Bake

Sweet Potato Cornbread With Maple Butter

May 15, 2023
4
2 Ratings
Photo by Julia Gartland
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

There is nothing like two Southern favorites paired together to make the ultimate recipe: mashed sweet potatoes—that can be repurposed from candied yams—folded into cornbread. The sweet potatoes offer a sweet moistness and with a touch of warm spices it feels like a hug on a plate, plus a brush of melted butter adds that additional silky smoothness in every bite. This sweet potato cornbread is promising to be a quick and easy side dish that’s perfect for the holidays, birthdays, and more. —Millie Peartree

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Sweet Potato Cornbread With Maple Butter
Ingredients
  • For the cornbread:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup plus two tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the maple butter:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or cast-iron skillet with butter (or cooking spray) and set aside.
  2. To a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, cornmeal, sugars, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine well.
  3. To another mixing bowl, add the buttermilk, mashed sweet potatoes, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir just until the mixture is smooth.
  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Gently fold, not mix, the ingredients until just combined.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. To make the maple butter, combine the butter and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted and the mixture is combined.
  7. Brush the freshly baked cornbread with the maple butter. Serve hot.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Millie Peartree

Recipe by: Millie Peartree

1 Review

cpc June 6, 2023
The flavor was great but if you’re a southerner, just keep going. This recipe will annoy you. I will make this again but will reduce the white sugar by half. It was way too sweet for my liking, more like a desert than a cornbread. I liked the addition of the sweet potato, which also meant less sugar was necessary.