake 25 minutes. The recipe texture is much better the second day, so let sit overnight—very loosely covered—before tasting if possible.

    View Nutrition Facts

Notes

*See recommendations earlier in the post if unsure what type of cornmeal and fat sources will yield best results. If turning the recipes into muffins, shorten the baking time to 17 minutes. And if you’re a visual person, be sure to check out the recipe video above!

The vegan cornbread recipe was adapted from these Applesauce Muffins.

Have you made this recipe?

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More Vegan Bread Recipes

Pumpkin Banana Bread

Vegan Lemon Bread

Healthy Banana BreadOIL FREE Option

Chocolate Banana Bread

Pineapple Bread

Cranberry Orange Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bread

(Recipe from my breakfast ebook)

Vegan Cornbread –The BEST Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Which cornbread mix is vegan? ›

The Cotton Creations Vegan Honey Pecan Cornbread mix has the perfect balance of sweet and buttery. It's so moist you won't know if you're eating cornbread or cake. The mix includes a package of candied pecans and vegan honey (inside the bag of mix).

Can I substitute almond milk for regular milk in cornbread? ›

Almond milk – For moisture. If you don't keep almond milk on hand, feel free to substitute a different type of milk. My homemade oat milk or regular cow's milk would work here too. An egg – It adds richness and helps the cornbread puff up in the oven.

What happens if you use water instead of milk in cornbread? ›

Water: Water can be used as a substitute for milk in Jiffy cornbread. It may result in a slightly drier and less rich texture, but it will still work. Buttermilk: Buttermilk is a good substitute for milk in Jiffy cornbread. It will add a tangy flavor and a moist texture.

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Adding about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of extra butter or vegetable oil can increase the moistness of your cornbread. You can do this even if your recipe doesn't call for butter or oil. Replace milk or water with creamed corn. If your recipe calls for milk or water, try replacing it with creamed corn.

Why is Jiffy not vegan? ›

Jiffy cornbread mix is not vegan because it contains lard, a clarified fat derived from the belly of a pig.

Is Krusteaz cornbread vegan? ›

This product is not vegan as it lists 1 ingredient that derives from animals and 2 ingredients that could derive from animals depending on the source.

What happens if you use almond milk instead of whole milk? ›

Substituting almond milk in baking

In many cases, using almond milk instead of cow's milk won't affect taste or texture. However, almond milk is thinner than dairy milk and has less fat, so recipes that need butterfat might have a different texture if you make them with almond milk.

What can I use to make Jiffy cornbread if I don t have milk? ›

Can I use a milk substitute in “JIFFY” Mix recipes? “JIFFY” mixes can also be prepared with water or plant-based milk alternatives like soy, almond or coconut milk. Pineapple or orange juice may be substituted for flavor variation in the corn and fruit muffins.

Can I use mayonnaise instead of milk in cornbread? ›

You can decide of course whether or not you will be using the egg whites, yolk, or the entire egg. Add 1/3 cup of mayonnaise to the egg bowl. As shocking as it may seem, mayonnaise is a perfect substitute for milk when making cornbread for the lactose intolerant.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk in cornbread? ›

Sour Cream can be substituted for milk in cornbread but will need to be thinned. I recommend using 75% sour cream and 25% water. Sour Cream will also change the taste of the cornbread and will add a slight tangy flavor which can be counteracted by using a small amount of vanilla extract.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for cornbread? ›

You can substitute heavy cream for 1/2 cup milk plus 1/2 cup sour cream, combined. You can also substitute the cream for milk. Use 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of milk plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter to the batter. The cornbread will have a close texture.

Is it better to use buttermilk or milk in cornbread? ›

I recommend using buttermilk in this cornbread recipe for the best texture; it helps keep it soft and moist. If you use just regular milk for this recipe, your cornbread will come out drier than I personally care for, but since cornbread is classically crumbly, you might be able to get away with it.

Should you let cornbread batter rest? ›

1Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). We recommend allowing cornbread batter to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, so if you prefer, you can delay heating the oven until you make the batter. 2Melt the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.

Will an extra egg make cornbread less crumbly? ›

An Extra egg will tend to make a firmer, more cakelike texture to your cornbread. This may make it less of a traditional cornbread and less likely to crumble.

What causes cornbread to fall in the middle? ›

While not a professional chef, my experience with corn bread, be it packaged or made from scratch is if you over mix it, it's gonna fall! Also, let it sit for 4-5 minutes after gently scraping it into the pan and let the ingredients start their magic reactions. No peeking while baking!! That can make it fall too.

Is Jiffy biscuit mix vegan? ›

Contains: milk, soy, wheat. ,do not eat raw batter, dough or mix.

Is all Jiffy cornbread mix vegetarian? ›

The only difference between our original 1950 recipe “JIFFY” Corn Muffin Mix and our new “JIFFY” Vegetarian Corn Muffin Mix is the shortening. The new vegetarian version is made using vegetable shortening. Otherwise, the mixes are the same.

What is a substitute for eggs in Jiffy cornbread mix? ›

Additionally, ensure you're not using store-bought sweetened applesauce, as this can cause your Jiffy cornbread to be very sweet and sugary. Pro-tip: Use ¼ cup of applesauce for every egg in your cornbread recipe.

Is Jiffy Cornbread Mix dairy free? ›

Jiffy Honey Corn Muffin Mix Bakes Into A Sweet Golden Muffin Or Cornbread. This product is likely dairy free.

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