Classic Old Fashioned Southern Spoon Bread is so tasty and moist that you may never go back to eating traditional cornbread again. It is like a cross between corn pudding and corn soufflé with such a scrumptiously tender custardy texture that is served with a spoon, hence the name spoonbread. Serve it hot with sweet cream butter and organic raw honey.
Spoon bread is so quick to mix that it takes less than ten minutes to prep all in one large saucepan. With just 7 common pantry ingredients it is a shoe in for last minute meals. It’s classic cornbread taste it is the perfect side dish for so many entrees. I love to serve it with roasted or braised beef or chicken but it is just as delicious with collard greens or eggs.
What is spoon bread made of?
Spoon bread is a creamy moist custard like cornbread that is spooned out of the casserole dish like a soufflé. It is commonly made with milk, cornmeal, eggs, salt, baking powder, and sometimes sugar and butter. It is absolutely delicious and a must try for any cornbread lover.
How to make Spoon Bread
First add the butter to a casserole dish and place in the preheated oven. Then heat the milk in a large saucepan until fine bubbles start surfacing around the sides of the pan. next slowly add the cornmeal to the milk stirring to combine.
Once well combined whisk several tablespoons of the hot corn meal mixture into the beaten eggs and stir to warm the eggs. This technique is know as tempering the eggs. Add the tempered eggs, salt, baking powder and sugar to the cornbread mixture stirring to combine. Carefully pour the batter into the hot casserole dish and bake it for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. For best results serve hot.
Southern Spoon Bread recipe tips
- Take the eggs out of the fridge about 40 minutes prior to preparing this recipe to bring them to room temperature.
- Heat the milk over medium heat and keep it stirred so it does not burn.
- Temper the eggs by mixing about 1/2 cup of the hot cornmeal mixture into the bowl with the beaten eggs. This warms the eggs so they incorporate into the hot mixture without cooking.
- Always preheat the casserole dish with a little melted butter in it for crispy brown edges and a creamy buttery center.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in a skillet or in the microwave at a reduced power.
- Once cooled leftovers can be frozen in airtight container for up to 3 months with fairly good results.
Recipe variations
- Vegetables – corn kernels, chopped green onions, or minced jalapeno
- Shredded Cheese – Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or cheddar cheese
- Meat – crispy cooked bacon or smoked ham
More southern recipes you will love!
Easy Spoon Bread
This classic Southern Spoon Bread recipe is a creamy moist cornbread with the consistency somewhere between a soufflé and a pudding. Served hot with a spoon this delicious traditional dish goes great with braised or roasted meats and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: side dish
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 3 eggs beaten
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Put butter in 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and place in oven.
- Heat the milk in a large saucepan until fine bubbles start surfacing around the sides of the pan. Slowly add the cornmeal to the milk whisking to combine.
- Once well combined whisk several tablespoons of the hot corn meal mixture into the beaten eggs and stir to warm the eggs. Repeat again adding several more tablespoons of the hot corn meal mixture and stirring.
- Add the warmed (tempered) eggs, salt, baking powder and sugar to the cornbread mixture stirring to combine. Carefully pour the mixture into the hot casserole dish and bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. For best results serve hot.
Notes
- Take the eggs out of the fridge about 40 minutes prior to preparing this recipe to bring them to room temperature.
- Heat the milk over medium heat and keep it stirred so it does not burn.
- Temper the eggs by mixing about 1/2 cup of the hot cornmeal mixture into the bowl with the beaten eggs. This warms the eggs so they incorporate into the hot mixture without cooking.
- Always preheat the casserole dish with a little melted butter in it for crispy brown edges and a creamy buttery center.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet or in the microwave at a reduced power.
- Once cooled leftovers can be frozen in airtight container for up to 3 months with fairly good results.
Keywords: spoon bread cornbread, what is spoon bread, how to make spoon bread
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Annette
This is so delicious! Can it be prepared in advance and refrigerated, then baked later in the day?
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
I am sorry I thought I answered this already. You can not let it sit unbaked because of the baking powder. Baking powder starts reacting when mixed with wet ingredients. However, you can bake and reheat covered in a 325-degree oven for about 15 minutes.
Annette
Can this be mixed up and put into the casserole and refrigerated, then baked later?
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
No sorry, Annette! The baking soda will start to react when it gets wet. That being said you can easily reheat it covered in a 300 degrees oven for about 20 minutes.
Annette
I made this and it was so delicious! What size square or rectangular baking dish is the best size (square inches measurement vs 1 1/2 quart measurement). If I use a larger square dish, the batter will be shallower. If I use a smaller square dish, the batter will be deeper. What size would be ideal for the 35-40 minute baking time? If I use a smaller dish with a deeper batter would I need to bake longer? Thank you!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Go with an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square baking dish.
Neely Moldovan
I love this recipe. Spoon bread is the best. So moist and tasty!
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
I’ve not heard of spoon bread before. I love how moist and delicious this looks.
★★★★★
Fransic verso
This looks so yummy and easy to make. I think if my memories are correct, we tried this before but might have something similar to this one before. It was so good either way. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Brianna S
What a great recipe. You are right. I like it much better than cornbread!
Gervin Khan
I love how easy and tasty this bread is. This is one of my favorite recipes!
★★★★★
Dominique
My family has made spoon bread for years at thanksgiving, and I never had a good recipe! This recipe was just like theirs and it was SO good! Thank you!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! The pleasure is all mine!
Sangeetha
This spoon bread recipe looks absolutely delicious and perfect for a cozy night in. The step-by-step instructions and helpful tips make it seem like a foolproof recipe, even for a newbie baker like myself. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to give it a try!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I sure hope you enjoy it!
Alita Pacio
I love that this one only takes a few minutes to whip up and has a short list of common ingredients. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
briannemanzb
This is a delicious comfort food, and it can be served as the bread side dish for almost any meal. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Nicole Bertrand
I’ve never had this but my family LOVES corn bread. Looks like I’ll have to make it over the weekend!
★★★★★
Cinny
That sounds pretty awesome! I can’t believe all the prep takes only 10 minutes!
Stephanie
Wow! You are so right – I won’t be making regular cornbread again. The texture and taste are spot on!
★★★★★
Vanessa Palma
This is delicious. My family really loves it. So much better than cornbread.
Pooja
I love spoon bread. This recipe was easy and it has amazing texture. You will love it!
Ntensibe Edgar
Thanks for the great recipe. You are correct. I like this better than traditional cornbread. Thanks for sharing!
Rosey
I like cornbread.I have room for both in my life. 🙂 This looks delish.
Colleen
This is delicious comfort food. I served this as a side dish with beef stew and it was so yummy. Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Colleen! So glad that you liked it!
briannemanzb
This dish is very similar to cornbread but I love this one better. I like a more soufflé texture.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Me too! I could not agree more!
Irena
Simply the best!
★★★★★
Christine
YUM! I had never heard of spoon bread until I ran into this recipe. It was so yummy and I agree with you I like it better than cornbread.
★★★★★
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This is a really great recipe! This is so perfect! Thanks for the great recipe!
Stephanie
Spoon bread looks delicious! I have everything for it and this will go perfectly with the dinner I have planned for tomorrow.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Stephanie! Enjoy!
Healing Oils
OMG that spoon bread looks so delicious. I can practically taste that dollop of butter.
★★★★★
Mahy
I just love how yummy this bread is. The texture is perfect and just the way I like it!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Mahy! So glad that you liked it!
Tavo
Lovely bread recipe, I’ll be making this often!
★★★★★
Amy
This was delicious! Definitely my favorite summer side dish for BBQ food!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Amy! So glad that you liked it!
Toni
This is really an impressive recipe! My whole family loved it!
★★★★★
Cara
I had never heard of this, and now I refuse to eat regular cornbread for the rest of my life. So good!!!
★★★★★
Cathy
Yum! Such a perfect side dish!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Cathy! Enjoy!!
john mc gee
TOO BAD I COULDN’T GIVE THIS A 20 STARS!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks John! So glad that you like it. We love it too!
Catalina
Love the texture of this bread. It was a hit at our house!
★★★★★
Juliane
This is SO good! Became a favorite in our house!
★★★★★
Sandra
Such an amazing side dish! My whole family loved it!
★★★★★
Erin
I had been looking for this recipe! It was so delicious. We really enjoyed it!!
Amanda
I love spoon bread and this is the best recipe I’ve found! So yummy!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Amanda! So glad that you like it!