Recipe: Sassy Molasses Cornbread

Recipe

Cornbread

Sassy Molasses Cornbread

This is not your average, everyday cornbread. It is the color of dark amber, coarse in texture, sweetened by molasses with the tart tang of buttermilk. It is a hearty cornbread and stands up tall against the spiciest of chiles or the most robust of stews. It is so rich in flavor that one hardly needs butter, although hot cornbread with sweet melted butter is truly one of the great foods of the world.

Like all cornbreads, it takes but a few minutes to mix the ingredients and less than 20 minutes to bake. I prefer the denser texture caused by the stone ground whole wheat flour, but if you prefer a lighter, more traditional cornbread, then just substitute with an equal amount of all purpose flour.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour, stone ground (or all purpose flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-3/4 cups buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons corn oil
5 tablespoons molasses

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square pan or similar size casserole.

Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Measure the buttermilk into a 4-cup measuring cup or bowl. Add the egg, corn oil and molasses. Stir until the egg and molasses are thoroughly mixed in.

Pour the liquids into the flour mixture and stir until thoroughly blended. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature.