How to Make Gluten-Free Southern Cornbread with Your Own Corn Meal Mix

Southern cornbread is a staple — from Sunday suppers to BBQs and chili nights, it’s that golden, moist, slightly crumbly bread that makes every meal feel like home. But for folks avoiding gluten, traditional mixes often won’t do. The good news? You can make your own gluten-free corn flour mix and bake up a cornbread that’s every bit as soulful as Grandma’s.

Here’s how:

✥ What You’ll Use

Before we talk technique, let’s prep your pantry:

• Azure Standard Organic Cornmeal – this is your coarse/medium-grain cornmeal, naturally gluten-free because it’s just ground organic corn. Cornmeal is a Southern baking star, giving that classic texture and flavor.

• Azure Standard Organic Corn Flour (Unifine) – this is a finer version of cornmeal. Blending it with the coarser meal creates a nicer crumb and less crumbly texture in your cornbread.

Both products are simply ground corn products — no wheat or gluten-containing grains — making them great for a naturally gluten-free bake.

✥ Why Mix Cornmeal + Corn Flour?

When you bake gluten-free cornbread only with coarse cornmeal, the result can be a little gritty and crumbly — still tasty but not as tender. Southern cooks today (and gluten-free bakers) often split the “flour” between coarse cornmeal and fine corn flour to make a crumb that’s smooth, moist, and holds together beautifully.

✥ Grandmother’s Gluten-Free Cornbread Recipe

Here’s a simple recipe that keeps things classic — just like Southern cornbread should be — but gluten-free using your Azure corn mix.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Azure Standard Organic Cornmeal

• 1 cup Azure Standard Organic Corn Flour

• 2–3 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs (at room temp)

• 1 ½ – 2 cups milk (or dairy-free alternative)

• 2–4 tablespoons oil

Instructions:

1. Prep the Oven & Pan
   Preheat your oven to 375–400°F. Grease an 8×8 pan or a cast-iron skillet — cast iron gives that lovely brown crust Southern cornbread is known for.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients
   In a large bowl whisk together your cornmeal, corn flour, baking powder, and salt. Get it nice and blended so the leavening is evenly distributed.

3. Mix Wet Ingredients
   In another bowl whisk your eggs. Add the milk and oil. Stir until smooth.

4. Combine Wet + Dry
   Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix — you want everything moistened and smooth.

5. Bake
   Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 20–30 minutes, or until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool & Serve
   Let the cornbread cool just a bit, then slice into wedges or squares. Serve warm with butter, honey, or your favorite Southern sides.

✥ Pro-Tips for Cornbread Perfection

• Cast iron is magic: It gives that crispy exterior and soft interior that makes cornbread irresistible.

• Texture matters: If you prefer a more tender, moist crumb, you can increase the corn flour slightly and decrease the cornmeal — or vice versa for a coarser texture.

• Sweet or savory: Traditional Southern cornbread is usually not overly sweet — just a bit of sweetness to balance the corn flavor. Adjust to your taste.

✥ Why This Works

Cornmeal on its own is gluten-free, so classic cornbread recipes without wheat flour can be naturally gluten-free. By blending coarse cornmeal with fine corn flour (like your Azure Standard products), you create a tender crumb that holds together without gluten’s binding power.

Whether you’re pairing it with chili, BBQ ribs, grandmother’s greens, this gluten-free Southern cornbread — made with love and your own custom corn mix — will be a hit at the table.

Want more gluten-free baking tips or recipe ideas? Just ask!