I’ve never done this before, but I’m going to try it this year—cornbread dressing. But first I’ll need to bake a grain-free, gluten-free cornbread.
I thought a little longer than usual about how to title this post. Like the mashed potato posts, the title “Cornbread” is somewhat misleading. I’m not trying to fool myself or anyone else, but it does taste like cornbread. Before I began baking gluten and grain-free, I had tried a number of cornbread recipes, and I even resorted to using the Jiffy mix on occasion.
This recipe is for cornbread, but there’s no hint of corn anywhere in it. I think that’s part of the irony of how we eat, that is based on memories of foods we expect to have or have had in the past. Or foods we want to have but avoid for health reasons, or because we’re selective in what we eat. I’d like to change that a bit, at least in my mind. It’s much easier to appreciate what a food offers rather than what it tastes like, or imitates.
So I’ve tried to change my expectations. Instead of hoping a cake will taste like the cakes I’ve had in the past using all purpose flour, I experiment to see if I can create a recipe that I like and that is appealing in it’s texture, flavor, taste, and in some cases, the cost of the ingredients.
Almond flour happens to make a great base for cornbread, even when it doesn’t contain a single grain of cornmeal. Adding coconut flour lightens up the texture, reduces the amount of nut flour in the recipe, and adds a boost of good fiber. I should mention that I do have a recipe for blueberry corn muffins that combines both almond and corn meal, but it’s not grain-free. So here’s a gluten-free and grain-free cornbread.
It’s a slightly sweet, slightly salty, slightly buttery version of cornbread. The basic kind. The softer cake-like kind, not grainy. But don’t let me stop you from adding to the fun, or changing things up. I can see adding some minced jalapeno, chili powder, chives, or some grated cheddar to make it savory. Or if you like it sweeter, add a bit more honey (about 1 tablespoon). You can also use the batter to make corn muffins. Or just bake it as a basic cornbread, as is this recipe’s intent. Cool for a minute, slice into squares and serve with a hot bowl of your favorite chili or soup.
You can also turn this into brown butter cornbread by browning the butter in a pan before adding it to the batter. I don’t always have the patience for this, but the nutty flavor of browned butter is something to consider. And the smell. Just that much better.
And if you like your cornbread to have a slightly grainy taste, as if you were using a medium grind cornmeal instead of a fine grind, cut the milk in the recipe by about half (reduce to a 1/4 cup). Another option is to use Bob’s Red Mill coconut flour because it has a slightly larger grind, so the flour grains are not as fine as some others.
Comfy Belly
Cornbread (using almond & coconut flour)
I used an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper and the bread was about an inch in thickness. To get thicker bread, use a smaller baking pan or double the recipe and use a larger pan (about 9-inch by 12-inch).Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of almond flour
- 1/4 cup of coconut flour
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup of butter, melted (you can probably sub with oil, I just haven’t tried it yet)
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1/2 cup of almond milk (or other milk; yogurt will work too)
Method
- Preheat your oven to 325° F/165° C.
- Line a baking dish (8-inche by 8-inch) with parchment paper or other non-stick covering, or grease well.
- Blend all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and blend well. I use a mixer.
- Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Cool and slice.
- Store in the refrigerator for a week or so, or seal and freeze for a few months.
Makes 9 or 16 servings when baked in an 8-inch by 8-inch pan.
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Looks awesome! Needs to go on my “to make” list!
I wish I could hug you! Really you have no idea … THANK YOU for posting this. I know this will work for me. I appreciate this so very much, have a happy blessed Thanksgiving, I am grateful for you.
Sending you a virtual hug! thanks!
One of the most difficult things to have to live without on the SCD diet is cornbread. I can’t wait to try this! One question: Being from the deep south, I have always cooked my cornbread in a hot, oiled, black iron skillet to get a crispy crust with a soft interior. Might this be possible with this recipe?
I was waiting for that question because I’m curious to know as well. I would definitely butter the skillet well.
As I too am in the deep south, I did it that way and turned out great. This is such a lovely recipe and I’m totally using your stuffing recipe this year!
Thanks Jenni! So good to know it worked. Thanks! I’m still waiting for my skillet from Amazon. Maybe today?
Is there a reason to use dairy free milk? Or would cows milk work?
I was just thinking about how I was going to have stuffing this year! Can’t wait to make this.
Same here – about the stuffing part. You can use any kind of milk, cow included.
My son can’t do eggs. Do you think flax eggs would work here given that the bread’s just going to be used in a stuffing?
I think so but you won’t know for sure until you or someone else tries it.
Just in case any egg-free folks were wondering, I substituted flax eggs for regular eggs, and I used the bread in the stuffing, and it turned out GREAT. The bread was a little darker, a little more moist, and it took a little longer to cook, but it was perfect in the stuffing.
thanks Nichole! That’s great to know.
Your ideas and recipes are awesome. I love cornbread, I miss not having it. So I will definitely try this. My question is when are you going to come out with a cook book? It would be lovely to have your recipes in a book:)
Thanks Amanda! As a matter of fact, I’m finishing up a cookbook that will be out in mid-2013
Thank you!!! I made your “corn” bread today for breakfast and it was amazing. Thank you again!
Good to hear! You’re welcome.
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Hi, I’ve just come across your website recently and have made this (cornbread) recipe and your almond flour chocolate chip cookie, both are great! I made this one using coconut oil and it turned out delicious! Thanks so much!
I made this with earth balance butter, and it turned out really well. I bet this tastes amazing with real butter, while substitute butter is good, nothing compares to that real butter taste!
I love love love your site. I am not gluten free and often cook with organic flour but your respies provide a much sought after balance to my family’s diet. I do have a question though, what is the significance of grain free. I am so insoire by your site and reccomend to folks all the time.
Thanks Samantha! and thanks for spreading the love too! The grain-free stems initially from my need to remove a lot of stuff from our diet following a protocol for Crohn’s (SCD diet – see on this site). But I do appreciate that not everyone is affected by grains. At this point I’m enjoying coconut and almond flour quite a bit, but I am curious to explore other flours/grains such as millet, rice flours, and oat flour. I’ll post something eventually. I’m also finishing up a coookbook that is for folks following a grain-free, gluten-free diet, so I’m immersed in those recipes at the moment.
You know when a recipe is good, when your kids want to eat it !! I found this recipe as I was desperate for a fatter free bread type than my ham and cheese muffins I had been making as a staple. These are really, really good and do taste like cornbread !!
Thanks.
Thanks Tanya. So true – kids are a good barometer and reality check for lots of things
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If you choose not to use Bob’s Red Mill coconut flour because it has a slightly larger grind, what brand of coconut flour do you recommend?
I currently use either Tropical Traditions or Honeyville Grain. I will use Bob’s as well, but I grind it down in my food processor first.
I just made this and it was AMAZING! I am so happy to have come across your blog. Thanks for the great recipes!