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Favorite Vegan Cornbread

My favorite Vegan Cornbread is an easy, everyday cornbread recipe made with pantry staples and bakes up perfectly sweet, moist, and tender!

head on view of vegan cornbread stacked on each other.

Are you ready for the best vegan cornbread ever?! It may even be better than my Sweet Chia Cornbread recipe which I have loved forever!

This classic cornbread recipe is made with simple everyday whole food plant based ingredients and is ready in under 30 minutes!

It’s a perfect side for vegan soups, stews, and chilies and is just as delicious on its own smeared with vegan butter or this yummy Triple Berry Chia Seed Jam!

So without further ado, let’s make a fresh batch of homemade vegan cornbread!

side by side photos of the process of making vegan cornbread.

Ingredient Notes

Here is everything you will need, plus a few tips and suggestions for the best vegan cornbread:

  • Flour: Use a ratio of 1 to 1 yellow cornmeal and flour is best for the ultimate cornbread flavor. Use unbleached all-purpose, light spelt, and even whole-wheat pastry flour with great results. I haven’t tried gluten-free flour, but I’m sure this 1-to-1 GF flour blend will do wonderfully!
  • Sugar: My favorite sugars to use are organic pure cane sugar (white or brown) and coconut sugar. For a more caramelized sugar flavor, use brown or coconut sugars. Feel free to adjust the sugar, up or down, to your liking.
  • Milk: We’ll be making vegan buttermilk by adding a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the milk and letting it rest while the oven preheats, or at least 10 minutes. The acid will add a little sour note and make your cornbread even better!
  • Oil: My favorite oil is light flavored olive oil, but feel free to use your favorite neutral-flavored oil. Coconut oil is delicious too! Using oil will ensure a moist and tender cornbread that isn’t crumbly. If you prefer a buttery corn muffin recipe, replace the oil with melted butter (I recommend Miyoko’s Vegan Butter), but they may be a bit crumbly.
  • Optional add-ins: Try changing it up using 1 – 2 chopped jalapeno peppers, 1 cup corn (fresh, canned, or frozen), 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen), 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup shredded vegan cheddar cheese, or 1/2 cup crumbled coconut bacon. Feel free to mix and match using your best judgment.

What Is The Best Kind of Cornmeal to Use for Cornbread?

For a nice golden color and punch of corn flavor, stone-ground yellow cornmeal is best. Plus, it’s rich in beta carotene! We use this Bob Red Mills Yellow Cornmeal (affiliate link). When making traditional southern cornbread, white is the preferred cornmeal. And when it comes to texture, we stick with medium-grind cornmeal. Fine-grind can be used as well, but it is slightly less sweet and will yield a more cakelike cornbread.

top down view of freshly baked vegan cornbread in a white baking dish.

How To Make Vegan Cornbread

Making homemade cornbread only requires a few simple steps:

  • Prep: Set the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch baking dish (round or rectangular).
  • Mix wet: I like to start with mixing the liquids with the sugar in a 2 cup measuring cup, and giving a good stir every few minutes . The reason for this is that I use pure cane sugar which tends to be courser than regular sugar, so mixing it with the liquids first helps to dissolve the larger granules a bit before mixing.
  • Mix dry: While the sugar mixture is resting. Mix together the flour and baking powder.
  • When the oven is ready: Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix until combined. Don’t overmix! Pour the batter into the baking dish.
  • Bake: Place in the oven for 25 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and slice.

Now all you have to do is enjoy!

How To Make Skillet Cornbread

For a crunchier crust, try baking cornbread in a cast-iron skillet, using a 9 or 10-greased skillet. Use the same directions as listed above and in the recipe card, replacing the baking dish with a skillet, and cook at the same temperature and same amount of time.

Can I make Cornbread Muffins?

Yes, you sure can. Take a look at this easy vegan cornbread muffin recipe!

side angle view of cornbread being lifted from baking dish with spatula.

How To Store Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored on the counter, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer, and reheat well.

  • On the counter: Leftovers can be stored, covered, on the counter for 3 – 4 days.
  • Refrigerator: Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 – 6 days.
  • In the freezer: For longer storage, freeze cornbread for up to 2 – 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.
  • To reheat: Heat up your cornbread in the microwave or bake in a preheated oven set at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Finally, the best part about making cornbread is eating it! Here are a few great recipes that go well with cornbread:

side angle view of slices of freshly made vegan cornbread on a wooden serving board.

If you try this vegan cornbread recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

FAVORITE VEGAN CORNBREAD

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 15 reviews

My favorite vegan cornbread is the best everyday cornbread recipe that’s easy to make and perfectly sweet, moist, and tender! 

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 20 min
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: Makes 9 slices 1x
  • Category: Bread, Side
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Vegan, American

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal (stone-ground pref.)
  • 1 cup flour (spelt, unbleached all-purpose, 1-to-1 gluten-free flour)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon mineral salt
  • 1/3 cup organic sugar (pure cane white/brown or coconut)
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/3 cup light flavored olive oil (or your favorite neutral oil)
  • juice of 1 small lemon or 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan.

Wet & Sugar: In a medium bowl (or 2 cup measuring cup), mix together the milk, lemon juice, sugar, and oil, mix well. Set aside, stirring occasionally, for 5 – 7 minutes.

Dry: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt together.

Mix: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Avoid over-mixing.

Pour & Bake: Pour batter into prepared baking dish. Place baking dish into the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and the center is cooked through. Use a toothpick to test for doneness, should come out clean when stuck in the center. Once done, cool a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Serve cornbread with vegan butter, homemade chia jam, on the side with chili, soups, or stews.

Store: Wrap leftovers up tightly and store them on the counter for up to 3 – 4 days. To keep longer, freeze baked cornbread for up to 2 – 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and heat up in the microwave or bake in a 300 degrees F oven for 10 minutes.

Notes

If you prefer a buttery corn muffin recipe, replace the oil with melted butter (I recommend Miyoko’s Vegan Butter). They will be a little crumbly, but still delicious!

Optional add-ins: 1 – 2 chopped jalapeno peppers, 1 cup corn (fresh, canned or frozen), 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup shredded vegan cheddar cheese, or 1/2 cup crumbled coconut bacon. Feel free to mix and match using your best judgement.

Skillet Cornbread: Baking cornbread in a skillet gives it an even heartier, crunchy crust. Bake this cornbread in a 9-inch or 10-inch oven safe greased skillet at the same temperature for the same amount of time.

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36 Comments

  1. Enjoyed this excellent cornbread, added cheddar cheese as suggested.
    This recipe will be in my regular rotation of meals; perhaps
    with your recipe for maple baked beans next time. Thank-you.






  2. This was so easy and delicious! I used my cast iron skillet, so it came out with a nice crunch on the outside and moist on the inside.






  3. Could I eliminate the sugar? Would it still work? Or could I substitute apple sauce? (Doing a sugar cleanse this month)

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Great question, Susan! Yes, you can omit the sugar and still have delicious corn bread! Enjoy :)

  4. Wow-what amazing cornbread! We made it in muffin tins and they came out super moist and not crumbly at all. Can’t wait to make it again!






  5. I followed the directions exactly but my cornbread came out very gritty and dry. I think it might be due to the brand of cornmeal but not sure. I used Bob’s Red Mill medium grind cornmeal. Could you tell me what brand you used to see if it makes a difference.

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Sorry to hear, Linda! I use the same cornmeal. You may like to use fine cornmeal if you don’t care for extra texture. Also, for the dryness, it could be the flour you used. Hope that helps!

  6. Turned out GREAT!!! I just added extra flour & also added in mineral water in addition to the milk. The mineral water makes it extra moist. :)

  7. Wonderfully soft and delicious! My batter came out a tad thick, but it did not affect the taste or texture. I subbed oil for vegan butter and almond milk for soy milk. Will be a great dish to bring to thanksgiving






  8. christine says:

    Do you know if I can easily make this oil free? I know you’ve previously noted replacing oil with Apple Sauce, but I’m not sure if that would work in this recipe!

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Yes, you can use applesauce in place of oil in this recipe. I’ll have to make a note of it. Thanks for asking!

  9. This was my first time making vegan corn bread and it was perfect! Thank you so much!






  10. I cannot eat corn so I use all almond flour to make my “cornbread:. And if I add grated cheddar cheese, finely diced sweet onion, 1 cup sour cream, baking powder baking soda, a beloved Southern dish, it’s so delicious and it gets baked. Love your recipes.

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      That sounds wonderful Laura! I will have to do a southern cornbread soon with some of your suggestions. Thanks for the comment and inspiration! Cheers :)

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