Vegan Cornbread

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This vegan cornbread is fluffy, moist and has just the right amount of sweetness. It comes together quickly and is the perfect comforting side to a big bowl of soup or chili.

I love cornbread! It’s the perfect recipe to bake in the fall and winter months and pairs well with so many recipes! I have shared a recipe for pumpkin cornbread muffins but never a classic cornbread recipe… until now!

A closeup photo of two pieces of vegan cornbread stacked on top of each other drizzled with maple syrup and topped with a pat of vegan butter.

Why You’ll Love This Cornbread

  • It’s dairy-free and vegan with an option for gluten-free as well.
  • It comes together in just 40 minutes… with only 10 minutes of prep! Such an easy vegan cornbread recipe.
  • It’s the perfect blend of savory and sweet.
  • It pairs well with so many main dishes. Chili, stews, soups – the options are endless!
Ingredients measured out in little bowls to make vegan cornbread: salt, baking soda, baking powder, flour, flax egg, apple cider vinegar, vegan butter, almond milk, sugar and cornmeal.

Here’s What You Need

  • flax egg – instead of using a traditional egg, keep this cornbread vegan by mixing 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 Tablespoons of water. Set aside to let the mixture gel up.
  • unsweetened plain almond milk – make your own vegan “buttermilk” by mixing apple cider vinegar with almond milk (store-bought or homemade almond milk works)! Whisk the ACV and almond milk and set aside at room temperature. The mixture should bubble, thicken and potentially even curdle after a few minutes. Not all non-dairy milk will work for vegan buttermilk but soy milk does if you don’t have almond milk on hand.
  • apple cider vinegar – when shopping for ACV, look for a brand that’s unpasteurized with “the mother” included. This is where all the nutrients are. I personally recommend Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. It’s organic, raw and the best of the best.
  • all-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour – either flour works great so use what you have or make sure you use gluten-free flour if needed.
  • fine yellow cornmeal – there are different ground levels of cornmeal – make sure you get fine ground for light and fluffy texture. If you like a grittier cornbread, you can also use medium ground cornmeal.
  • baking soda and baking powder – to help the cornbread rise.
  • sea salt – to bring all of the flavors together!
  • cane sugar or coconut sugar – your cornbread will turn out darker in color if you use coconut sugar but either sweetener works!
  • vegan butter – oil works as well. I recommend avocado oil, coconut oil or olive oil.
  • maple syrup – optional for topping.
Side by side photos: the first is wet ingredients being poured into a mixing bowl with dry ingredients to make cornbread. The second is the batter mixed together.

How to Make Vegan Cornbread

Start by prepping a few things before you dive in! Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or vegan butter. Make your flaxseed egg by mixing the ground flaxseed with water in a small bowl and let sit at room temperature to gel up. Lastly, mix the almond milk and apple cider vinegar in a medium bowl and let curdle for about 5-10 minutes at room temperature.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the flax egg, coconut sugar and vegan butter to the milk mixture and stir to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined and the batter is smooth.

Pour the batter into the pan and use a spatula to make sure the top is smooth and in an even layer. Bake in the oven at 375ºF for 28-30 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cornbread cool for at least 10-15 minutes before cutting into slices and serving! I like to wait until the cornbread is completely cool otherwise the bread might be a bit crumbly.

Vegan cornbread cut into 9 equal squares.

Recipe Notes

  • If you just want a dairy-free cornbread and not vegan, you can use 1 egg in place of the flaxseed egg.
  • To make dairy-free, vegan buttermilk mix apple cider vinegar with almond or soy milk.
  • If you use coconut sugar as a sweetener, your cornbread will be a little darker in color but still delicious!
  • Make sure to let the cornbread cool before serving, otherwise it could turn out a little crumbly!
An overhead photo of a piece of vegan cornbread with a bite missing. The cornbread is topped with a dollop of vegan butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.

How to Serve Cornbread

I like to top my cornbread with vegan butter and a drizzle of maple syrup! If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan it’s also delicious served with honey!

Serve alongside any of these dishes for the ultimate meal:

Two pieces of vegan cornbread stacked on top of each other topped with a pat of vegan butter being drizzled with maple syrup.

How to Store Leftovers

After allowing the cornbread to cool completely, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

A closeup overhead photo of a piece of vegan cornbread with a bite missing. The cornbread is topped with a dollop of vegan butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.

More Bread Recipes to Try

Be sure to check out all of the vegan recipes and more quick-bread recipes here on EBF!

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4.05 from 23 votes

Vegan Cornbread

This vegan cornbread is fluffy, moist and has just the right amount of sweetness. It comes together quickly and is the perfect comforting side to a big bowl of soup or chili.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 9

Ingredients  

  • 1 flax egg
  • 1 ¼ cup unsweetened plain almond milk
  • 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • cup cane sugar or coconut sugar
  • cup vegan butter, melted (or oil), plus more for serving
  • maple syrup , for topping (optional)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Grease a 8×8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray or vegan butter.
  • Prepare flax egg in a small bowl and let set for a few minutes to gel up.
    A fork mixing ground flax and water together.
  • Whisk almond milk and apple cider vinegar in a medium bowl and let curdle for 5-10 minutes. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt together.
    A glass mixing bowl with dry ingredients for vegan cornbread.
  • In the same container as the milk mixture, add flax egg, coconut sugar and vegan butter (or oil) and mix to combine.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until fully combined & smooth.
    Wet and dry ingredients in a glass bowl mixed together. A spatula is resting on the edge of the bowl.
  • Pour the batter into the pan and using a spatula, smooth down the top into an even layer.
  • Bake for 28-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool for at least 10-15 minutes, preferably until cool otherwise cornbread might be crumbly.
  • Slice into 9 slices, serve with vegan butter or maple syrup (or both) and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Cornmeal: If you like a grittier cornbread, you can use medium ground cornmeal.
  • Coconut sugar: If you use coconut sugar your cornbread will be darker in color. 
  • Flax egg: If you just want a dairy-free cornbread and not vegan, you can use 1 egg in place of the flaxseed egg.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice without toppings | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: vegan cornbread
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
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Recipe Rating




7 Comments

  1. This looks great…i just purchased store brand apple cider vinegar before reading the details of this recipe- is there a way to tell if it is pasteurized? The label does not say one way or another…thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    I love this cornbread so much!! I made it egg free and gf and the texture and sweetness turned out perfectly…even my I-don’t-really-like-cornbread kiddo agreed it was delicious. Another fantastic recipe to add to our repertoire! Thank you!!

  3. 5 stars
    Finally a good vegan cornbread that holds together and taste good! I even used it for cornbread dressing and it was delicious.

    1. Woo! I’m so glad this recipe worked out for you, Sarah! Thanks for leaving a review and star rating, I really appreciate it!

    1. Great! SO glad you found this recipe and it was a hit. Thanks for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!