Aunt Bernice's Cornbread

Name: Aunt Bernice's Cornbread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 cup cornmeal; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup buttermilk; 3 tablespoons sugar; 1 egg; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons shortening

Submitted by Kim D.

"I received this recipe from my cousin Leslie when putting together our family cookbook. The recipe belonged to her grandmother, Bernice Peters Chastain (my grandpa's sister). She said that she originally used white cornmeal, but her family always thought it looked "anemic" so they used yellow cornmeal. I believe this is the perfect southern cornbread recipe! It's actually the only cornbread that my step-son will eat!"

Download

photo by Kim D.

Ready In:: 35mins
Ingredients:: 9
Serves:: 8

ingredients

1 cup cornmeal
¹⁄₂ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking powder
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons shortening

directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Combine all ingredients except for 2 tablespoons of shortening; Mix well.
In an iron skillet, place 2 tablespoons shortening.
Place skillet in oven for a few minutes, until shortening is melted.
Remove skillet from oven and pour cornbread batter on top of melted shortening.
(Don't mix) Bake for 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
~NOTE~If you don’t have an iron skillet, you may use a 8-inch round cake pan, using the same directions.

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!

Reviews

This is wonderfu! A true Southern cornbread recipe right down to the cast iron skillet. I did substitute bacon drippings for the shortning though, and let the fat get really hot before pouring in the cornbread so the bottom would come out crispy (the way we like it). The bread itself was light and oh so tasty, and not too crumbly. With some honey on the side......we were in heaven. Thanks Kim for sharing your Aunt's recipe.

Miss Annie
A secret I learned from my Mom, and I'm sure she learned it from HER Mom.... we use basically this same recipe, but we melt about 4 tablespoons of shortening in the skillet in the oven. When it's melted and hot, we pour most of it into the batter and mix it up in the batter. Then pour the batter back in the pan and bake. Makes the edges really crunchy, and the texture not quite so crumbly.

allenscott3
I used a little yogurt with the milk, lowfat milk, and butter instead of shortening. I liked the fact that there was a lot more cornmeal to normal flour. Came out nice and moist but dried out a little in the fridge.

Holly Blackwell
My compliments to Aunt Bernice. I used olive oil instead of shortening and added a couple of chopped chipotle chiles and a tsp of adobo sauce since I wanted the cornbread to perk up the rest of the meal a little.

sugarpea
The best cornbread I've tried so far. This had great flavor, and just the right texture, closer to a cake than to a dense, crumbly consistency. I used butter in a cast iron skillet. The cornbread froze well, too.

NelliG

see 5 more reviews

Tweaks

I used a little yogurt with the milk, lowfat milk, and butter instead of shortening. I liked the fact that there was a lot more cornmeal to normal flour. Came out nice and moist but dried out a little in the fridge.

Holly Blackwell
My compliments to Aunt Bernice. I used olive oil instead of shortening and added a couple of chopped chipotle chiles and a tsp of adobo sauce since I wanted the cornbread to perk up the rest of the meal a little.

sugarpea
Nice and dense and not too sweet. I used butter instead of shortening, as I didn't have shortening on hand. Maybe a little dry ... perhaps I overcooked it. I only cooked it for 20 minutes but maybe I had my oven a little high? Will definitely use this recipe again.

Gingernut
This is wonderfu! A true Southern cornbread recipe right down to the cast iron skillet. I did substitute bacon drippings for the shortning though, and let the fat get really hot before pouring in the cornbread so the bottom would come out crispy (the way we like it). The bread itself was light and oh so tasty, and not too crumbly. With some honey on the side......we were in heaven. Thanks Kim for sharing your Aunt's recipe.

Miss Annie

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Kim D.

Houston, 0

The picture is of me and my husband at the Grand Canyon - November 2008. I've just started a food blog and would love for those interested in cooking and recipes to check it out. You can follow my food journey at <a href=http://onecookbookatathyme.wordpress.com/>http://onecookbookatathyme.wordpress.com/</a> Cooking for family and friends is one of my favorite things to do. I spend most of my free time in the kitchen, either checking out Recipezaar or experimenting with a newly found recipe. My DH and I are both from Texas and we both come from Italian families. Anyone who stops by my house should be prepared to eat!!! I'm always forcing friends and family to try whatever it is that just came out of the oven. I know that is a horrible habit but I can't break it... I think it must be the Italian in me! LOL :) My sister (<a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/browse/getchef.zsp?id=85654>Cookin_Kit</a>) and I used to help my Mom (<a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/browse/getchef.zsp?id=124343>JudaThann</a>) in the kitchen a lot growing up. I guess that is where my love for cooking began. I also enjoy sharing the kitchen with my DH (<a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/browse/getchef.zsp?id=202688>Sgt. Pepper</a>). He doesn't cook as often as he did when we first got married, but he makes an awesome pizza and still makes them at least twice a month. He keeps his recipes for the dough and the sauce top secret, even from me. LOL I have two step-children. The oldest graduated from college and the youngest is a sophomore at Texas Tech. I also have two cats and a dog. When I?m not cooking or hanging out here at Zaar, I like to knit, garden, read, watch old movies, travel, take photos, scrapbook, volunteer at a non-kill animal shelter, and spend time with my family and friends. <img src=http://images.snapfish.com/34359%3C8323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D8%3A3%3D429%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C2733%3B9%3Bot1lsi alt= /> I'm a co-host with <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/browse/getchef.zsp?id=21399>Karen From Colorado</a> in the <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewforum?f=37>Mexican/Tex-Mex/Southern United States Cooking Forum</a>. Come visit us sometime! <img src=http://images.snapfish.com/34359%3C8323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D8%3A3%3D429%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C2733%3B9%3Bot1lsi alt= /> I'm also a co-host with <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/member/9580>Richard-NYC</a> and <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/member/34146>Dee514</a> in the <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewforum.zsp?f=36>Italian Cooking Forum</a>. <img src=http://images.snapfish.com/34359%3C8323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D8%3A3%3D429%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C2733%3B9%3Bot1lsi alt= /> Games that I've participated in: <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/beartag_1_1.jpg alt=Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/adopted_1_1.jpg alt=Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting border=0 /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/AnimatedHostChallengeBanner.gif alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/untitled.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/200_artistrichardneuman-art-prints_.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/pacbanner.jpg alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/200_PACpic.jpg alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%203/ZWT3-Participation.gif alt= /> <img src=http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/Dreamgoddess555/Narrow1-1.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/BtoBHosts.jpg alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Adopted1smp.jpg alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/smPACp.jpg alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/adoptatagparticipant.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/Saturn6666/Other/tagforpage1.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PAC08Main.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/Dreamgoddess555/eatoutsidesticker.jpg alt= /> <img src=http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj81/HokiesLady65/totmtaggame-1.jpg alt=Photobucket border=0 /> <a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w115/bugh8er/food%20and%20swaps/4811_36055_t.jpg alt=Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg alt=Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg alt=Photobucket border=0 /> <img src=http://images.snapfish.com/34359%3C8323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D8%3A3%3D429%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C2733%3B9%3Bot1lsi alt= /> Last updated on September 24, 2008 <img src=http://images.snapfish.com/34359%3C8323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E232%3A%3D8%3A3%3D429%3DXROQDF%3E23237%3C2733%3B9%3Bot1lsi alt= /></a>

View Full Profile