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Masa Harina Cornbread

June 12, 2020 By Patrick 37 Comments

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Question:  since Masa Harina can be used to make awesome homemade corn tortillas, what happens if I use it to replace cornmeal in my go-to cornbread recipe?  

I’ve been wondering about this one and I’m glad I finally got around to experimenting with it.

To summarize this post….just go for it!

I used Masa Harina instead of cornmeal in this batch of cornbread and it was delicious! I also used chipotles in adobo for some kick πŸ™‚ mexicanplease.com

How To Make Masa Harina Cornbread

In case you’re wondering about the difference between cornmeal and Masa Harina, let’s start with some dried field corn…

This masa dough is a great starting point for homemade corn tortillas, tamales, and pupusas. We're taking a shortcut by using a food processor to grind the corn and so far the results are fantastic! mexicanplease.com

If you grind this up you’ve got cornmeal your hands, and this is typically used to make cornbread.

But for corn tortillas you would first need to nixtamalize the dried field corn .

This masa dough is a great starting point for homemade corn tortillas, tamales, and pupusas. We're taking a shortcut by using a food processor to grind the corn and so far the results are fantastic! mexicanplease.com

Soaking the corn in an alkaline mixture does a number of wonderful things: 

Unleashes some dormant nutrients
Dissolves the outer skin
Gives it a bump in flavor!

Grind it up and you’ve got masa dough on your hands:

This masa dough is a great starting point for homemade corn tortillas, tamales, and pupusas. We're taking a shortcut by using a food processor to grind the corn and so far the results are fantastic! mexicanplease.com

This is the cornerstone of Mexican cuisine and it can be used to make homemade corn tortillas or homemade tamales. 

Producers will de-hydrate this masa dough and sell it in powder form as Masa Harina.

Maseca, Bob's Red Mill, and Gold Mine masa harina comparison. 

Simply add water and you’ve got masa dough on your hands!

So let’s use some Masa Harina for a batch of cornbread and see how it tastes πŸ™‚

I’m using this Masa Harina from Masienda:

Bag of Masa Harina from Masienda

But you can use any Masa Harina with this recipe.  This post compares three Masa Harina brands and it’s worth a read if you’re new to it. 

Start by preheating your baking dish in a 425F oven.  I’m using the trusty 10″ cast iron skillet but any baking dish will suffice here. 

Meanwhile, get 3 tablespoons of butter melting somewhere.  I used a skillet on the stovetop.

Chipotles give this skillet cornbread the perfect hint of spice and when served fresh out of the oven with a pad of butter you'll be in heaven! mexicanplease.com 

Add the following dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine well:

1 cup flour
1.25 cups Masa Harina
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar 
1 teaspoon salt

Adding dry ingredients to a mixing bowl

In another bowl we’ll gather the wet ingredients:

2 whisked eggs
1.5 cups of milk
2 of the 3 tablespoons of melted butter (save the rest for the baking dish)
2 chipotles in adobo, minced
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the can 

Wet ingredients for Masa Harina Cornbread

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine well. 

Feel free to add another splash of milk if it seems thick.  Ideally it is loose enough to settle into an even layer in the baking dish. 

Combining wet and dry ingredients 

Add the final tablespoon of melted butter to your pre-heated baking dish, swish it around,  and then add the batter.  

Don’t forget to use a hotpad when you grab the pre-heated pan — when it’s empty it can trick your brain into thinking it’s at room temp!

Adding cornbread mixture to a cast iron pan

This will need around 25 minutes in a 425F oven, but I usually start taking peeks around 20 minutes. 

When the edges are turning darker brown you are mostly there.   This batch was in for 23 minutes. 

Cornbread after cooking for 23 minutes

Let it rest for a couple minutes on the stovetop and then take out a slice!

I used Masa Harina instead of cornmeal in this batch of cornbread and it was delicious! I also used chipotles in adobo for some kick πŸ™‚ mexicanplease.com

Hello cornbread!

Of course, another knob of butter will turn it into something absolutely delicious when fresh out of the oven. 

Adding butter to the cornbread

And the result?

Major yummers and I think the Masa Harina gives it a more intense corn flavor than when using cornmeal.  This makes sense given that the corn in the Masa Harina has been nixtamalized.   

I’ve made four batches over the past week and here are some discoveries to consider for your upcoming batch:

Using 2 chipotles will give it some heat that sneaks up on you!   You can use a single chipotle for a milder batch.   And while it’s kinda optional, I still like using some liquid adobo sauce from the can as I think it adds some direct heat and flavor to the batter.

A few years ago I made this Cornmeal Cornbread that uses buttermilk.  I tried a Masa Harina buttermilk version but did not notice a huge difference compared to the whole milk version.  

Baking soda typically needs acid to activate, that’s why you’ll frequently see it paired with buttermilk.  Since I went with plain ol’ milk in this recipe I omitted the baking soda and increased the baking powder.  For reference, here’s a good article on the difference between baking soda and baking powder. 

Also, I don’t have much of  a sweet tooth.  Three tablespoons of sugar is probably at the bottom range for most peeps, so feel free to increase the sugar for your palate. 

Knob of butter in a slice of Masa Harina cornbread

To conclude…

If you have Masa Harina in the pantry then please use this post as permission to make some cornbread with it!  It’s remarkably easy and I think you get a bump in flavor compared to traditional cornmeal versions. 

And if you’re new to Masa Harina then consider picking some up!  These are the brands you’ll come across most often in the stores.

And here are some other posts on the site to fill in any gaps:

Homemade Masa Dough Using Dried Field Corn

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Making Corn Tortilla with Masa Harina from Masienda

Masa Harina vs. Cornmeal:  What’s the Difference?

What is Masa Harina?

Okay, let me know if you have any questions about this Masa Harina Cornbread.  It’s super easy to make and it’s a real treat to take a bite when it’s fresh out of the oven πŸ™‚ 

Buen Provecho. 

For up-to-date recipes follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.

 

I used Masa Harina instead of cornmeal in this batch of cornbread and it was delicious! I also used chipotles in adobo for some kick πŸ™‚ mexicanplease.com

Masa Harina Cornbread

I used Masa Harina instead of cornmeal in this batch of cornbread and it was delicious!Β  I also used chipotles in adobo for some kick πŸ™‚Β 
4.5 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cornbread, masa harina
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 307kcal
Author: Mexican Please

Ingredients

  • 1.25 cups Masa Harina
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1.5 cups milk (plus more if necessary)
  • 2 chipotles in adobo
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat a 10" cast iron skillet or similar sized baking dish in the oven at 425F.
  • Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl: 1.25 cups Masa Harina, 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder,1 teaspoon salt, and 3 tablespoons sugar. Β Combine well.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons of butter somewhere: I used a small skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
  • In a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients: 2 whisked eggs, 1.5 cups milk (I used whole milk), only 2 of the 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, 2 minced chipotles in adobo, and 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce from the can. I usually de-stem and de-seed the chipotles.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine well using a spatula or spoon. If it seems thick feel free to add another splash of milk. Ideally it is loose enough to settle into an even layer on its own in the baking dish.
  • Add the final tablespoon of melted butter to the pre-heated baking dish and swish it around to coat it (be sure to use a hotpad!).
  • Add the batter to the baking dish, forming an even layer. Bake for around 25 minutes, but I usually start taking peeks at 20 minutes. When the sides are darker brown you are mostly there. You can stick a knife or fork in the cornbread for further confirmation -- if it pulls out clean then the insides are done.
  • Let the cornbread rest in the baking dish on the stovetop for a couple minutes. Then serve it up with an optional slice of butter.
  • I've been storing leftovers in a Ziploc in the fridge and it's still good after a few days. Here's my quick re-heating method for a big slice: Add a slice of butter to a skillet over medium heat. Dredge all sides of the cornbread in the butter and then cook each side until it is just starting to brown -- it will take a few minutes and this is usually enough to heat it through, plus you get some crispy edges πŸ˜‰

Notes

More info on chipotles in adobo.Β 
Like this recipe?Click the stars above to rate it or leave a comment down below! @mexplease

Want to see our latest recipe?  It’s these Enchiladas Verdes. 

Enchiladas Verdes with cilantro just before serving

 

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Filed Under: Appetizers/Sides, Most Popular, Most Recent, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeff

    January 12, 2021 at 9:57 am

    Could you use Masa rather than Masa Harina?

    Reply
    • Patrick

      January 14, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      Hey Jeff! No I don’t think that will work as the masa dough will be too dense. Cheers.

      Reply
  2. Stephanie

    January 2, 2021 at 1:57 pm

    4 stars
    It was interesting. I have one daughter with Celiac and my granddaughter is allergic to dairy. I used almond flour and some leftover almond milk eggnog. I cut the sugar to 1 tablespoon. The texture was moist and the flavor was fine, but I think I need to keep tweaking so it has some body to it.

    Thanks for permission to test masa!

    Reply
    • Patrick

      January 8, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks for your notes Stephanie! Cheers.

      Reply
  3. Vicky

    January 2, 2021 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    Very good recipe, cornbread was delicious. I cut back the sugar about 30% as we don’t care for sweet cornbread and it came out perfect for us. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Patrick

      January 8, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Cheers Vicky, so glad this one is a hit for you πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. David in Richmond, VA

    December 21, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I added 2 additional T of sugar and a little more milk. It cooked up great in my cast iron pan. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Patrick

      December 25, 2020 at 1:46 pm

      Ahh good to know, thanks David!

      Reply
  5. Melissa

    November 25, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    5 stars
    I leave out the chiles and adobo, make a double batch and turn it into cornbread stuffing! So noms!!

    Reply
  6. Elcee

    November 1, 2020 at 9:13 am

    5 stars
    Used 1 Cup masa with 1.5 Cups buttermilk. Excellent!!

    Reply
    • Patrick

      November 2, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      Hey thanks much for mentioning your adjustments Elcee, so glad it was a hit for you! Cheers.

      Reply
  7. Teri

    October 11, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    1 star
    Nothing like cornbread. More like a chunk of tamale dough. Horrible.

    Reply
    • Patrick

      October 12, 2020 at 3:56 pm

      Hey Teri! Sorry to hear this was a miss for you, if you want to take another go please let me know which Masa Harina you’re using. Cheers.

      Reply
  8. Melissa

    September 14, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent flavor and texture. I discovered I was out of cornmeal at the last minute but had some masa, so decided to try this. My daughter prefers it to my old stand-by recipe.

    Reply
    • Patrick

      September 14, 2020 at 4:12 pm

      Ahh great thanks for letting me know Melissa. That is usually how I discover new things too πŸ™‚

      Reply
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Hey, I'm Patrick! I spent 2 years living in Cozumel and got obsessed with Mexican food. I built this site to share all the recipes and techniques I've learned along the way. Read More…

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