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Air Fryer Cornbread

Quick and easy homemade cornbread made in an air fryer, perfect for a fast side dish or snack.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Medium-sized bowl
  • Smaller bowl
  • Air fryer-safe pan or mold Small cake pan or ramekins work well
  • Wire rack

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients

  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal The star of the show!
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour Just a little bit to give our cornbread structure and a tender crumb.
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking powder Our little leavening agent, promising a lovely, fluffy rise.
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt Balances out the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
  • 0.25 cup sweetener or sugar Fine sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
  • 1 egg Beaten
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Melted
  • 0.75 cup buttermilk The secret to super moist and tender cornbread!

Instructions
 

  • Combine the dry ingredients: Grab a medium-sized bowl. Whisk together your cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and sweetener until they're all buddies. This ensures everything is evenly distributed.
  • Whisk the wet: In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together your beaten egg, the melted butter (make sure it's not too hot, you don't want to cook the egg!), and the buttermilk. Give it a good swirl until it's all combined.
  • Marry the ingredients: Now, pour those lovely wet ingredients right into the bowl with your dry ingredients. Stir gently until you just see no more dry bits. A few small lumps are totally fine – in fact, overmixing is the enemy of tender cornbread, so resist the urge!
  • Prep your pan: This is important for preventing sticking! Lightly grease and flour an air fryer-safe pan or mold. If you have a small cake pan or even a couple of ramekins that fit in your air fryer, those work beautifully. A quick spray of cooking oil and a dusting of flour usually does the trick.
  • Pour in the batter: Spoon or pour your glorious batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top a little with your spoon.
  • Into the air fryer: Carefully place your prepared pan right into the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry to perfection: Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and let it cook for about 12 to 15 minutes. The best way to check if it's done is with a toothpick inserted into the center – if it comes out clean, you're golden!
  • Cool and enjoy: Carefully remove the pan from the air fryer (it will be hot!). Let the cornbread cool in the pan for a few minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack or serving it directly from the pan. A little patience here makes it easier to slice!

Notes

This recipe is fast, easy, and crowd-pleasing. It can be made in a regular oven as well. Substitutions for buttermilk and sweeteners are provided.