Gluten Free Cornbread (No Flour)

Name: Gluten Free Cornbread (No Flour)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups cornmeal (gluten free, medium grind); 2 tsp baking powder (gluten free); 1 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon xanthan gum; 1 teaspoons salt; 2 eggs (large); 1/4 cup melted butter (cooled); 2 cups plain yogurt; 2 tablespoons honey

Jump to Recipe

This Gluten Free Cornbread recipe is made without flour so it's all cornmeal. No flour cornbread is delicious as a side for chili, ( try Butternut Squash Black Bean Chili soups, especially southwestern ones like Sweet Potato Soup with Black Beans and Corn and stews (try Spanish Fish Stew) , and it takes about five minutes to stir up.

Gluten free cornbread in a cast iron skillet with a slice removed.

Most gluten free cornbread recipes use some ratio of gluten free flour. However, I wanted to make cornbread without flour, which is more traditional, rustic and less cake-like.

Jump to:

Why Flourless Cornbread?
Ingredient Notes
How To Make It
Recipe Tips
Variations
Cornbread FAQ's
Serving Suggestions
Recipe
Comments

Why Flourless Cornbread?

Cornbread without flour is a more traditional cornbread. It has a crumbly texture and isn't sweet.
This gluten free cornbread recipe takes just five minutes to stir together, and 20 minutes to bake.

Ingredient Notes

All of the ingredients ready to make the recipe. — Recipe Ingredients

Cornmeal This recipe uses a medium grind cornmeal, which gives the cornbread great texture. However, even between cornmeal brands, a medium grind can vary. I use Bob's Red Mill Medium Grind. If gluten is a problem for you, be sure to check the label. Cornmeal is naturally gluten free. However, it may be processed in a facility that also processes wheat products, causing cross contamination.
Plain Yogurt Although buttermilk is the traditional dairy ingredient in most cornbread recipes, yogurt supplies the necessary tang perfectly.
Eggs Use large eggs.
Butter You can substitute vegetable oil, olive oil, or even bacon grease for the butter. I do love the flavour that melted butter imparts.
Honey Just a little honey enhances the corn's sweetness without making the cornbread overly sweet.
Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt Baking powder and baking soda are the leavening agents for this cornbread recipe. If needed, look for gluten free baking powder.
Xantan Gum Xanthan gum is a plant based food additive that acts as a thickening and binding agent, essentially replacing the gluten in gluten free baking. Without xanthan gum, gluten free baked goods can tend to fall apart.

How To Make It

It takes hardly any time at all to whip up a batch of flourless cornbread:

In a bowel, whisk together the cornmeal, baking powder, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum.
In another bowl combine yogurt, eggs, melted butter and honey.
Add the yogurt mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Spread the batter in a heated and greased cast iron skillet.

The four steps for making this recipe. — The steps for mixing up the batter.

Baked cornbread in a cast iron skillet. — The finished recipe fresh from the oven

Recipe Tips

A cast iron skillet is the best pan for making cornbread. It's also a must have for any kitchen. If you don't already have a cast iron pan, I highly recommend getting one because it will quickly become your favourite pan, for so much more than just a skillet cornbread recipe. Cast iron pans are inexpensive, and, properly cared for, can last for generations. This is the one that I use to make this cornbread recipe: Lodge 8 inch Cast Iron Skillet. You can also use an eight inch square or round baking pan if you don't have a skillet.
Preheat your skillet This step will keep the cornbread from sticking to the pan, and also gives it a lovely crisp edge. To do this, put the skillet in the oven while the oven is preheating. Don't grease the pan first or the oil may smoke and burn.
Allow the cornbread to cool on a rack for at least ten minutes before slicing. While it is cooling, I recommend putting an oven mitt or pot holder over the handle of your skillet so that you don't forget that it's hot. (Speaking from experience!)

A slice of gluten free cornbread cut from the pan. — Slice the cornbread into wedges

Variations

This gluten free cornbread is a basic recipe. You can customize it though! Some ideas:

Spice it Up Stir in sliced jalapenos or other chili peppers into the batter.
Make it Sweet Increase the amount of honey and sprinkle the top with sugar before baking.
Make it Cheesy Stir in a half cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese before baking.
Add Meat Stir in diced ham, or crumbled cooked sausage or bacon.
More Corn Add a half cup of fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels before baking.
Mix it Up Try any of the above in a combinations, or dream up your own.
Make Muffins You can make cornbread muffins. Just follow all of the recipe instructions except divide the batter between 12 muffin tin cups.

Cornbread FAQ's

Is polenta the same as cornmeal?

Polenta is essentially cornmeal, but it is a much coarser grind. You will need cornmeal rather than polenta for this flourless cornbread recipe.

Why does my gluten free cornbread fall apart?

Because there is no gluten to hold things together, gluten free baked goods can be crumbly. The solution, in this and many other recipes, is to add an extra egg, and some xanthan gum. Those ingredients act as binders in the absence of gluten.

Should the cornbread rest before being sliced?

Yes, allow it to cool on a rack for 10 minutes before slicing. If you slice the hot cornbread, it may crumble.

A pan of baked cornbread with a slice removed. — Rustic cornbread with a perfect crumb

Serving Suggestions

Serve gluten free cornbread with chili, of course. This chili is a favourite: Tequila Chicken Chili. Corn bread is perfect served with ribs, like these Saucy Barbecued Baby Back Ribs and some coleslaw (try Fennel Cabbage Slaw ) It's also a perfect compliment to a salad, especially a southwestern style salad like this Grilled Corn & Black Bean Salad or Southwestern Quinoa Salad .

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important!

Recipe