Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (2024)

Breads · Recipes

ByCasey Barber Last Updated:

My love for cast iron skillets is legendary. Cornbread made in said skillet? Another longtime love affair.

And a so-bad-it’s-good rhyme, pun, or alliterative alchemy? One more thing I can’t resist. Put it all together, and that’s basically my recipe for millet skillet cornbread.

Need I elaborate? It’s a universal truth that everything tastes better when cooked in a cast iron pan, and cornbread is one of the foremost examples of food elevated by this humble vessel.

Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (1)

You just can’t get those crispy edges, browned by the heat of sizzling bacon drippings, any other way.

(My dearly departed whalecat Harry was not so particular: he once ate the entire soft and springy middle out of a pan of jalapeño-laced cornbread that I stupidly left cooling on a rack, leaving the edges behind.)

So you’ve got undeniably perfect crispy edges, fragrant with savory bacon fat, balanced against the moist and tender crumb brought to you by the goodness of buttermilk. What could possibly make this more satisfying?

Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (2)

Bring the crunch of millet to this equation and you’re in for a triple treat.

If you’ve only known millet as a mushy hippie-era side dish or breakfast cereal, or as a seed that’s literally for the birds, let it showcase its snappy texture here.

A little more oversized than other seeds like sesame, flax, or chia, millet has a toasty, satisfying crunch when used as a whole, uncooked grain, adding a little pop to each bite of bread.

Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (3)

Because I’m a Northerner who loves to toast her cornbread and slather it with butter and honey for breakfast, I stir a touch of honey into my batter before pouring it into the skillet.

Far from making it a Jiffy-like cakey cornbread, it’s just a whisper of sweetness within the bread, a hint of caramel and clover.

Feel free to try different honey varieties, from rich chestnut or buckwheat honey to light and floral alfalfa or wildflower honey, to see which you like best.

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Crumble this millet skillet cornbread for your Thanksgiving stuffing, serve it in thick wedges with your favorite chili or winter stew, or eat it with butter, honey, and jam for a morning indulgence.

Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (5)

Millet Skillet Cornbread

Yield: 8-10 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Millet skillet cornbread isn't just fun to say: it's a twist on classic cast iron skillet cornbread that brings an irresistible crunch to every bite.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (160 grams) fine yellow cornmeal
  • 2/3 cup (80 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) millet
  • 1/4 cup (42 grams) stone-ground polenta or cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons (63 grams) honey
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons bacon drippings

Instructions

  1. Place a 9- or 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, millet, polenta, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
  3. In a separate large bowl, stir the honey and egg together with a spatula to loosen up the honey. Stir in the buttermilk, then the melted butter until incorporated.
  4. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined—don't overmix the cornbread batter.
  5. When the oven has preheated for 15 minutes, carefully remove the skillet using an oven mitt.
  6. Add the bacon drippings to the skillet and swirl until melted.
  7. (If using a pre-divided cornbread pan, as I did for the above photos, melt the drippings and use a basting brush to coat each wedge. You'll likely have leftover batter; grease a 6- or 8-inch skillet or small ceramic baking dish with the remaining drippings and bake the remaining batter.)
  8. Pour in the cornbread batter, smoothing the top, and return to the oven.
  9. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cornbread is well-browned and domed on top, and a knife or toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.
  10. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 456mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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Millet Skillet Cornbread Recipe | Good. Food. Stories. (2024)

FAQs

Can millet be substituted for cornmeal? ›

If I do say so myself, this cornbread recipe is AMAZING. In lieu of cornmeal or corn flour, it's made with millet flour, which is a phenomenal substitute! You truly won't believe this isn't corn.

What is the difference between cornbread and Southern cornbread? ›

She notes that Northern cornbread is sweeter, lighter, and more cake-like than Southern cornbread. Not surprisingly, it includes sugar (or molasses, in the earlier centuries), unlike traditional Southern cornbread.

Should you soak cornmeal before making cornbread? ›

Soaking the cornmeal in buttermilk for a few hours, or even overnight, tenderizes the large grains of cornmeal, making the bread more moist and tender.

How do you keep cornbread from being dense? ›

Add in some Flour

If you use straight cornmeal, it will tend to be dryer. Adding in flour will help to keep the cornbread moist. I like to use a 50/50 ratio of cornmeal to flour in my recipe. I feel this gives a moist and fluffier texture.

Is millet healthier than corn? ›

Health experts believe that both maize and millet are rich in many different nutrients. Millet is very beneficial for skin and hair. Whereas maize is very beneficial for heart health. As per health experts, both grains should be consumed at their convenience.

Does millet have lectins? ›

Millets are Lectin Free

This is one of the most profound but lesser known benefits of millets. Unlike our staple cereals like rice and wheat, millets like jowar, bajra & ragi have little to no lectin content.

Should you let cornbread batter rest before baking? ›

By letting the cornbread batter sit at room temperature before baking, the cornmeal has some extra time to absorb the flavor from the other ingredients, and the baking powder gets a head start. I love using my cast-iron skillet for cornbread and preheat it before adding my batter.

Is it better to use oil or butter in cornbread? ›

While oil can make cakes and quick breads luxuriously tender, I find the cornbread lacks flavor if butter isn't present. Because butter doesn't make the bread as moist as oil does, I pair it with buttermilk. Buttermilk: Buttermilk makes cakes, muffins, and breads extra moist.

Is cornbread better with milk or water? ›

Can I substitute water for milk in cornbread mix? Yes, you can, but it may result in a less rich flavor. If you're out of milk, try using cream or half-and-half, evaporated or powdered milk, or even plain yogurt. If you have dietary restrictions, try soy milk or oat milk.

What ingredient keeps cornbread from crumbling? ›

Melty, gooey cheese will hold your cornbread together and give it a fantastic flavor. Shredded cheddar cheese is best for most cornbread recipes, but you can try experimenting with another variety. Precise measurements aren't necessary--a handful or two will do.

What kind of pan is best for cornbread? ›

Whether you like it sweet, savory, or even spicy, almost everyone agrees that a good piece of cornbread starts in a hot cast iron skillet.

Why is my homemade cornbread so dry? ›

Cornbread is known for being dry, and that's because it's not properly hydrated. This can lead to unpleasant. hard bits that get stuck in your teeth, making the final product taste even drier. Start by soaking your cornmeal and buttermilk overnight. or up to 24 hours.

What can I use if I don't have cornmeal? ›

Additional substitutes. There are some additional foods you can use in place of cornmeal. If you don't have any of the options above, you can consider ground oats, masa harina, bread crumbs, ground flaxseed, polenta flour, smashed cornflakes, homemade cornmeal, or hominy grits.

What is the same as cornmeal? ›

Let's get into it. Both grits and polenta fall under the heading of cornmeal, which is essentially a coarse flour, or “meal,” made from dried corn.

Is millet same as polenta? ›

Millet, which is an alkalizing grain, is considered by food historians to be the original polenta. Here creamy soft cooked millet is poured into a pan and allowed to set before being cut and crisped in the oven. You can certainly enjoy the soft millet as a breakfast or anytime porridge, too.

What is comparable to millet? ›

Quinoa: Provides a complete protein source with a fluffy outcome similar to millet when cooked. Sorghum: An excellent grain with a mild, sweet flavor and hearty texture. Brown Rice: Has a slightly chewier texture, but works well as a stand-in for millet in most dishes.

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