New England Corn Bread is a traditional staple in American cuisine, especially popular in the Northeastern states. Thanks to the perfect blend of flour and fine cornmeal, this recipe creates a light, fluffy bread with a delightful crumb. It’s an ideal accompaniment to soups, stews, and salads, or it can be enjoyed with a smear of butter and honey.
Join our Vintage Recipe Facebook Group to discuss and find “new” old recipes to enjoy.
Links to find other recipes:
New England Corn Bread
Front of the recipe card for New England Corn Bread. This New England Corn Bread recipe card appeared in the Ladies Home Journal in 1946.
Food History
Cornbread is deeply rooted in American history. It originated from Native Americans, who were the first to cultivate corn (maize). The New England version tends to be less sweet and more cake-like than its Southern counterpart, which is often denser and traditionally made without sugar. This recipe offers a slightly sweetened version, bridging the gap between the two styles.
Recipe Discussion
The recipe begins by mixing dry ingredients, including flour, fine cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and sugar, for a mild sweetness. Eggs are added for structure and richness, milk for moisture, and melted shortening contribute to the bread’s tender texture. The mixture is baked until golden and served warm. This cornbread is a beautiful example of a simple dish made with precision to yield a comforting result.
Serving Suggestions
Serve New England cornbread fresh from the oven alongside chili, a hearty stew, or a creamy soup. It also pairs beautifully with barbecue dishes or can be enjoyed as a breakfast item with jam or cream cheese. For a traditional touch, drizzle with honey or serve with maple syrup.
Preparation Tips
- Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cornbread light and fluffy. Mix just until the dry and wet ingredients are incorporated.
- Baking: The cornbread is done when it begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Variations: Add fresh corn kernels, jalapeños, or cheese to the batter for a flavorful twist.
COOK’S NOTES
- I made this recipe and it is an INCREDIBLY dense batter but bakes up nice.
- The pan I used was a 9″ cast iron skillet, so if you use a small skillet, it might perk up a bit and gain more height.
- It’s not a high-rising, fluffy cornbread, but it was perfect for serving with my chili.
Vintage Recipe Box 012
The box with this recipe for New England Corn Bread contains lots of fun recipes. Click here to view all of recipes.
More Vintage Recipes
We have lots of recipes on the site that may be of interest to you.
Use the links below to view other recipes similar to this New England Corn Bread recipe.
Recipe Box and Cards
Start your own recipe box or your family or friends. Click here to view New and Vintage Recipe Boxes.
Once you have your recipe boxes, you will need recipe cards. Click here to view Recipe Cards and Templates.
Want to protect your recipe cards from splats and splatters in the kitchen? Click here to view Recipe Card Protectors and Sleeves.
Vintage Kitchen Tools and Dishes
I love vintage dishes and kitchenware.
On the weekends I can often be found in a thrift store poking through the shelves to find vintage treasures to use as props for our photography for the site.
Click here to view Vintage Kitchenware on Etsy.
Vintage Cookbooks
Every once and a while you can find a good cookbook with Vintage Recipes on Amazon. I don’t have any recommendations as I haven’t bought any as I prefer the handwritten recipes that you see on our site.
You can always find treasures on sites that sell used items such as Vintage Cookbooks on eBay and Vintage Cookbooks on Etsy
New England Corn Bread Recipe
New England Corn Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup flour
- 2/3 cup fine corn meal
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup melted shortening
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients
- Add milk
- Add eggs
- Add melted shortening
- Bake 25 - 30 minutes minimum
- Oven at 375 degrees
New England Corn Bread is a versatile, delicious side that complements many meals. Whether you’re introducing someone to cornbread for the first time or continuing a family tradition, this recipe delivers a perfectly balanced, tender bread that’s sure to be a hit at any table.