Cornbread is a comfort food that puts a smile on everyone’s face. Whether you’re enjoying a warm slice alongside a bowl of homemade chili or slathered with butter, farm-fresh jam, or honey for a breakfast treat, cornbread is an easy and delicious way to round out a meal.
And as we head into Thanksgiving season, cornbread starts to do double-duty, showing up on the weeknight dinner table and also getting gussied up for the big feast in the form of cornbread stuffing (or dressing, depending on the way you use it and the term your family prefers).
In my house, cornbread makes a frequent appearance. Turkey white bean chili happens to be an all-time favorite recipe in my kitchen, and it’s part of my weekly meal rotation during the fall and winter. Cornbread is a must-have side—and topping—for my chili.
I have a go-to from-scratch cornbread recipe that I like, but when things get busy, as they often do around the holidays, it's great to have a shortcut that you can reach for. It's great to have a cornbread mix in the pantry because it comes together super quickly. Some mixes call for eggs, butter and milk, while others call for just water.
But if you haven't shopped for a cornbread mix lately, you might be surprised by how many options there are on the supermarket shelves. Some skew more sweet or savory; others include mix-ins, like corn kernels, and they're available at a range of price points.
To help you find the best cornbread mix, I took on a delicious task: making, baking and tasting 10 different popular brands and ranking them worst to best. At the end of the blind taste test, my team of tasters and I found a lot to love. We were able to crown a winner, but I was happy to learn that there's a cornbread mix for pretty much every kind of cornbread fan—those who like it sweet, savory, moist and tender or super buttery. Keep reading to find the cornbread brand you should add to your cart.
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What to Look for When Shopping for Cornbread Mix
When choosing the right cornbread mix for your meal, there are several factors to consider while heading down the baking aisle.
First off, do you want a cornbread that leans more sweet or savory? Some mixes offer different flavors, like honey butter, buttermilk and sweet or Southern cornbread—the latter of which is traditionally more on the savory side.
Next, consider any dietary restrictions. There are gluten- and dairy-free products, and others that are low in sugar. It’s important to be a mindful label reader as well—especially if you have any food allergies or concerns.
Lastly, when groceries are at an all-time high, cost may play a major role when shopping. Cornbread mixes vary in price, but each also requires additional ingredients. Some only call for water, while others require eggs, milk and butter.
Related: The Secret Ingredient That Makes Dolly Parton's Skillet Cornbread Sing
How I Tested These Cornbread Mixes
I selected cornbread mixes that are widely available at major grocery chains, including ShopRite, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
When it came time to bake, I prepared all the mixes within the same timeframe to ensure equal freshness. I labeled each disposable pan with the brand name on one side and assigned a number to each contender. This setup let me obscure the brand name, which made it easy to conduct a blind tasting. When ranking the cornbreads, we took into consideration overall appearance, flavor and texture.
I was excited to learn the outcome and curious to see if some of my preconceived notions about some of the options would end up being true. Would the mix requiring the most butter taste more moist and decadent? How would the mixes without butter compare to the rest? One of the contenders had actual corn kernels in it, which made me wonder if that would give it a more authentic flavor and better texture.
At the end of the tasting, I tallied all of the scores and we had a clear winner. Read on to find out how the cornbread crumbled in this tasty test.
Related: How to Make Jiffy Cornbread Mix 10x Better, According to a Firefighter
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10 Cornbread Mixes, Ranked Worst To Best
10. Martha White Yellow Cornbread & Muffin Mix
Martha White’s cornbread fell short in the taste test when compared to others. Everyone agreed it was dry, very flour-forward and not corny enough. It's “like you need a tall glass of milk to go with it,” shared one taster. Aesthetically, it sat very low in the pan and didn’t look as bountiful and appetizing as the others.
That said, I added milk rather than water to the mix (Martha’s suggested options), to make it more on par with the other contenders. The mix didn't call for added butter, which may have contributed to the dryness.
On the flipside, many consumers may appreciate that this mix only requires milk or water. It’s seamless to whip up last-minute—especially if you don’t have eggs, milk or butter handy. Plus, the packaging is much smaller than many box mixes, making it easy to store.
Perhaps this mix would taste better with melted butter on top, as displayed on the front of the packaging. The box also includes a cornbread dressing recipe that sounds delicious.
9. Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Everyone agreed hands-down that Jiffy had a very “underwhelming” flavor and appearance. One of the testers said it “almost tastes a bit fake” and is “nothing truly outstanding.” As for texture, this cornbread was definitely more cake-like without being too dense.
On a positive note, Jiffy is very reasonably priced and only requires one egg and ⅓ cup of milk to prepare. In addition, this box is the smallest of the bunch, if your storage space is at a premium.
Related: The Genius Jiffy Cornbread Mix Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner
8. Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Cornbread Mix
Fleischmann’s didn't pop in taste or appearance. Compared to the other brands, the group agreed this cornbread would best be enjoyed with chili—but not as a standalone treat. One tester noted, “This is decent, but it’s also one of those drier cornbreads.” While it has a slightly grainy cornbread texture and sweet, buttery flavor, it didn't stand out from the pack. On the upside, I appreciate that this baking no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
7. Zatarain’s Honey Butter Cornbread Mix
We found the exterior of Zatarain’s cornbread to lack crunch. Although some of the tasters loved the expected cornbread texture, it came in “slightly above average” and not flavor-forward enough overall to move higher in the ranking.
Zatarain’s immediately caught my attention, however, because it’s produced in the heart of the south: New Orleans, LA. I was interested in trying some of the stir-in ideas that are suggested on the box, including a can of whole kernel corn, ground cinnamon and Zatarain's Creole seasoning. The mix contains no preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors, which is always a plus for health-minded shoppers.
Related: 45 of the Best Cajun Recipes For Those of You Who Like It Hot
6. Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix
Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix has a typical cornbread texture, tasty flavor and crunchy exterior—but overall, it was on the drier side. For all of those reasons, it ended near the middle of the ranking. I had higher expectations for this mix because I love Trader Joe’s so much and the mix contains actual kernels of corn, which I thought was promising. That said, when the cornbread’s identity was revealed, the kernels didn't seem super noticeable to our testing team.
Related: 31 Things You Should Always Buy at Trader Joe’s (If You Can Find Them)
5. 365 Whole Foods Market Cornbread & Muffin Mix
The corn flavor in this mix wasn’t as strong as some of the others, and it lacked the ideal amount of sweetness. The texture, however, leaned “heavy cornbread,” which was a plus—and the top gave off a crunchy baked vibe, providing an aesthetically pleasing look.
This was the only mix calling for vegetable oil rather than butter, but overall, it was pretty rich, moist, and “buttery” on the inside. This brand is also the only one in our test that is non-GMO verified, which is typically very important to a lot of shoppers.
4. Krusteaz Southern Cornbread & Muffin Mix
Krusteaz definitely delivers a more savory, classic cornbread taste while still being rich and buttery. The consistency, however, was more cake-like than the hearty, rustic texture you get in most cornbreads. It was moist on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside, providing an ideal contrast.
One tester said, “It had a crispy edge to it with a doughy, moist center. There was a muted corn flavor—not too overpowering.” It was definitely a top favorite when it came to taste and appearance, taking on a lighter golden hue.
The brand also recommends making this in a skillet, which could be a fun twist and would bump up the crunch on the edges.
3. Famous Dave’s Original Recipe Corn Bread Mix
This cornbread had a light sweetness—it tasted a tad honey-ish—with a rich interior and crunchy exterior. One taster noted, “Very moist, nice strong flavor and an appealing appearance. It had the crunchy look on top that I like; it reminds me of a freshly baked loaf of bread.” The golden-yellow top glistened and almost looked sugary.
I can’t say anything bad about this one—it was a tough choice choosing a winner among the top three. Dave’s even inspired me to make honey butter. The recipe on the side of the box (just a combo of clover honey and softened butter), is something I'm definitely serving with my next pan of cornbread.
2. Duncan Hines Dolly Parton’s Sweet Cornbread & Muffin Mix
We all know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this mix comes in a really cute pink box—and who doesn’t love Dolly? We found this cornbread to be incredibly rich and buttery, just as promised on the box. Plus, it had thick corn grains in the mix, which we enjoyed. It has just the right amount of buttery flavor without being overdone—and the right amount of sweetness. As Dolly notes on the box, “Ain’t nothing better than butter.” Amen, Dolly!
Related: 10 Classic Dolly Parton Recipes to Make All The Time
1. Bob’s Red Mill Golden Cornbread Baking Mix
Bob’s Red Mill crushed it and deserved the number one position. “Homemade taste,” which is a phrase that's printed right on the bag, is key here. Even though it’s a mix, everything about the cornbread tasted as though it were made from scratch. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and flavor and everyone agreed it “tasted closest to homemade.”
We didn’t go into the test thinking “tastes like scratch” is what we were seeking, but it’s that very quality that helped this brand secure first place. Perhaps Bob’s Signature “crafted mix of high-quality flours” is the secret to sweet, moist, golden-topped, delicious cornbread.
As for appearance, this cornbread was slightly darker in color compared to the others—a true golden—and had the hearty texture everyone expected. We’d love this cornbread as a side with chili or on its own.
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