Lacy cornbread – a south Georgia classic – fried, crispy cornbread. Lacy and light as a feather.
Don’t know whether you noticed, but in older post I wrote, the one with the Sausage and Kale Soup, there were a few little pieces of cornbread on the side of the bowl. Oh, you missed that? Well, let me tell you about it. That is what we in my little corner of the South call Lacy Cornbread.
So Many Kinds of Cornbread!
Now, there are all kinds of cornbread. There’s the thick, cakey type. That’s a baked cornbread and it usually has eggs, maybe buttermilk and some leavening to provide rise.
Then there’s corn pone which can be either baked in the oven or fried. It generally does not contain eggs but still has some leavening and it rises a little bit.
Also, I would argue that hush puppies are cornbread, too. Of course, they’re fried and most people add onions and other seasonings. It just wouldn’t be a fish-fry without hush puppies.
There’s also the debate over whether or not cornbread should have sugar in the batter. You can count me as firmly entrenched in the no-sugar-in-the-cornbread camp. Even though I think it’s delicious with a drizzle of honey and a pat of butter,
I just don’t want any sweetness at all in my cornbread itself. It really just depends on what you grew up with, I think.
Lacy Cornbread is Probably My Favorite Cornbread
But, back to the lacy cornbread. This is a fried cornbread made with the simplest of ingredients – cornmeal, salt and hot water. I’ve seen very similar recipes called, appropriately enough, “hot water cornbread” and I’ve seen this called Jonnycakes, too.
But where I come from, we call this lacy cornbread. It’s because the cooked cornbread has an airy, or “lacy” appearance caused by the very thin batter as it spreads in the pan. Yep, this is crispy, crunchy, salty, fried goodness.
To make my lacy cornbread, the one really crucial thing that you’ll need is some finely ground, white cornmeal. It can be hard to find, too. I’ve had trouble getting it here in north Georgia, so I just always plan on picking up a package or two when I visit home, or either my Mama sends me some. Or my friend Sonya. Or I order it online. Gotta have that fine ground white cornmeal, you know!
You’ll also need a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. I use a flat, round cast iron griddle pan, but any cast iron skillet will work just fine.
Lacy cornbread - a south Georgia classic - fried, crispy cornbread. Lacy and light as a feather. Click To Tweet
How to Make Lacy Cornbread
Stir the salt into the cornmeal. Add the water and blend using a wire whisk to make sure there are no lumps in the mixture. Use the hottest tap water available for your batter.
This is a very thin batter. See how it barely coats the spoon? That’s just what you want. Just set it aside for a few minutes while you prepare the skillet or griddle.
Heat a flat griddle or skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, drizzle with one or two tablespoons of peanut oil tilting the griddle so that the entire surface is coated.
Ladle the batter by tablespoons onto the hot pan. Do not crowd the pan. When the edges begin to brown, turn the cornbread with a metal spatula and cook the second side. The cornbread cooks quickly, so watch it carefully.
Remove the cooked cornbread to paper towels to drain. Re-oil the skillet and stir the batter in between each batch of cornbread. If the batter thickens, thin it with a tablespoon or two of hot water.
Oh, and those dark edges in the photo? That’s not a mistake :-) That’s the very best part of this lacy cornbread.
Enjoy!
More Cornbread Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
- Cheesy Chili Cornbread
- Sour Cream and Onion Cornbread
- Pimiento Cheese Corn Sticks
- Squash and Cornbread Casserole
Similar Cornbread Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Lace Cornbread from My Recipes
- Lacey Cornbread from Syrup and Biscuits
- Lacy Cornbread from Gray’s Grist Mill
- How Hoecake Got Its Name on Bainbridge Living
Like This Recipe? Pin It!
Lacy Cornbread
Southern lacy cornbread. Crispy, crunchy and completely delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fine ground white cornmeal
- 1 1/4 cups hot water (your hottest tap water)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Peanut oil
Instructions
- Mix the cornmeal, water and salt with a wire whisk making sure no lumps remain in the mixture. Set aside for a few minutes.
- Heat a flat griddle or skillet over medium heat.
- When the pan is hot, drizzle with one or two tablespoons of peanut oil tilting the griddle so that the entire surface is coated with oil.
- Ladle the batter by tablespoons onto the hot pan. Do not crowd the pan.
- When the edges begin to brown, turn the cornbread with a metal spatula and cook the second side. The cornbread cooks quickly, so watch to make sure it doesn’t burn.
- Remove the cooked cornbread to paper towels to drain. Re-oil the skillet and stir the batter in between each batch of cornbread.
Notes
All text and photographs on Never Enough Thyme are copyright protected. Please do not use any material from this site without obtaining prior permission. If you'd like to post this recipe on your site, please create your own original photographs and either re-write the recipe in your own words or link to this post.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 70Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 152mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g
Be sure to follow me on instagram and hashtag #nevrenoughthyme or tag @nevrenoughthyme so I can see and share what you make! if you like this recipe, be sure to follow me on social media so you never miss a post:
| facebook | instagram | pinterest | twitter |
Lana Stuart is the author, photographer, cook, and occasional traveler at Never Enough Thyme. A former IT professional, she enjoys time in the kitchen and the art studio.
Sara says
the ONLY kind of cornbread my husband will eat! He was raised on it!!
Lori says
Thank You, I remember having Lacey corn bread while on vacation as a child. I have asked many people about it and no one knew what I was referring too. I’m sure they just know it by one of the other names.
Marin Fish says
This is indeed delicious! I’m a NC native who grew up eating this. Since I moved to the West coadt, I have taken to making this with Masa corn flour, generally used for making tortillas, tameles and the like. It is a great texture for lacy cornbread!
Pat Bush says
Lana,
I learned to make lacy cornbread from “Miss” Juanita
Geer, when we would have sleepovers at Ada’s house.
Aunt Pat
Nancy says
OMG! My beloved aunt Ocie used to make this all the time and I have been trying to figure out how she did it. It was so good on a cold winter day with some good salty country ham. My aunt Ocie lived on a farm and was widowed and left with two young sons to raise. But she not only survived but thrived! Thanks so so much for this recipe!
Christa says
My grandmother made a huge plate of lacy cornbread everyday for supper. A big pot of white peas, creamed field corn, fried okra and you have got a perfect South Georgia meal. She taught me that Hoover’s Fine Ground Cornmeal was the only kind to use for lacy cornbread and my kitchen is never without it. Your followers are lucky you have shared this southern staple.
Allen Vergakis says
My Alabama grandmother (Vesta Allen) knew that was the ONLY cornbread. For those whom may not know, the the lacy-edging is referred to as “tattering.” And the meal HAD to be stone-grown. This recipe brings back fond memories. Thank you and God bless you and yours, Allen. P.S. Now you know where I got the name Allen.
Sara says
I find it hard to get plain white cornmeal also. I just use the yellow, but it’s not as good! This is the ONLY kind of cornbread per my husband…
Terra says
Okay, how have I not heard of Lacy Cornbread? I so need to make this, especially with all my cozy soup. Thank you for sharing. I love learning new recipes special to the Deep South! Yum, Hugs, Terra
Bruce says
This is the best cornbread IMO. With some Carolina BBQ ( smoked pork butt soaked in vinegar all day), and some home made cole slaw it is hard to beat. Also goes very very well with ham and beans. I want to thank Tammy for this.
Betty B. Hicks Jr. says
My Mom made this cornbread and there was never a drop left after a meal. She also made pone cornbread, it was thicker to where she could pick it up and shape it. I have a great collection of iron skillets, one is like a griddle, and dearly love to make the Lacy patties. Sometimes I just make it for the memories. I am 82 and live in Madisonville, Tn. I worked for a newspaper for more than 28 years and even married the owner. I was the advertising manager and had a recipe booket published each year for our readers. Thanks for making me remember the olden days
long gone by.
Jo says
Oh this brought back so many memories. I live in NC and we just call it fried cornbread. My grandmother used to make this almost everyday. She would always have a glass of buttermilk with it. I asked her one time if she didn’t get tired of it for lunch. She told me to try it. I did and I loved it. Never thought I would love fried cornbread and a glass of buttermilk, maybe it was her company, but I did. Thanks for the memories, wish I could share some with her now.
Lana says
Yes, I know lots of older folks who enjoy a glass of buttermilk with cornbread. I never did enjoy the buttermilk, but I sure can put away some cornbread!
JavelinWarrior says
So THAT’S what a Jonnycake is! I’m intrigued by the light and airy nature of this – so unlike the cakey cornbread I’ve always made…
Patti says
This looks fantastic and sounds easy to make. I love how you’ve also included a recipe that is ready to print. YUMMY!
Megan says
Yum! I love the flavor of cornbread but I don’t always want that thick brick of a slice. I think I’ll be able to hunt down white cornmeal here in Texas. Like another commenter said, it looks like a perfect pairing for chili.
Lana says
Hi Megan. This is like eating the crispy crusty edges from that thicker cornbread – the best part.
[email protected] says
Girl, you made down-home look FAN-CY!
foodwanderings says
Never heard of lacy cornbread. Nice to learn something new. Perfect for Thanksgiving!!
Lana says
Interesting – I wouldn’t think of this one for Thanksgiving. It’s very coarse and rustic. In south Georgia, you’d typically find this served with a meat and vegetable plate (fried chicken, with maybe fried okra, corn and field peas). It’s very humble food :-)
Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says
very fun post. This looks so good
Cookin' Canuck says
I can always count on you to teach me something about southern cooking, Lana. Lacy cornbread is new to me, but it looks like something I would love to dunk into soups and stews.
Sandi says
Always love a twist from a traditional favorite, very nice!
Jamie says
I LOVE this recipe! I am nuts for cornbread but there is something about these fried treats that goes beyond ordinary cornbread! Really perfect with soup, aren’t they. I have to try these….and oooh maybe drizzled with honey. Great recipes and I am always fascinated by all things corn bread: jonnycakes, corn pones, etc!
Rachel [email protected] says
I love anything with cornmeal! I doubly love this recipe because it a gluten free crispy “crostini” of sorts and I’m gluten intolerant. I’m always interested in a GF vehicle for appetizers, or an accompaniment for soups, etc. I am definitely trying this…so simple! I just did one of my favorites with cornmeal…my Roasted Pear Upside Down Cake…the recipe is not gluten-free but could be…just sub out the flour for corn flour. Thanks!
Jennifer Pace says
My south Georgia grandmother makes this. It’s my absolute favorite way to eat cornbread, and it’s the perfect side to a hot bowl of vegetable soup! Thanks for sharing!
Lana says
Yes, this is a very typical cornbread from south Georgia. We have so many different kinds, but if you asked folks there which was their favorite, this would probably win.
Sues says
Oooh! I’ve never had lacy cornbread, but it looks absolutely fabulous! :)
[email protected] says
This is what I love about food blogging.. I learn something different every day!! I am going to have to get my hands on some white cornbread!!!
Lana says
I can recommend some good online sources for the cornmeal if you’re interested, Nancy.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Love this, I’ve never seen anything like it!
claudia lamascolo says
What a creative way to make cornbread love the look of it!
Angela FRS says
Beautiful! I will have to try this method.
DessertForTwo says
I love this post! I’m a cornbread freak! This reminds me of hoecakes because the ingredients are so simple.
Feast on the Cheap says
I’ve never seen cornbread like this, it looks incredible! The next time I whip up a big batch of chili I’m most definitely making the accompanying cornbread this way
Lana says
Do give it a try. I think you’ll love it.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
I live in Rhode Island, which is the home of jonnycakes, and we eat them for breakfast most often (with maple syrup!).
Lora @cakeduchess says
Lacy Cornbread?I can’t wait to make this:)I never heard of it and one of my favorite things to make is cornbread. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Jackie @Syrup and Biscuits says
What a great post on our beloved Southern cornbread! Thank you for sharing a link to Syrup and Biscuits!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
This looks fabulous Lana; so different from any cornbread I’ve tried…do believe it’s a must make!
Lana says
I think you’d love it, Barbara. It’s one of the classic recipes that’s part of my culinary background.