Bandera Cornbread (Clone)

Chef #352247's Note:

Moist sweet and amazing cornbread from the Bandera chain of restaurants owned by Houstons. To accurately clone the restaurant's version, use small (6") cast iron skillets, however this can just be made in one large 12" cast iron skillet.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 16

Yield: 16.0 slices

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 (15 ounce) can creamed corn
• 2 ounces green chili peppers (1/2 small can, roasted syle)
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese (shredded)
• 4 eggs

Directions:

1. Prehead oven & skillet to 300 degrees.
2. Mix flour, cornmeal, salt & baking powder and set aside. Melt butter and combine with sugar, creamed corn and chili peppers. Mix to combine. Add eggs one-by one and mix until well blended. Add cheese. Fold-in flour mixture until mixed well, clumps are okay.
3. Carefully remove cast iron skillet from oven and evenly coat top and sides with canola/vegetable oil. Pour in cornbread batter (be careful, it may splatter).
4. Bake 30-45 minutes, or until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Reviews

[Chef TMS]

We just tried this recipe today and it was very tasty. However, it didn't taste exactly like the Bandera version, but I didn't use a cast iron pan. So, I'm going to make it again using cast iron to see if it comes closer to the original. Still, it's a great recipe and if you like cornbread, you will enjoy it!

[LBHart]

This cornbread is delicious!!! I agree that it's not quite Bandera, but for home-made it was a HIT! I added a bit more of the chilies to make up for the flavor the other reviews said was missing. I used 6" and 5" pans seasoned with citris olive oil to cook the bread. The 5" pan cooked in 35 minutes, but the 6" took about 15 minutes longer. This will become a common item on our menus.

[Jill67]

It's good, but it's not Banderas. And it's not that the ingredients are wrong. It's that it's not browned and somewhat crispy on top out of the oven. I used both large and small seasoned iron skillets, as I'm used to doing cornbread this way. Maybe it's the low temp. Anyway, it was still tasty and plenty sweet! I had Bandera's twice last week so I feel qualified to judge.