During this season of thanks and holiday festivities, we thought it’d be fun to showcase our Hot Honey Jalapeño Cornbread as a daring addition to the traditional holiday menu. Easy to make, this recipe features Lifeway Kefir in the batter to create a tender, spongy texture that melts in your mouth with a delicate crumb and unbelievable flavor. The soft cornbread tempers the jalapeño heat, while gentle hot honey brings a flawless balance of warmth and sweetness.
Sophisticated yet approachable, our Hot Honey Jalapeño Cornbread offers a unique twist on traditional sides. It invites conversation, curiosity, and delight at the Thanksgiving table, turning familiar flavors into an unforgettable, adventurous experience that leaves guests reaching for more.
For an extra boost of protein and probiotic goodness from Lifeway, spread a slice of this delicious cornbread with a dollop of Lifeway Farmer Cheese. There’s no holiday dish that isn’t made better when you discover Lifeway in your kitchen.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 35 mins Servings: 6-9
Ingredients
For the Cornbread:
- 5 tbsp. salted butter
- 2 1/4 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups Lowfat Plain Kefir
- *or for a richer texture, choose Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1/4 cup hot honey, plus more to serve
- 1/3 cup chopped jalapeño pepper(s)
Toppings:
- drizzle of hot honey
- a dollop of Farmer Cheese
- salted butter
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Coat a 9 or 10 inch square baking pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal mix and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, Lifeway Kefir, and hot honey.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture along with the chopped jalapeños and slightly cooled, melted butter. Stir to combine.
- Pour batter in your prepared pan and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 22 to 26 minutes. Carefully invert it onto a cooling rack or slice in the pan.
- While slightly warm, drizzle on hot honey and spread lightly with salted butter, if desired. Before serving, spread a fresh dollop of Lifeway Farmer Cheese on top for the perfect final touch. Enjoy!
