Pumpkin Cornbread {Maple Sweetened}
by Katie Webster
October 26, 2022 (updated 2/15/23) Jump To Recipe
If you are looking for an impressive, delicious and wow-worthy cornbread recipe then this Pumpkin Cornbread is just what you are searching for! The light maple sweetness, creamy pumpkin, tangy buttermilk and touch of sweet pumpkin pie spice add something special to traditional cornbread. This pumpkin cornbread is incredibly moist and fluffy and 100% whole-grain!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
While I love the ease of making cornbread muffins in only 30 minutes, this moist and fluffy Pumpkin Cornbread is a pull-out-all-the-stops kind of cornbread!
It is the perfect easy but festive baked good for Thanksgiving. One taste and everyone will want a copy of the recipe! The best part is that it comes together in only 5 minutes.
It is sort of like the love child of my Healthy Pumpkin Bread and my basic Whole-wheat Cornbread Recipe all wrapped up in one cozy fall treat!
It is amazing with spicy chili. We had it last night with Turkey Chili with Pintos and I loved the sweet and savory combination!
Recipe Highlights
- 100% Whole Grain
- 5 Minutes of prep time
- Made with nutritious and healthy ingredients including heart-healthy avocado oil, low-fat buttermilk and whole-wheat flour.
- High in fiber and low in saturated fat
- Naturally sweetened with earth-friendly Maple Syrup
Ingredient Notes
Pumpkin Puree
You’ll need one cup of pumpkin puree for this recipe. You can use canned pumpkin or make your own pumpkin puree from scratch. Make sure to follow my instructions for straining the homemade puree if making it from scratch. For canned pumpkin make sure it is pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling which has additional ingredients and sweetness.
Maple Syrup
The flavor of the maple syrup in this cornbread is simply magic. {And I am not just saying that because I happen to have written a whole book about maple syrup, *wink*!} When the cornbread is baking you’ll know just what I mean because your house will smell amazing! For the strong maple flavor use “Dark Robust” or “Extra Dark Strong” grade A maple syrup.
Note: We are currently sold out of our maple syrup but will have more in stock in the spring so check back!
Stone Ground Cornmeal
Cornmeal varies widely depending on the brand and type of grind. Look for finely milled stone-ground cornmeal that is 100% whole grain for the best texture and nutrition. Avoid coarse ground unless you like more rustic and slightly gritty cornbread.
Whole-Wheat Flour
Pretty much all of my baking recipes are whole-wheat-based. {Well except for the gluten-free baking recipes that is!} This whole-wheat pumpkin cornbread is no exception.
I always recommend looking for White Whole Wheat flour (King Arthur Flour is my favorite and made here in Vermont!) It is lighter in flavor and less “wheaty” than regular whole-wheat. Regular whole-wheat flour works well though.
Buttermilk
I love the way buttermilk makes cornbread light and fluffy! The acidity of the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda to help puff the cornbread up and make it less dense. If you are all out of buttermilk, no problem! You can easily make your own buttermilk with lemon (or cream of tartar or vinegar) and milk.
How To Make Healthy Pumpkin Cornbread
Step 1: Prepare Pan
Coat a deep dish pie pan or 8 by 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 2: Whisk Dry Ingredients
Whisk cornmeal, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center.
Step 3: Make Wet Mix
Whisk egg in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, pumpkin, maple syrup and oil thoroughly in a large measuring cup or medium bowl.
Step 4: Mix Batter
Pour wet mix into the well in the dry mix and stir together until evenly moistened.
Step 5: Spread Batter in the Baking Dish
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Spread the top and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
Step 6: Bake
Bake until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 minutes.
FAQs and Expert Tips
How to store
The pumpkin and maple in this recipe keep this cornbread exceptionally moist and we found it was still really yummy on day two and even day three! Keep covered at room temperature.
We love cornbread served warm. To rewarm this, wrap in foil and bake until just warm, about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. A single serving can be briefly heated in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.
Wrap the cornbread while still in the baking dish in foil and then place in an extra-large freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. When ready to eat thaw on the countertop and rewarm in the oven.
What Goes With Maple Pumpkin Cornbread?
- This is the perfect Holiday cornbread for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- I have been enjoying this for breakfast and it also makes a perfect snack.
- This cornbread is great with soups as well. Try it with this spicy Sweet Potato Chipotle and Cheddar soup or this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup.
- We love this with a bowls of homemade chili. We’ve shared several over the years! Here are a few:
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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Pumpkin Cornbread {Maple Sweetened}
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
If you are looking for an impressive, delicious and wow-worthy cornbread recipe then this Maple Pumpkin Cornbread is just what you are searching for! The light maple sweetness, creamy pumpkin, tangy buttermilk and touch of sweet pumpkin pie spice add something special to traditional cornbread. This pumpkin cornbread is incredibly moist and fluffy and 100% whole-grain!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or organic canola oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Whisk cornmeal, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center.
- Whisk egg in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, pumpkin, maple syrup and oil thoroughly in a large measuring cup or medium bowl.
- Pour wet mix into the well in the dry mix and stir together until evenly moistened.
- Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Spread the top and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
- Bake until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 39 minutes
Notes
Make Ahead
The pumpkin and maple in this recipe keep this cornbread exceptionally moist and we found it was still really yummy on day two and even day three! Keep covered at room temperature.
To Re-warm
We love cornbread served warm. To rewarm this, wrap in foil and bake until just warm, about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. A single serving can be briefly heated in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.
To Freeze
Wrap the cornbread while still in the baking dish in foil and then place in an extra-large freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months. When ready to eat thaw on the countertop and rewarm in the oven.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: SIde Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wedge
- Calories: 194 cals
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
This was fun to make and impressed my guests. Surprising to add the pumpkin and the maple syrup gave it jest the right sweetness. Delicious, thank you!
Thank you Yvonne! I am glad you liked the maple and pumpkin in the cornbread.
Ultimate Fall comfort food. I love the pumpkin and maple together.
This pumpkin cornbread is the perfect side to go with any thick and hearty stew or chili. The perfect cold weather comfort food companion.
This looks perfect to side with a thick chunky soup. So tasty! Thanks for sharing.
This is such a wholesome and delicious cornbread. The addition of pumpkin was so good!
I loved the twist on this Thanksgiving favorite, two of my favorite ingredients together, pumpkins and corn bread!
Very tasty, but not enough cornbread flavor (more like a nice sweetbread with cornmeal in it) and I’d make it with about half the maple syrup next time. Pumpkin seeds on top were great.
Thanks for your feedback. You may enjoy my classic cornbread which is much less sweet and doesn’t have any additional flavors so the cornbread flavor shines through.
Loved the taste, aroma and texture of this cornbread. I did substitute the whole wheat flour with Teff flour. It was a marriage made for this autumn day. Thanks again for another meal that my husband loved!
I am so happy to hear you tried it and enjoyed it. Thank you Denise!