Aunt Jemima Cornbread Recipe

At first glance, cornbread is the most boring dish ever invented and I never used to like it. But, as soon as I started trying a few different recipes and a few twists on a classic cornbread, my whole world opened up.

This recipe is by far my favorite as it is a whole meal by itself. Of course, it can still be an accompaniment however some of my guests stuff themselves with only cornbread, completely ignoring the main dish. Yes, it’s that good!

Aunt Jemima Cornbread

Two main things make this recipe better than any other. The first is the Aunt Jemima Yellow Corn Meal that the recipe uses which gives the cornbread amazing color and texture.

The second is that this is not a plain and boring cornbread, rather one with a salsa and cheese topping. This creates a whole different flavor profile and transforms a boring side dish into the main attraction.

You can also use other types of toppings instead of the salsa to create some variation or to fit the rest of the meals’ flavors.

This recipe is extremely easy to make and can even be made a day or two ahead of time. If that isn’t great already, you can bake the bread and freeze it until you are ready to use it!

As I have previously stated, my whole perspective on cornbread completely changed after finding this recipe and I will never use any other one again.

How To Make Aunt Jemima Cornbread

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a loaf pan with baking paper, non-stick cooking spray or brush the sides with melted butter.

In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and mix until they are fully dispersed. Set aside until needed.

In another large bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients and whisk until they are evenly incorporated.

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a thick and smooth batter forms. Add the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 20 minutes or until the cornbread has a nice golden color.

While the cornbread is baking, make your salsa. Combine all the ingredients and season it to your liking with salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can also add additional ingredients to add more flavor to the salsa.

Once your cornbread has finished baking, add the American cheese slices and salsa on top of the bread and bake for another 5 minutes.

Serve immediately as an accompaniment or as is with a dollop of sour cream.

Tips & Tricks

• An alternative way to make the cornbread is by only adding half the batter to the loaf pan. Add the cheese slices and salsa and then top with the remaining batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until beautifully brown. Now you have a delicious stuffed cornbread!

• There are many other fillings you can make to use as a stuffing or topping for this recipe. By using different fillings you can make this cornbread regularly and pair the flavors with the rest of your meals’.

• You can also bake this cornbread in any type of pan and shape. A few of my favorite ways to make this cornbread is in a cast-iron skillet or individual ramekins.

• This recipe can be made in advance and frozen for up to a month. You can either bake the cornbread with the filling or a plain cornbread (without the topping). To reheat simply defrost at room temperature and reheat in the oven for 10 minutes.

What happened to Aunt Jemima cornbread?

In 2020, Quaker Oats, the company that owns the Aunt Jemima brand, announced that they would be retiring the brand and logo due to its racial stereotype origins. The move was part of a broader push by companies to reassess their branding in light of the racial justice movement. The Aunt Jemima brand was rebranded as Pearl Milling Company in February 2021. The products, including the cornbread mix, remain the same, they just bear the new company name and logo. This change represents a step towards removing racially insensitive imagery from popular brands.

Does Aunt Jemima have cornmeal?

Yes, Aunt Jemima (now known as Pearl Milling Company) does produce a product called “Enriched White Corn Meal”. This product is often used in recipes that call for cornmeal, such as cornbread, muffins, and other baked goods. It’s worth noting that the rebranded Pearl Milling Company continues to offer the same products, including the cornmeal, under its new brand name. The change in brand name is solely a response to calls for racial sensitivity and does not reflect a change in the product itself.

Is Aunt Jemima cornmeal self rising?

No, the Aunt Jemima “Enriched White Corn Meal” is not self-rising, however the company do have a Self rising Yellow corn meal mix available to buy in Walmart. Self-rising cornmeal would include leavening agents like baking powder or soda, and often salt, mixed directly into the cornmeal. The Aunt Jemima/Pearl Milling Company’s product is plain cornmeal, which means that any leavening agents needed for your recipe would need to be added separately. If your recipe calls for self-rising cornmeal and you only have plain cornmeal, you’ll typically need to add around 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder and half a teaspoon of salt per cup of cornmeal.

See Also: Krusteaz Country Brunch Cornbread Recipe

Conclusion

This cornbread recipe changed my life and I will never again shy away from making cornbread. It has amazing texture thanks to the Aunt Jemima Yellow Corn Meal and is very easy to make. It can even be made and frozen until needed.

You can easily change the filling without altering the recipe and can make this cornbread a meal on its own.

Easy to make, soft and crispy texture, amazing flavor; cornbread has never been this good!