Name: Lye Soap Cornbread (Standard)
Prep time: 24 min
Cook time: 36 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 1 cup Yellow Cornmeal-stone ground; 1 cup All-Purpose Flour; 1 tsp Baking Powder; 1/2 tsp Baking Soda; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1 tbsp Sugar; 1 cup Buttermilk; 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil; 1 large Egg; 1/4 tsp Food Grade Lye; 1/2 cup Water

Recipe tier

A traditional Southern cornbread made with a small amount of food-grade lye to create a uniquely tender crumb and slightly tangy flavor. This version uses readily available ingredients and a straightforward method.

Total 1h

Serves 8 servings

Steps 6

Ingredients 11

Soundtrack the cook

Soul kitchen · 74 minutes

Music paced for prep, cooking, plating, and the reset after dinner.

Prep 24m Cook 36m Plate 5m Reset 10m

Share this playlist

Dry Ingredients
1 cup 120 g Yellow Cornmeal-stone ground
1 cup 120 g All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp 5 mL Baking Powder
tsp 2.5 mL Baking Soda
tsp 2.5 mL Salt
1 tbsp 15 mL Sugar
Wet Ingredients
1 cup 240 mL Buttermilk
cup 60 mL Vegetable Oil
1 large 50 g Egg
tsp 1.25 mL Food Grade Lye
cup 120 mL Water

Equipment

As an Amazon Associate, Mealovate earns from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

🎙️ Cook with voice coach

Dissolve the Food Grade Lye in the Water. Stir until completely dissolved. *Caution: Lye is caustic. Handle with care and avoid contact with skin and eyes.*
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together all Dry Ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine Buttermilk, Vegetable Oil, and Egg. Add the Lye Water mixture to the wet ingredients and stir well.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
Pour batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.