Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (2024)

A simple sourdough cornbread recipe made with sourdough discard. Sourdough discard gives this quick bread a great yeasty flavor.

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You probably didn’t know you needed another cornbread recipe in your life but here we are. And you definitely need this homemade cornbread because it’s not just any old cornbread.

It’s gluten free cornbread made with sourdough discard and it’s probably the best cornbread recipe I’ve ever had.

The sourdough discard gives this cornbread a distinct yeasty flavor that’s just phenomenal.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Please, please, please put down your gluten free cornbread mix and give this homemade cornbread recipe a try! I guarantee, it’s easier than you think it is!

Plus, the results you get from this recipe are way better than anything you’d make from a box.

What You Need To Know About This Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe:

I adapted this recipe from my regular gluten free cornbread recipe. I use 1 cup of sourdough discard to replace 1/2 cup gluten-free flour and 1/4 cup milk.

Sourdough Discard Cornbread Ingredients

• Sourdough Discard from a mature gluten-free sourdough starter.
• Gluten-Free Flour – I use my nightshade-free gluten-free flour blend in this recipe with excellent results.
• Xanthan Gum – omit if your flour blend contains it.
• Cornmeal – for best results, use a finely ground cornmeal. If your cornmeal is too coarse, run it through a food processor for a few seconds to grind it finer.
  • See below for gluten-free cornmeal options.
• Sugar – a little granulated sugar flavors the cornbread without making it sweet.
• Baking Powder – Always use aluminum-free baking powder when baking. I use Rumford.
• Salt – I use fine sea salt.
• Milk – 2% or whole milk yields the best results. See below for dairy free.
• Oil – I use avocado oil but canola or vegetable oil works great too.
• Egg – use a flax egg for egg-free or your favorite substitute for eggs in baked goods.

Dairy Free Cornbread

To make dairy free cornbread, use unsweetened coconut milk beverage in place of the regular milk. Make this a vegan cornbread by using the dairy-free sub and use a flax egg in place of the regular egg.

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Is cornmeal gluten free?

Cornmeal is made from ground, dried corn, which is a naturally gluten free food. Personally, we use Quaker Cornmeal because we’re not a Celiac family and it’s easy to find. Quaker doesn’t list their product as gluten free because there is a risk of cross-contamination so if you have Celiac Disease, look for cornmeal that’s labeled gluten free.

Arrowhead Mills makes certified gluten free cornmeal and Bob’s Red Mill also makes a gluten free cornmeal separate from their regular cornmeal. Bob’s Red Mill cornmeal is a medium-grind though so be sure to run it through a food processor to make it finer before baking.

Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Cornbread

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons or a Digital Kitchen Scale
• Spatula + Mixing Spoon
• 8×8 Square Baking Pan – I generally use glass or stoneware when making cornbread but a metal baking pan will work great too.

How to Make Cornbread with Sourdough Discard

Step 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray an 8×8 square baking pan with non-stick spray or grease with butter.

Step 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then set aside.

Step 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg then whisk in the sourdough discard.

Step 4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until completely incorporated.

Step 5. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and gently smooth out the top and make sure the batter is evenly distributed in the pan.

Step 6. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until done.

Step 7. Serve warm or room temperature with honey butteror spread with grass-fed butter and a drizzle of honey.

Tips for Making Cornbread from Scratch

• Use finely ground cornmeal for the best texture.
• Use discard from a mature sourdough starter. Your starter should be at least a week old.
• Don’t overmeasure your flour. Too much flour will make your bread dense and dry.Get my free guide to measuring flour here.
• Use a sourdough starter made with 100% hydration (made with equal parts flour and water). Too much flour or water will through off the ratios in this recipe and you can end up with cornbread that’s either too dry or too wet.

Other Gluten-Free Quick Bread Recipes To Try

• Honey Cornbread – from The Gluten-Free Quick Breads Cookbook
• Sourdough Banana Bread (made with sourdough discard)
• Buttermilk Biscuits or my original Gluten Free Biscuit Recipe
• Cheddar Bay Biscuits
• 15+ Gluten Free Quick Bread Recipes

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Did you make this cornbread recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.