Cornbread in any form is an easy sell.

Buttery, golden crumbs that cling to the fork and sop up the richest stews like a savory sponge, it’s the side dish that can easily steal the show. I’ve never met a cornbread that wasn’t at least passable when smothered with a generous smear of vegan butter, but the very best versions are always paired with a touch of maple sweetness.

Inextricably linked to the sticky syrup in my mind, this is how I first remember eating cornbread, back in my elementary school years. It was on a field trip to a maple tree grove where we indulged in samples of freshly tapped and concentrated, still warm maple syrup, stirred into milk and drizzled over squares of tender cornbread. Ever since that fateful day, there’s been no match to that simple serving suggestion.

That’s not to say that there’s no room for improvement.

Start by adding a bold punch of heat in the form of peppery Dijon mustard. A riff on classic honey mustard, this sweet and spicy sensation isn’t just blended in, but swirled in thick, undulating ribbons, marbled throughout the classic golden loaf. Straddling the line between cake and bread, it has just the right pepper bite to accentuate, not overpower, that delicate balance.

Though an unconventional pairing on paper, it makes perfect sense when you take a bite. Give it a shot; I promise you won’t regret the gamble.

Yield: Makes 8 – 10 Servings

Mustard-Maple Swirled Cornbread

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A riff on classic honey mustard, this sweet and spicy sensation isn’t just blended in, but swirled in thick, undulating ribbons, marbled throughout the classic golden loaf. Straddling the line between cake and bread, it has just the right pepper bite to accentuate, not overpower, that delicate balance.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

Mustard-Maple Swirl:

• 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil, Melted
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
• 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Flaxseeds

Cornbread:

• 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 2/3 Cup Coarse Ground Cornmeal
• 1/3 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 1/4 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1 (14-Ounce) Can Corn Kernels, Thoroughly Drained
• 1 (14-Ounce) Can Full-Fat Coconut Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 2 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan.
   
2. Prepare the mustard-maple swirl first by whisking the maple syrup, melted coconut oil, mustard, flour, and ground flax together in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.
   
3. To make the cornbread base, grab a medium bowl and combine both flours, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Add in the corn, tossing to coat all the kernels with the dry ingredients to prevent them from simply sinking to the bottom of the loaf while baking.
4. Separately, briefly mix together the coconut milk, maple syrup, and vinegar before adding the wet mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. Use a wide spatula to bring the two together with as few strokes as possible. It’s perfectly fine to leave a few errant lumps in the batter!
   
5. Transfer the cornbread batter to your prepared loaf pan. Spoon dollops of the mustard-maple swirl at random on top and use a thin knife or wooden skewer to marble it throughout.
   
6. Bake for 32 – 38 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before serving.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  Spectrum Essentials, Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed, 14 oz (396 g)
• 
  Now Foods, Real Food, Organic Maple Syrup, Grade A, Amber Color, 32 fl oz (946 ml)
• 
  Annie's Naturals, Organic, Dijon Mustard, 9 oz

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 237Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 234mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 4g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.