Trader Joe’s Copycat Cornbread Mix Recipe
Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix Copycat Recipe is THE BEST homemade buttery cornbread recipe out there! This easy cornbread recipe is made from scratch and copycat to Trader Joe’s cornbread mix. It is a sweet cornbread made with corn meal and a handful of real corn. It’s quick and easy and ready in under 30 minutes!
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As soon as the whether turns in the fall, and we begin to wear leggings and sweatshirts, one of the first things I want to make is a big pot of chili and a side dish of homemade cornbread
The perfect cornbread, with the perfect consistency and flavor
I am picky when it comes to cornbread. I’ve been to too many potlucks when someone made some cheap cornbread mix out of the box, and it was so dry I needed a gallon of water to wash it down.
You don’t want your cornbread being too dry, or too dense, or not sweet enough!
I like my cornbread sweet. If you don’t like a sweeter cornbread than this recipe is not for you. If you are looking for a deliciously moist (ignore that word) cornbread that is sweet and slightly browned and crunchy on the top, please keep reading!
The right flour to cornmeal ratio
You don’t want your cornbread batter to have too much flour, or it will be too dense, nor do you want it having too much cornmeal. This recipe has the perfect balance of flour and cornmeal for the best crunch and texture.
Why Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix?
I don’t have a Trader Joe’s close by to my home so whenever I am near one, I go and have a list of things to stock up on. Cornbread mix used to be one of the things on my list. Now that I have this recipe, I don’t need it anymore!!
Trust me, it is an amazing cornbread mix!
How to make cornbread… in a cast iron skillet or in a regular baking dish?
Really this is up to you. How do you make cornbread? You can either butter a baking pan and dust it with sugar for a nice crunch, OR you can use a cast iron skillet.
How do you make cornbread in a cast iron skillet?
First you need to start out with a good cast iron skillet.
Check out these cast iron skillets! The first is a company called “Stargazer“. They sell very high-end, quality cast iron skillets that should last a lifetime. Check it out!
This next one here is from an awesome kitchen company called “Uno Casa“. Not only do they have cast iron cookware, but they have some other amazing kitchen items as well. This is a more economical buy and you can buy it as a set…
If you are going to bake your cornbread in a cast iron skillet, you will want to heat it up on the stove. Add some butter and when it is hot, pour the batter in. You want to get a nice sizzle, then you will transfer it to finish baking in the oven.
Baking it in a cast iron skillet will ensure an amazing, crunchy crust along with this recipe it will be the most amazing buttery texture as well. Perfect to accompany any soup, stew or chili.
What should you serve with cornbread?
Before I start the actual recipe, I would like to direct you to THE BEST PRIZE WINNING CHILI that exists. I’m rather partial to this recipe, and my kids love it! Here is the perfect pair together… chili and cornbread.
I would also like to give credit to http://www.jilleduffy.com for giving me the format for this recipe. I have tweaked it to my liking. Without further ado, Let’s get to the recipe!
THE BEST Trader Joe’s Copycat Recipe for Cornbread Mix!!!
Pre-heat the over to 400 degrees. Butter and sprinkle an 8 x 8 ” baking pan with sugar making sure to dust all of the bottom and sides with it, or just use a well seasoned 10.5 inch cast iron skillet.
What goes into cornbread?
With a spoon, mix together flour, yellow cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder.
Add the milk and a lightly beaten egg. Melt the butter and mix all of the ingredients including the corn kernels (optional) together until combined.
To tell you the truth, I don’t use the corn kernels, but the Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix does have actual kernels in it.
USE REAL BUTTER!!
It is so important to use real butter in cornbread. Butter and cornbread just go together. You want that rich flavor that it adds.
I also use whole milk, I pretty much use whole milk for everything because that is was we drink. This recipe does not call for buttermilk, like some recipes do. I prefer it with whole milk.
Pour the batter into your baking dish of choice and dust 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar over the top. This is going to caramelize on the top of the cornbread and give it that nice crunchy top.
If you are using a cast iron skillet, follow the directions above and add the batter to a preheated, buttered cast iron skillet before putting it into the oven.
You could also make cornbread muffins with this same batter as well.
Bake it for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on the top. Serve warm with butter and with my Prize Winning Chili.
Shop products used in this recipe
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Trader Joe’s Copycat Cornbread Mix Recipe
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- ⅔ cup sugar + 3 tablespoons for dusting
- 3 ½ teas baking powder
- 1 teas salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup frozen corn kernels optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F
- Butter an 8 x 8 pan generously. Dust the pan with 2 tablespoons of sugar until coated
- Mix dry ingredients together
- Add the wet ingredients and stir until just combined
- Add the batter to a pan and dust the top with remaining sugar
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm with butter and your favorite chili, soup or stew.
Instructions for baking in a cast iron skillet
- Mix the batter as directed above
- Heat a 10.5" cast iron skillet on a stove until hot
- Melt several tablespoons of butter into the skillet making sure all surfaces on the bottom and sides are well buttered
- Pour the batter into the preheated skillet (it should sizzle)
- Transfer the cast iron skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
21 Comments
Holly
I love a good cornbread and I am really excited about trying this recipe!! I pinned it for later! Thank you so much!
Sabrina DeWalt
Dry cornbread is the worst. Sounds like this is the recipe I need.
Adrienne
Yummy! This looks easy enough and would be great to accompany a nice bowl of chili! I’m really getting in the mood for soups these days 🙂
Cindy Mailhot
I will have to try this. Mu grandson loves cornbread.
Kirsten
I love cornbread, and this recipe looks super yummy! I DO love Trader Joe’s too, so I’ll definitely have to try it.
Barbara
Cornbread is a family favorite!
Kendra
Ooooh! I love good cornbread! This recipe looks great!
Angela
My kids are cornbread maniacs, they will love this.
Karie
I’ve never tried Trader Joe’s corn bread mix but I had found a sweet cornbread recipe I’ve used but it uses Bisquick. I always hated that idea but it was the only one that I liked. But yours sounds like what I’ve been searching for. I think I’m going to have to try it,
Emily A
It is a really great recipe! You should def give it a try!
Bonnie
This looks so good.
Siobhan
Trying this this weekend!
Emily A
Lemme know how it goes!
melissa
yum! It is the beginning of cornbread (and chili!) season here, so we will be trying this for sure!
Amanda
Mmmmmm! My mouth is watering already! Love me some cornbread, but it has to be in the cast iron skillet for sure!
Emily A
Can’t go wrong there!
Lisa
We love good cornbread! We need to try this!
Licia Bomfim
I’m vegan, so just made a vegan version of this cornbread. It turned out great! Used one flax egg (1 tbsp of flax seed + 3 tbsp of water – let stand for 5 minutes), almond milk, and vegan butter. It looks and tastes great!
Emily Ackerman
Awesome! I am so glad you were able to convert it and that it turned out well!!
Leonard Carter
I’m very excited about this recipe, I’m going to try it out. I do love Trader Joe’s cornbread mix, it’s much better than Jiffy. However, if I was making cornbread for people I’d feel a little guilty serving something from a box no matter how good it tasted. It’s high time I learn a great from-scratch recipe.
Emily Ackerman
You are gonna love this one then!