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Pumpkin Cornbread

Pumpkin cornbread made in a hot oven for a tender, golden crumb with warm pumpkin pie spice flavor. Bakes up in a cast iron skillet or 8x8 pan and slices clean with a toothpick test.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry ingredients
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.3333 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Wet ingredients
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • 0.75 cup buttermilk
  • 0.5 cup butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Preheat and prepare pan
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F, then grease an 8x8-inch pan or a 10-inch cast iron skillet so the cornbread releases easily.
Mix dry ingredients
  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until evenly combined and no dry lumps remain.
Mix wet ingredients
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and maple syrup until smooth and glossy.
Combine and fill pan
  1. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir just until combined, stopping as soon as no dry streaks show to keep the crumb tender.
  2. Spread the batter into the greased pan and smooth the top for even baking.
Bake
  1. Bake at 400°F for 22-25 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (visual cue: golden edges).
Serve
  1. Serve warm with butter so it melts into the cornbread.

Notes

For the best texture, stir wet into dry only until combined—overmixing can make the crumb tough. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm slices in the oven or microwave. Freezing is yes: wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months, thaw overnight in the fridge. For a dairy-free option, swap buttermilk for a dairy-free buttermilk substitute and use a plant-based butter that melts well.