No ads. No life stories. Just recipes.
EasyCook

The home cook’s answer sheet

Honey Sage Skillet Cornbread

Prep
15 min
Cook
23 min
Yield
8 servings
Level
medium
Cuisine
american
Honey Sage Skillet Cornbread

Cast iron cornbread enriched with fresh sage pressed into butter and drizzled with a warm honey-butter glaze. Yellow cornmeal and buttermilk create a tender crumb with subtle herbal notes and floral sweetness. Baked until golden and springy, inverted to showcase the caramelized sage leaves.

No ratings yet — be the first

Method

9 steps
  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400F.

  2. 2

    Smear 1 tablespoon butter into bottom of 10-inch cast iron skillet. Press sage leaves decoratively into butter and set pan aside.

  3. 3

    Melt 1/4 cup butter and cool for 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Whisk buttermilk, eggs, egg yolk, oil, sugar, 1/4 cup honey, and melted butter in large bowl.

  5. 5

    Stir in cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and pepper until combined.

  6. 6

    Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and cornbread springs back to touch.

  7. 7

    Cool for 5 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack.

  8. 8

    Stir 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon honey together in small bowl until combined.

  9. 9

    Brush honey-butter mixture over hot cornbread. Slice and serve warm.

Tips

Tip 1

Decoratively arrange sage leaves before pouring batter to ensure they remain visible on the finished loaf.

Tip 2

Cool cornbread 5 minutes before inverting to set structure but while still warm enough for sage pattern to adhere.

Tip 3

Brush honey-butter glaze while cornbread is hot so it absorbs the mixture.

Good to Know

Storage

Keep in airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days. Wrap tightly to prevent drying.

Make Ahead

Prepare dry ingredients in advance. Batter should be mixed and baked same day for optimal rise.

Serve With

Slice warm and serve at table temperature with butter, jam, or honey. Pairs with soups and stews.

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Overmix batter after adding dry ingredients to avoid tough crumb.

Watch

Skip cooling butter before mixing to prevent curdling eggs.

Watch

Invert too early before structure sets to risk batter sliding off.

Watch

Use cold cast iron skillet to prevent uneven browning and sage sticking.

Substitutions

Gluten-Free Swaps

all-purpose flour→
cornflour or polenta1:0.75texturegluten-free

increases corniness; reduce slightly to prevent density

General Alternatives

salted butter→
unsalted butter1:1neutral

adds salt from kosher salt already in recipe

Full guide →
buttermilk→
milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar1:1neutral

let sit 5 minutes before use

Full guide →
vegetable oil→
melted coconut oil1:1neutral

subtle coconut flavor

Full guide →
honey→
maple syrup1:1sweetener

slightly darker color and earthier flavor

Full guide →
fresh sage→
dried sage1:3herb

reduces visual appeal of inversion; press into butter before batter

Full guide →
Find more substitutions →