Sweet Cornbread With Savory Variations

Notes: For bread that is sweeter and more tender, use the largest measure of sugar.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 9
• Yields: 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1  cup yellow cornmeal
• 2  tablespoons sugar, add up to 1/3 cup
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2  large eggs
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1⁄4 cup butter, cooled and melted or 1⁄8 lb margarine

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs to blend with buttermilk and 1/4 cup butter. Pour liquids into flour mixture and stir just until evenly moistened.
2. Scrape batter into a buttered 8-inch square pan and spread smooth.
3. Bake in a 400-degree oven until bread springs back when lightly pressed in the center and begins to pull from pan sides, about 25 minutes (20 minutes in a convection oven).
4. Cut bread into squares. Lift from pan with a slender spatula.
5. Serve hot or cool.
6. Variations: Vary-the-Corn Bread. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread, but instead of yellow cornmeal, use 1 cup polenta, dehydrated masa flour (corn tortilla flour), or stone-ground cornmeal. Double Red Cornbread. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread adding 1 tbs. hot or sweet Hungarian paprika or regular paprika to flour mixture. To egg mixture, add 3/4 cup chopped canned roasted red peppers. Increase baking time to 30 minutes (25 minutes in a convection oven). Basil-Parmesan Cornbread. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread. To egg mixture, add 1 can (8 1/2 oz.) cream-style corn, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese. Increase baking time to 30 minutes (25 minutes in a convection oven). Curry Cornbread. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread adding 1 1/2 tbs. curry powder to flour mixture. Southwest Cornbread. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread. To egg mixture, add 1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies and 3/4 cup (3 oz.) coarsely shredded jack cheese. Combine 1 tbs. each sugar and chili powder; sprinkle over batter in pan. Habanero Surprise Muffins. Follow directions for Savory or Sweet Cornbread, completing step 1. Spoon half the batter equally into 12 buttered 2 1/2-inch muffin cups. Top each portion with 2 teaspoons habanero or jalapeno jelly (1/2 cup total). Fill cups equally with remaining batter. Bake in a 400 degree oven until muffins spring back when lightly pressed in center and are lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12.