Al Frankens Auntie Carlas Pumpkin Cornbread Recipes

AUNTIE'S CAST-IRON CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter and place the skillet in the oven.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk and eggs. In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and sugar. Whisk the egg mixture into the dry mixture until combined. Do not overmix!
• Carefully remove the cast-iron skillet from the oven and pour the batter into the hot skillet. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. When done, rub the top with butter and add more for each slice when cut, if desired. Bon appetit!

INDIVIDUAL SKILLET CORNBREADS

Steps:

• Place four 3 1/2-inch cast-iron skillets in the oven. Preheat to 425˚ F.
• Make the cornbread: In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, corn and 1/4 cup oil.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Using oven mitts or pot holders, take the hot skillets out of the oven. Divide the remaining 1 tablespoon oil between the skillets, quickly tilting the pans so that the oil coats the bottom and sides. Pour the batter evenly into the skillets. The batter will begin sizzling right away.
• Put the skillets in the oven and bake until the cornbread is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 10 to 13 minutes. Remove the hot skillets from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly.
• While the cornbread bakes, prepare the cinnamon butter: In a medium bowl, mix the butter, cinnamon, confectioners' sugar and almond or vanilla extract with a rubber spatula. Stir until everything is mixed well and is an even color (no streaks).
• Serve the cornbread hot or warm with a dollop of cinnamon butter.

PULLED PORK AND PUMPKIN CORNBREAD TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray the bottom and sides of 2 nonstick, 9-inch round baking pans with cooking spray.
• Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until blended. Add pumpkin, sour cream, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until blended and creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Pour and evenly spoon equal portions of the batter mixture into the 2 prepared baking pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Place both over a wire cooling rack and let cool slightly, about 8 minutes. Carefully remove cornbread from pans and set aside.
• Center one cornbread, top-side down, on a serving plate or platter. Spoon and evenly spread the warm pulled pork over top to cover, then carefully center the remaining cornbread on top.
• Mix pepitas, cranberries, and pecans together in a small bowl. Spoon evenly over the top edges of the cornbread and add a little spoonful to the center. Cut the assembled torta into even slices and serve with barbeque sauce.

PUMPKIN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch ovenproof skillet with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, fine salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk the oil, melted butter and brown sugar together in another medium bowl. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, whisking well and each addition. Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk well to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet and spread evenly. Sprinkle flaky salt evenly over the surface. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool the cornbread in the skillet at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve with butter and honey.

EASY PUMPKIN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Stir milk, sugar, and butter together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until butter and sugar melt, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Mix milk mixture and pumpkin puree together in a bowl. Add cornmeal into pumpkin mixture 1/2 cup at a time, stirring batter well after each addition. Stir egg yolks and salt into batter.
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the tip of the peak formed by the egg whites will form sharp peaks. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

AL FRANKEN'S AUNTIE CARLA'S PUMPKIN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. 3. On the first speed of a hand or standing mixer, beat together the eggs, oil, pumpkin puree and milk. 4. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry in three batches with a rubber spatula. The batter will be smooth, and is more fluffy than liquidy. 5. Pour the batter into a 9 x 13 baking pan; 2 loaf pans; or- as shown by Franken on Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac- acorn cakelet pans {available at Williams Sonoma.} Place in middle of the oven. 6. Bake for 25 mns, or until cake tester or toothpick stuck in the middle of the cornbread comes out dry. 7. Let the cornbread cool for 10 minutes, and then cut into pieces and serve.