Avocado Cornbread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Avocado

by: aargersi

June18,2012

4

5 Ratings

  • Serves one 9-inch round cornbread

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

I know what you are thinking - oh for Heaven's Sake is she really making cornbread AGAIN? Yes. I am. I love cornbread, happen to have the stuff on hand (no shock there) as well as an extra avocado - a hunk of this and a salad and dinner is on the table! —aargersi

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Aargersi is a marketing database manager in Austin, Texas -- and a longtime Food52er!
WHAT: The spunkiest cornbread on the block.
HOW: Get your pan hot with some butter and cumin. Make your batter; fold in avocado and corn. Pour it all into the hot pan, and bake.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This is not your sweet, demure, cake-like cornbread. This is cornbread with real personality. The avocados retain their shape and creaminess; they're the perfect contrast to the pleasant heat and coarseness of the cornbread itself. Turns out we love avocados in just about everything -- cornbread included. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 cupstone ground cornmeal
  • 1/2 cupall purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoonsalt
  • 1/2 teaspooncayenne pepper (or more if you like spicy - I do!)
  • 2 teaspoonscumin
  • 6 tablespoonsbutter
  • 2 tablespoonshoney
  • 1 cupbuttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ear corn cut from the cob (about 1 1/2 cup)
  • 1 large ripe avocado in 1/2" cubes (about 1 1/2 cup)
  • Juice from 1/2 lime (about 2 teaspoons)
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 400. Put 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon cumin in a 9-inch iron skillet or a cake pan and stick it in the oven.
  2. Whisk the remaining dry ingredients together. Melt the remaining butter and honey together (honey measuring tip - give your measuring spoon a spritz of no-stick before pouring in the honey - it will slide right out). Mix the corn and avocado - squeeze the lime over and toss gently to coat. In a large bowl - whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Yes, you have now dirtied up 4 bowls. But you can wash them while the cornbread bakes.
  3. Slowly whisk the melted butter and honey into the buttermilk and egg. Next stir in the dry ingredients and then gently fold in the avocado and corn. Get the hot pan out of the oven and pour in the batter.
  4. Put the cornbread back in the oven and reduce the heat to 375. Bake 30-40 minutes until it is golden brown and a tester comes out clean (unless you hit avocado!)
  5. Allow to cool some before you serve.

Tags:

  • Bread
  • Cornbread
  • Avocado
  • Buttermilk
  • Cumin
  • Honey
  • Lime
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Avocados

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Sara Ann

  • Beth Arnold

  • jenny

  • sevenfaces

  • Jen Le

Recipe by: aargersi

Country living, garden to table cooking, recent beek, rescue all of the dogs, #adoptdontshop

Popular on Food52

53 Reviews

Sara A. January 11, 2019

Has anyone tried making this as mini muffins? I want to bring it to a potluck at work, and I think it would be easier to serve if they were muffins.

Phil October 29, 2018

On October 14, 2018, I added a review/comment that I have now flagged as inappropriate. The reason; yesterday, I made my life long favorite cornbread with the same cornmeal used for this recipe. It was awful and that has never happened before. So, my conclusion is that the cornmeal used to make both recipes is defective, out of date or adulterated. So, my apologies to the author of the recipe and those who seem to love this dish. As soon as I can buy a fresh batch of cornmeal, I will try this again. Hopefully, I can give this an appropriate review the next time.

Laffy T. November 12, 2017

Phenomenal! I will make this cornbread variation again and again. It must consumed fairly quickly because of the moisture the corn and avocado retain. It will get mushy and grow mold.

Beth A. December 14, 2015

We tried this yesterday. Loved it so much we made it again today! A delicious keeper!

But the recipe is poorly written and confusing. It needs to be cleaned up and edited.

aargersi December 15, 2015

I am sorry to hear that you find the recipe confusing - in what way? I just read through it again but of course I make it a lot so it's second nature. Anyhow I am glad you like it!

jenny November 6, 2015

Made this today, it was YUM. I felt there was too much butter though - when I tipped the batter into the pan, the butter came up the sides and covered the edges of the bread... and also, the cake stuck to the bottom of the pan which was a shame in terms of presentation/appearance. Any tips? Was I just too heavy handed at slopping in the batter? Thanks, lovely taste anyway!

aargersi December 15, 2015

Hi Jenny I just saw this - I have always used the same iron skillet without sticking issues - pouring the batter into the hot pan helps with that (yeah, it's a lot of butter but, well, yum, right?) and the bubbling up on the sides makes that crispy edge. I wonder if your pan needs to be seasoned a bit more? You could also try a non stick cake pan.

sevenfaces June 21, 2014

I made this in a 9'' springform and it turned out perfectly! I added a big handful of cheddar because it seemed like the right thing to do (it was) and served this beside a spicy jambalaya. So happy to have leftovers, can't wait to lay some fried eggs over chunks of this in the morning :)

aargersi June 21, 2014

Yum - that all sounds great!

Jen L. June 3, 2014

cumin was very nice! heres my first attempt at the recipe! http://youtu.be/5AFvSuiDn2Y

We made this last night for dinner and it was great! Warmed up leftovers were great too (and the avocados stayed nice and green!). I didn't have corn, so I skipped that. I also didn't have buttermilk so I used a cup of full-fat plain yogurt (not greek style) plus squeeze of lemon juice and it came out great. Another commenter mentioned the butter getting too dark in the pan. This almost happened to me and I am wondering if it is because I was using a regular metal cake pan rather than a cast iron pan. If you are using a thinner metal pan, I'd recommend checking the butter before you get the rest of the ingredients prepped- unless you are super fast at mixing up the batter! Thanks for this great recipe.

Brittan S. March 17, 2014

Had this with soupy black beans and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Perfect in every way.

susan G. March 8, 2014

Too many avocados reminded me that I hadn't made this yet. Boy, am I glad I did! Even with corn from the freezer, what usually seems forgettable to me was a star, and the avocado was really a treat. Seasoning was perfect too. I did use a gluten free flour blend for the AP, and it worked well. I crisped up leftovers with some butter in a skillet -- delicious for breakfast.

Laura S. February 19, 2014

I made this once with the avocado and it was huge hit. Second time I subbed blueberries for the avocado and left out the lime and added little sugar. The combination of the spicinesss wtb the blueberries was outstanding, especially with a touch of peach jam. Right now making it with just blueberries and added brown sugar in with the butter in the pan for the initial melting. So far, so good but I will report back the outcome. Great recipe! I may try it with raspberries or strawberries adding keeping the cayenne and cumin.

aargersi February 20, 2014

All great ideas! I think I will try blueberries too ... sounds wonderful, like a breakfast cornbread (well, cornbread is for any time of day isn't it?)

Laura S. February 22, 2014

Yep! So after making it sans cumin and cayenne, it is more breakfast-y. With the spiciness, it is much more interesting. Not tastier, just much more memorable. I prefer it. I used frozen blueberries, btw and did not thaw them, so they wouldn't burst when they were folded into the batter.

Aksmilin February 5, 2014

Is corn-on-the-cob and avocado in-season at the same time?

Goldie January 7, 2014

This was totally delicious. I used rye flour instead of the ap, but everything else was the same. It was delicious, including the avocado, which I was a little sceptical about.

Sarah A. November 24, 2013

Has anyone tried this subbing the all-purpose flour for an additional 1/2 cup of cornmeal? I'm bringing this to a potluck and there are a few gluten-free eaters in the group!

meg226 November 24, 2013

I am looking forward to making this for Thanksgiving. I don't have a 9 inch cast iron skillet, though. Can I use a glass pie plate & still heat the butter & cumin?

aargersi November 24, 2013

I would go for an alternative metal pan - do you have an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish? OR - heat the butter and cumin in a small saucepan and then just add it into the hot dish right before the batter. Cornbread is pretty forgiving so give it a try!

Renee B. November 17, 2013

Made this two days ago. It's good! Next time I'm going to cut the cayenne slightly and add a little more honey. Also, I think it would be excellent to stir a little honey into the melted butter just before pouring into the hot pan for a little added sweetness in the crunchy crust. Thanks for this one.

daisy326 October 21, 2013

Now that we're moving out of corn season- is it ok to use frozen?

aargersi October 21, 2013

absolutely - just defrost it first!

daisy326 October 21, 2013

so exciiited! Thanks- can't wait to try this!

Kathy C. October 16, 2013

This sounds so great! I am going to cook it tonight. Would that be ground cumin, not whole?

aargersi October 16, 2013

Yes ma'am! Ground it is!

Kathy C. October 16, 2013

Thanks! That's what I thought. Appreciate the reply..:)

SeeSee October 15, 2013

Great recipe! Had no idea avacados could be cooked and still look so great. Next batch was made minus the cayenne, used 1/2 t of chili powder. Lots of "heat" sensitive eaters. Still really good and loved the crispiness.

Phyllis S. October 15, 2013

The liquid portion of cornbread seems to be a huge variable. Probably yogurt with water would work as well as the buttermilk, or soy milk, or sometimes I've used apple juice or apple cider. They both ad a bit of sweetness so the honey wouldn't be necessary. Using something like half and half makes it go in the direction of creamed corn. Cornbread is so good but you have to remember to get up from the table.

Avocado Cornbread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put egg in cornbread? ›

The primary purpose of using eggs in cornbread (and with other baked goods) is to bind the ingredients together. By holding the ingredients together, the egg improves the mixture's structure and texture while allowing you to create a gel-like substance for easier processing.

What makes cornbread stick together better? ›

Add shredded cheese.

Melty, gooey cheese will hold your cornbread together and give it a fantastic flavor. Shredded cheddar cheese is best for most cornbread recipes, but you can try experimenting with another variety.

How cornbread and milk became a beloved Southern snack? ›

It was likely hungry people who wouldn't dare throw away leftover cornbread, no matter how dry or stale, and used the milk to soften it up some. Or perhaps someone had a little milk left in their glass and decided to bulk it up with some cornbread, which is what lead to the drinking glass rule.

What happens if you don't add egg to cornbread? ›

The protein in eggs provides structure in baked goods. If you try to bake a cornbread without eggs, you will find that it has a very delicate structure and doesn't hold together well. They also provide some moisture to the cornbread, and the yolks add richness.

Can I leave the egg out of cornbread? ›

Yes, but we recommend using an egg substitute, like applesauce. Eggs, or egg substitutes help add structure to the cornbread. Without an egg or substitute, the cornbread may crumble and fall apart easily.

Should cornbread batter be thick or thin? ›

The batter should be thick, but still pourable. Add more milk or buttermilk if necessary. Remove the skillet from the oven and tilt the pan so the butter coats the bottom and sides of pan.

What is the best cornmeal for cornbread? ›

As for the best cornmeal for cornbread, either fine- or medium-grind cornmeal is a great choice. Medium-grind cornmeal will bring slightly more texture and grittiness to the batter, which you may or may not want (it's up to you!). You can use fine or medium cornmeal in these extra corny muffins.

Should I use milk or water for cornbread? ›

You can substitute water for milk on a one to one basis in your recipe. It won't be quite as rich, but it will be cornbread. There are plenty of recipes for hot water cornbread. The batter is made with cornmeal, salt, sugar, and boiling water.

Should you let cornbread batter rest before baking? ›

Let the batter sit before baking.

We found that if you leave the batter to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before baking it, the cornmeal has some extra time to absorb flavor from the other ingredients and the leaveners (baking powder and baking soda) get a head start.

What ingredients keep cornbread from being dry? ›

Just like the buttermilk, sour cream can be added to help cornbread stay moist. Just like buttermilk is fermented milk left over from making butter, sour cream is fermented cream. It is actually thicker than buttermilk and has more tang to it.

Why does my Jiffy cornbread fall apart? ›

Cornbread normally cracks on top, but if it is too extreme and falling apart there are a few options. Do not over mix ingredients. Stir until they are just moistened. Add an extra egg yolk, even if the recipe doesn't call for an egg.

What is cornbread called in the South? ›

Corn pones are a staple of Southern U.S. cuisine and have been discussed or referenced by many American writers, including Mark Twain.

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

Cornbread made with regular milk is less moist and has a milder flavor. The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking powder and baking soda, which results in a softer, fluffier texture and a slightly more tangy flavor. The acidity also contributes to the browning of the cornbread.

What is the difference between cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

She notes that Northern cornbread is sweeter, lighter, and more cake-like than Southern cornbread. Not surprisingly, it includes sugar (or molasses, in the earlier centuries), unlike traditional Southern cornbread.

What keeps cornbread from falling apart? ›

Though it's worth noting that Kent also recommends adding an egg to help keep the dish intact, and egg yolks are pretty fatty. A source of protein such as yogurt may lend stability, but eggs are unbeatable in this regard. Whatever you do, don't add sand or bake your cornbread in the shape of a castle.

Can I substitute oil for an egg in cornbread? ›

1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil mixed with 1-1/2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon baking powder per egg.

What can I use to replace one egg? ›

Egg replacers
  1. Vinegar & baking soda. Replace 1 egg with: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar. ...
  2. Unsweetened applesauce. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup applesauce. ...
  3. Plain or vanilla soy yogurt. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup yogurt. ...
  4. Silken tofu. ...
  5. Ripe banana. ...
  6. Ground flaxseed.

Can you put too many eggs in cornbread? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

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