This recipe for southern sweet cornbread has been a readers favorite for years!! You’re going to love the simplicity of the recipe, and amazing outcome for this moist southern sweet cornbread!
Let’s talk cornbread! Now I know that I have many recipes for southern cornbread here on I Heart Recipes. However, my readers absolutely LOVE the very first homemade sweet cornbread recipe that I posted many years ago. The sweet cornbread is simply the best. It’s better than Jiffy, and all those other store bought cornbread mixes out there. It always comes out so buttery and moist, it’s just the perfect cornbread. The only probably with my previous cornbread recipe was the amount that it made, and one of the ingredients.

People wanted MORE cornbread! So this time around I pretty much doubled the recipe so that you can make the cornbread in a 9×13 bake dish. Also instead of using self rising flour, I will show you how to make this sweet cornbread recipe with simple every day all purpose flour. So yes – more cornbread, and more simple ingredients!

The Secret to My Southern Sweet Cornbread Recipe
So lets talk about what makes this sweet cornbread so freaking special. WELL, unlike most cornbread recipes, this southern sweet cornbread is EXTREMELY moist. I use a nice amount of salted butter (remember to use salted, not unsalted for this recipe darlin’!). The butter works it’s magic along with the other ingredients, and after the southern sweet cornbread is done, you won’t need to add anymore butter!

Now, what’s my secret ingredient? Yup I have one for this amazing sweet cornbread recipe! Well, instead of using just simple white sugar, I also use brown sugar! Yup, you read right! Brown sugar definitely puts this cornbread recipe in a league of its own. When I tell you that this is the BEST sweet cornbread, I mean it!!
You MUST try this cornbread ASAP, and be sure to share the recipe with your friends on Facebook, and save & share on Pinterest as well!

Check out my video tutorial! Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube now! XOXO

Southern Sweet Cornbread
Ingredients
- 3 cups cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup yellow corn meal
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 stick of salted butter softened
- 4 medium sized eggs
- 2 1/2 cups of milk
- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine the flour, baking powder, corn meal, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the eggs, then pour the milk.
- Next add the vegetable oil and the butter.
- Mix everything until it’s well combined.
- Fold the ingredients until well combined.
- Lightly oil a 9×13, and pour the cornbread batter.
- Bake on 350 for 35-40 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Don’t miss my other delicious cornbread recipes below:
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Hot Water Cornbread
Cheesy Garlic and Herb Cornbread
Thank u. Please. Send me morerecipes.
As long as you’re on the mailing list, you should get them! XOXO
Loving It!
I love everything u cook here is my email please don’t stop cooking
Nancylee
Hey! Im from Israel, just made this amazing recipe its taste like heaven. Thank u about shearing this.
Aweee!! Thanks so much for trying my recipe sweetie!
I don’t see how much flour in it. I see you did put flour in it.
Hi Thelma. 3 cups flour. It’s the very first listed ingredient 😉
Thanks, I did not see it then. Lol. Sorry. But i try your other cornbread and it is delicious. But I did not add bacon grease. Thanks again
I’m trying this asap.
My favorite chef in the whole wide world!
You’re so sweet!
hi I was just wondering if I could half the recipe
Absolutely 🙂
Can I cook the corn bread in a cast iron skillet?
If you have one big enough 🙂
You are god sent your recipes have really improved my cooking so much I used quite a few of the recipes and they all were literally perfect!!
Thank you
Hey Rosie,
Glad you’re back! I’m ready for some Spring recipes, bring ’em on! Hope all is well with your new house!
I’m definitely making this cornbread tonight! Thanks it sounds sooo good.
Mine too 🙂 Love you Rosie 🙂
Looks moist, dense and delish! Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!
Love this recipe thanks for sharing
ROOOSIE!!! This recipe was aaamazing!! I really could not stop eating this cornbread. In my personal opinion, this was truly the best cornbread I’ve made (and ate)! It was def moist! Mm mmm yum!
You def know how to deliver.
You never let me down! 😉
Thanks so much for trying!
This was the BOMB .com
Hi Rosie!!
I love your recipes!!! If I added cream corn to the mixture will it effect the recipe in a negative way? I’m not a baker at all
By adding any other ingredients, you’re altering the recipe. It may or may not come out.
Thank God for you coming up with This RECIPE!!! Let me tell you, this cornbread is such a hit with my family that I’ve made it TWICE in three days! The first time I only had one stick of butter so I used a cup of oil, this time I ran out of butter so I used 1.5 cups of oil, but it’s still a hit! During the summer it’s hard to keep certain ingredients in stock because there’s a house full of kids at all times, but thank you for this receipe! This is my go to recipe for cornbread from now on! ❤️
This was excellent with spaghetti and meat balls. Tomorrow well have greens and cornbread.
I’ll be making mini muffins for my next dinner party.
Will this work with white corn meal?
Yes it will 🙂
Love your recipes Rosie! I’m going to try this cornbread recipe never heard of brown sugar in the cornbread but I’m going to try i always have to cut the recipe in half because it’s only me
Thank you so much I try something new every week
Let me know how it turns out for ya! Happy Holidays!
Love your recipes
Thank you!
I’m going to make this recipe today for a party tomorrow. Should I refrigerate it?
No, just cover it.
Can you line the baking pan with parchment paper? If yes, should you also spray it or is this not necessary? Thanks
I usually just butter or oil the pan before adding in the batter. 🙂
Hi! A couple questions, can i use almond milk instead of regular cow’s milk for the recipe? Also can I put this in a cupcake pan and make muffins instead of a traditional pan? Thanks in advance! Love your recipes.
Yes to both questions
Wlep! another down and many..many more to go.. Made this for my fav Ole School Unc… southern man… can u say Hit! Hit! and HIT!! would definitely recommend and will make it again.. Thank U Darling… u r the SW= Southern Woman…
As a child, my oldest teen sister would make our Dad’s fave: corn bread !! Turns out, the man I’ve been married to for over 60 years is also fond of corn bread (the “salty” kind) BUT.. after my baking YOUR recipe and lickin’ his chops, he’s asking WHEN will I be baking THIS Corn Bread, again. Shared with our daughter and now, she ALSO will be baking this Fab Southern Sweet Cornbread.
QUESTION: I’d like to have my corn bread a bit darker, so… would using DARK Brown Sugar work well –WITHOUT changing the fabulous, luscious flavor of this recipe ??
Thank you from CA
Hi there! If you’re like it to be a tad bit more golden, you make have to bake it a little longer 😉
Great recipes
Best cornbread ever. Sweet and moist as promised. Husband wont let me make any other.
YAY!! SO glad that you like my recipe!! XOXO
I’m on my second try with this recipe and both times, the butter won’t incorporate into the mixture. My butter is super softened. The first time; I didn’t add it directly into the dry ingredients like you did in the video. The second time I put all the wet directly into the dry like you, and it’s still lumpy 🙁 are you stirring your batter vigorously? I’m nervous to do that because I don’t want to make it tough.
Are you using real butter or margarine? Thats odd hun.
Hello!
I’m so excited to try this recipe for Thanksgiving!!
Can I use an aluminum pan?
Hello! Yes, you can 🙂
I’ve been experiencing making cornbread for Thanksgiving. I came across your recipe and decided to try it to see if maybe I find that taste I’m looking for. Woooohooo, not only do I taste it, I’m so glad I found your recipe. I texted my coworkers to let them know we having cornbread tomorrow morning. Thank you
Yayyyy!!! SO glad that you found my recipe! Happy holidays!
Made it last night for a friendsgiving and it was amazing! Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Hi Rosie,
I am new to your blog and I don’t know if you will get this message since this recipe is from 2018. I made this cornbread for Christmas and OMG, it was delicious. I am excited to try some of your other recipes. Happy New Year 2020.
This cornbread recipe is amazing. The only thing I did different is instead of adding the brown sugar, I did 1 1/4 cup of white sugar and then added honey to my batter. I’m so glad I found this site
Rosie, I love you! I can’t wait to try your cornbread. The recipe sounds absolutely delicious. I was brought up in the North, and never really ate Southern food. Our family had more of a Scandinavian-American palate. : ) When I first joined the Army, I was sent to South Carolina. When I saw grits in the chow hall for the first time, I didn’t even know what they were! I’ve come along way since then, and enjoy Southern, and soul foods, but again, Southern food is hard to find in my area. Now with your wonderful recipes, I can prepare delicious meals in the convenience of my own home. My (Southern) husband will be so happy. : ) Thank you! You are amazing!
Hi there Jan!! So glad that you found my blog! XOXO
I made the corn bread yesterday. It was delicious. Served it with pulled pork. Yum!
That combination sounds amazing!!!
Dear Rosie…Simply the Best…I added Good Vanilla…too eggs,,This is A Great Recipe…Doubled it..Made 2 Pans..Thx
This recipe it absolutely one of the best. I made for Thanksgiving and made it again today. Wow!!
Thanks for trying Lisa! I appreciate your feedback! XOXO
Hey Cousin!!
Today is going to be a triple play!! Am making your Corn bread, black eye peas and yams!!
Am so excited!!
Love
Constance
Yummy!!! Enjoy! XOXOXOXOX
Hey!
My office had a potluck yesterday. I surprised everyone with this magnificent cornbread recipe. Omg! I don’t know where to begin. You know the cornbread was delicious when everyone kept asking who made it. The only sad thing was that I didn’t even get a piece of my own cornbread. But it was worth it seeing how much people enjoyed it. This recipe is forever added to my Rolodex of recipes. Lol. Thank you so much for sharing your food with me.
Yassssss!!!! So glad that everyone loved it. Make sure that you stash a piece away for yourself next time though, LOL!
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! Literally fresh out the oven as I write this review…this cornbread was so moist and fluffy, I’m constantly taking pieces before the rest of my meal is done. I used buttermilk, since I had it on hand and still turned out amazing. I found another keeper recipe. Thanks for such a delicious recipe.
XOXO!!!
Rosie you are one awesome chef! I bake A LOT but never could find that ‘just right’ cornbread recipe until now.
Thank you! This is going into my permanent recipe file.
Hi Rosie! Can this cornbread recipe be used with your soul food cornbread dressing recipe? Your southern cornbread recipe calls for bacon drippings and I don’t eat pork
You can replace the bacon drippings with shortening. If you use this recipe, omit the sugar unless you like sweet cornbread 😉
This is the best cornbread I’ve ever had. So moist! Just the prefect amount of sugar. This is a permanent recipe for my household!
The brown sugar is a game changer! This by far is the best cornbread recipe. My boys love it as well.
Just made this tonight and it is amazing! I just wanted a little taste as it was cooling and ended up getting full lol I can’t stop “tasting” this is literally the first time I’ve made cornbread from scratch and then ate it! It’s so good!
Sorry, I did not see it. Thank you so much for answering back so quickly. Keep up the delicious cooking
No worries at all! XOXO
I’ve been looking for a good cornbread recipe. I just made one yesterday, but not exactly anything to rave about.. It was good, but I will try yours next. All the comments sound like this might be the best one! Thanks
For sticks of butter, are the 8 tablespoons sticks or 4 tablespoons? The ones in the video looked like 4 tablespoons, but they typically sell by 8
Hello! 8 tbsp of butter per stick.
Best cornbread recipe eva!!! I had to make this recipe twice in one week….the family loves this!!
YASSSS!! This is definitely a favorite of mine. Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try!
Thank you beautiful Rosie. I love your recipes so much. Every one I’ve tried is the best comfort food. Every meal is a holiday! By the way, I’m down the road in Newcastle! Hi neighbor!
Hey Neighbor! XOXO
I took this cornbread recipe to my family get together. It was a big hit. I had people asking me for the recipe. Everyone loved it. It us very good.
Thanks so much for trying my recipe Stacy!
Hey is this self rising meal and flour??
Hello Jimmy! No, I didn’t use self rising anything for this recipe. Be sure to check out the recipe card, at the bottom of the post for the exact ingredients that I used . XOXO