Smackin Cracklin Cornbread Recipes

SOUTHERN CRACKLIN' CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Combine the cornmeal, soda, and salt; stir in the eggs and buttermilk.
• Heat the bacon drippings in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan until very hot. Add the hot dripping and cracklings to batter, mixing well.
• Pour batter into hot pan. Bake at 450°F for 25 minutes or until bread is golden. Cut into squares.

MOMMA'S CRACKLIN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 F.
• 2. Prepare an 8 x 10 oblong baking pan by spraying it with butter-flavored cooking spray.
• 3. In a medium-size bowl, mix the dry ingredients, stirring to combine.
• 4. In a second bowl, add the wet ingredients, mixing well.
• 5. Gently fold in the dry cracklins and pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• 6. Bake at 400 F for 25 to 30 minutes.
• 7. NOTE: Over the years this recipe has been cooked in everything from cast iron skillets or corn cob molds, cake pans and even waffle irons. I have even spooned the mixture by the ladle into a skillet of hot oil and made individual servings of fried cornbread (called corn pones). It is a very versatile and forgiving recipe.

CRACKLIN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Grease a 9x9 inch square baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, shortening and milk.
• In another bowl, stir together the cornmeal, sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients until smooth,.
• Fold in pork cracklin's.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes,.
• Until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and the top is slightly brown.

CRACKLING CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Stir together the cornmeal, salt, and baking soda in a bowl; set aside. Place the shortening into a 9 inch cast iron skillet, and place into the oven until the skillet is hot and the shortening has melted.
• Bring some water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the pork cracklings and boil until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Once tender, drain, and reserve. Meanwhile, beat the egg in a bowl along with the jalapeno pepper and buttermilk; stir in the cracklings. Stir in the cornmeal mixture until moistened, then pour the batter into the preheated skillet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top of the cornbread is brown, and it feels firm to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes. Turn out onto a serving plate and cut into wedges; serve immediately.

CRACKLIN' CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat a cast-iron skillet over low heat until warmed through. Meanwhile, grind or cut the bacon into a small dice. Spread over pan evenly. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently so that it doesn't burn, until the fat is rendered and the bits of bacon are crispy, 4-5 minutes. Drain the bacon in a strainer, reserving the fat to use in the recipe. (You will need 5 tablespoons.) Place skillet into the preheated oven to heat.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and salt. Slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and bacon bits. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, just to combine.
• Move the skillet from the oven to the stove, placing it over low heat to keep it hot. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat to the skillet and swirl to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the center of the skillet, distributing it evenly. It should sizzle. Cook on the stove over medium heat until the edge is golden and pulling away from the pan, 1-2 minutes.
• Bake the cornbread until a toothpick placed in the center comes away clean, about 20-30 minutes. Optional: Rub a bit of lard on top of the finished cornbread and broil until golden and sizzling (less than one minute).
• Serve in the skillet or flip out of the pan onto a plate. Slice into wedges and serve hot.