Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

I don’t think it’s any secret around here that I’m totally obsessed with soup. I would happily eat soup (or stew or chili) every day, no matter the season or weather. I make quick soups on weeknights, long simmering soups and stews on the weekend and chili whenever the temp dips below 30 degrees. Over the years, I’ve found many recipes that I make again and again. One of my favorites (and a winter staple in my house) is my Chipotle and Stout chili recipe (find it here!). During the fall and winter, it’s on the menu weekly. I love to serve soups and stews with a great bread. I have a great beer bread recipe as well as Lane’s fantastic Parker House Rolls for soup and stew, but what I really wanted was a go-to cornbread recipe. Having never really found a recipe that I was head over heels for, I decided to make my own. I spent some time in the kitchen this fall testing out a ton of variations. After much trial and error, I came up with this recipe for Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread. I hope you love it as much as I do!

This cornbread, as the name suggests, is a slightly amped up version of the southern standard. Baked in a cast iron skillet, it’s got a golden crust with a slight crunch. The batter is studded with diced jalapeño peppers for some heat and mixed with shredded sharp cheddar for richness. Using greek yogurt in the batter keeps it moist, while cutting down some of the unnecessary fat. After all, good cornbread really does need to be slathered in honey butter before serving so let’s save those calories for where they count, am I right?!?!

This recipe makes a pretty large amount, so it’s perfect for a crowd. If your household is a little smaller or you just want to serve it for a small, family dinner, know that it can be made as muffins (you will need to decrease the cooking time a bit) and freezes well. As noted above, it is best served with a generous topping of honey butter*.

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Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

A spicy take on classic cornbread

Course Bread

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 12 large servings

Author Holly from With Two Spoons

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 Tablespoons melted butter plus more for greasing the pan
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 ounce can diced jalapenos drained

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a large 10-12 inch cast iron skillet with butter.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt. Whisk briefly to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg and then add the greek yogurt, milk, and butter and mix together briefly.
4. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just to combine.
5. Fold in the cheese and jalapeños stir until loosely incorporated.
6. Pour the batter into the greased skillet.
7. Place the skillet on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the top is set and a golden crust forms around the edges.
8. Remove from the oven and serve warm, preferably with fresh honey butter!

*To make honey butter, simply drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of honey over a half stick of softened butter and mash together with a fork. Easy and so delicious!