Breads

Fennel-seed Skillet Cornbread

This foolproof recipe brings the earthiness of fennel seed to the buttery crumb of cornbread for a simple and elegant side dish. Try it slathered with a spread like our Charred Jalepeño with Lime Cream Cheese Spread or Honey-Lavender Whipped Cream Cheese Spread. Or, during the holidays, tear this cornbread into chunks for bread pudding or turkey stuffing.

Servings

8-10 pieces

Level

Medium

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Challenge Butter, melted
  • 1 ½ cups yellow cornmeal
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed, toasted and ground, plus a pinch of whole seed for garnish
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions

  • 1
    Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • 2
    Melt the butter in a 9-10-inch cast-iron skillet. When butter is melted, pour into small cup or ramekin and reserve. Hold butter in a warm place so it does not begin to set. Set buttered skillet aside.
  • 3
    Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, ground fennel seed, and baking soda in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  • 4
    Add the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter and stir until just combined; do not over-mix. The batter should be lumpy.
  • 5
    Pour the batter into the buttered skillet and sprinkle the top with a little salt and the whole fennel seeds.
  • 6
    Bake until the top is golden brown and a sharp knife or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
  • 7
    Remove from the oven, turn the cornbread out of the skillet, slice into wedges, and serve warm.

Recipe By

The Larder Meat Co.

Jensen is a chef, husband, father, outdoorsman, and entrepreneur. He believes in the power of linking land and food as a means of strengthening a community. So with his wife, Grace, he started the Larder Meat Co. to provide direct access to healthy, ethically raised meat.