Just the best vegan cornbread, perfect for serving with chili. It’s wonderfully moist, perfectly sweet and only requires one bowl!
Every time we have chili, I have to make some cornbread to go along with it. The whole family loves it, and it makes a pot of chili go a lot further! My kids have recently decided that they love chili, and demand it often. I’ve tried several vegan cornbread recipes out there, and haven’t been perfectly happy until this one!
Now, I know people like to get all picky about their cornbread. So let me tell you what this one is all about.
It’s quite sweet, but not overly so. If you don’t like sweet cornbread, you may want to look elsewhere, or just lower the amount of sugar called for. It’s not a savory cornbread though, that’s not what I’m used to, and it’s not my preference!
It’s very moist, with the perfect amount of cornbread texture. I’ve made some cornbreads that have too much “grit” in them. I don’t like that. This one is just perfect in texture, in my opinion. Not totally cake like, but not super gritty either.
It’s made with just one bowl! This is a super easy recipe: dump, mix & bake! Perfect every time.
Serve cornbread with this Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili , Instant Pot Baked Beans, or Ultimate Vegan Chili for optimal results! 🙂
The Best Vegan Cornbread
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup yellow corn meal
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/3 cup canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a 8 x 8 pan, or a 9 inch round cake pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder and stir.
- Now pour in the almond milk and canola oil. Stir until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Video
Notes
- Whole grain or gluten free - You may use white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour in place of all purpose flour if you wish. A quality gluten free flour mix works as well.
- For oil-free - replace the canola oil with applesauce.
- Make cornbread muffins - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a muffin pan with oil (or use liners) and fill 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Less sweet - This a sweet cornbread, but feel free to make it less sweet if you want. You can cut the sugar in half, or even use just a few tablespoons of sugar for a barely sweet cornbread.
- Adapted from allrecipes.
Excellent in every way! Texture and taste is great. Such a quick and easy recipe to make.
Thank you!
You are welcome, Marea! I’m so glad you loved the cornbread! Thanks for sharing your fabulous review and feedback!
Can I use regular milk instead of almond milk? My daughter is allergic to nuts. If so would you recommend low-fat or whole milk?
Hi Lisa. Though I have not tested it, regular milk should work. Either type will work. Buttermilk will most likely yield a more moist and tender cornbread. Hope this helps!
Hi Nora, can I use soy milk instead? Also if I am making a muffin, how long should I bake it for?
Yes you can use soy milk. Muffins will need 18-20 minutes to bake.
If I double the recipe how long do I bake it and what size pan should I use
9×13 inch pan, for 30-40 minutes until done in the middle.
Can you use corn flour instead of corn meal?
You probably could, just keep in mind corn flour is fine and doesn’t have the same texture as cornmeal, so the outcome will be more cake-like.
Hi Nora, just noticed the recipe doesn’t have an egg substitute (a binding agent). Was it supposed to be left out?
This recipe doesn’t need one. No mistake here!
Love this recipe! Any advice for making it as muffins? Seems less mess for Thanksgiving. Thank you!
You can make them as muffins, no problem. They will take 18-20 minutes in a muffin pan.
Have you tried making it in cupcake pan? What would be the cooking time number of muffins?
Yes! Muffins will need to cook for 18-20 minutes. Enjoy!
Yum so easy and tasty! I had coconut sugar, avocado oil, and full fat Oatly milk on hand so that’s what I used. The recipe made 12 muffins which came out perfectly after 12 minutes in the oven! Thank you. 🙂
Hello Nora I want to try your cornbread recipe for thanksgiving my daughter who is a strict vegan raves about your recipes! Can I substitute
plant based butter instead of the oil? If so how much butter can I use?
TIA
Sherry
Yes! Use 1/3 cup of melted vegan butter. Enjoy! 🙂
I made this recipe for my neighborhood chili cook-off. I’m vegan and felt that a meatless chili would NOT win any awards with the gen pop but was looking for SOMETHING to contribute. It was a great hit! 👍
Hi Marise. I’m thrilled that the cornbread was a hit! Thanks for sharing your stellar review and feedback!
Pleasantly surprised. This is really good. Slowly moving towards dairy free dishes. Husband loves it. Definitely a repeat! I did add a half cup of corn kernels and 4 ounces of green chilis. Thank you.
Excellent recipe! Very versatile- I usually add frozen corn or green chilies to my cornbread and this recipe took well to the addition. Also let vegan butter melt/brown in the baking dish as the oven warmed up to temperature, which added buttery goodness. Even with the full amount of sugar I didn’t find this recipe too sweet. Pairs perfectly with your chili recipe:)
Hi Helen. Your cornbread sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing your ideas and fantastic review! I am so glad you are loving the cornbread recipe!
What vegan yellow corn meal did you use? Martha white has dairy.
You want a product that is just corn meal, nothing else added. I use Bob’s Red Mill, Albers and many other brands. Nothing special, just what I can find at my local store.
Curious if one can add whole organic sweet corn to this recipe without it messing with the appropriate moisture content? Many thanks!
No, corn kernels shouldn’t mess up the recipe! You should be fine to add up to 1 cup of sweet corn.
Can I use this recipe in my bread machine?
I haven’t tried this recipe in a bread maker so I’m not sure if it will work or not. Sorry!
I’ve had more than one person tell me this is the best corn bread they have ever eaten. I make it gluten-free with 1to1 gluten free, baking flour. So good.
Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks so much for your review, Vicki!
Hi Nora, Is it possible to use maple syrup instead of sugar?
You might be able to sub maple syrup, I haven’t tested it though. I would add maybe half as much though.
Does soy milk work in this?
Yes.
I will use the vegan cornbread recipe, to make cornbread dressing.
Can you substitute oat milk?
Yes, oat milk works well here.
Would this work with almond flour?
I wouldn’t normally recommend almond flour but another commenter used it and had good results. It’s worth a try!
This is truly the best cornbread period. Vegan or not. I’ve made it so many times, and it always comes out perfect. So easy and delicious!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful feedback and review! I’m so glad you are enjoying the cornbread!
Hey, Nora! Your recipe is amazing! Made it twice this week because it’s so good. Have you tried eating it with coffee? So good! Also, I love that your recipe doesn’t call for egg substitute. I’ve tried other recipes and the results were not great! Again, thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi Steph. I appreciate your encouraging comments! I don’t think I have tried this with coffee! How awesome my cornbread recipe turns out tasty! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review! Happy cooking!
Is it self-rising cornmeal or plain?
Not self rising, just plain cornmeal.
Hey Nora, I love your recipe for your vegan cornbread. I make it all the time. It’s so delicious. Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome, Brenda! I am thrilled you love the cornbread! Thanks for your wonderful feedback!
I had to substitute vegetable oil for canola and Silk brand regular coconut milk for almond milk. The end result was amazing!
I’m going to definitely keep this recipe in my Favorites.
My husband raved about this and said he’d have no qualms about serving to non-vegans. Will be our go-to. Enjoyed it with bean soup on a chilly autumn night.