No gluten free blend of this or that, no pre-mixed, expensive substitutes. Just the real deal: cornmeal.
Thank goodness for friends. Am I right?
When Carter was first diagnosed, I sometimes felt alone. Thankfully, that didn’t last long. I was so incredibly blessed to find a local support group that transformed my experience.
Once I was plugged into wiser moms who had dealt with this longer I felt I had tapped a spring of knowledge and experience. They had recipes, tips and pure empathy.
If you experience food allergies, or any kind of disease, I highly recommend you reach out, because it will help you reach higher and feel better than ever!
My dear friend and allergy-rock-star mom, Julie, gave this to me. The first time my husband tried it, he said it tasted like “true, down home country cornbread.”
The best part–it has no flours! No gluten free blend of this or that, no pre-mixed, expensive substitutes. Just the real deal: cornmeal.
Also, there are no crazy egg substitutes–just applesauce. This pantry-friendly side-dish is a go to. We love it with honey or homemade jam on top. We eat it with soups, or fried chicken…or sometimes for breakfast.
It’s so moist, it seriously feels more like corncake, then cornbread.
Thank you, Julie!!!
Also, I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a local station, KSL, to showcase this recipe for their news. If you’d like to watch a step-by-step video of this recipe, click on the picture below.
If you’re looking for a sweeter cornbread, that’s more like a corn CAKE, try my pumpkin cornbread.
What other gluten free vegan side dishes do you recommend?
Side dishes make such a difference in dressing up a dinner. I love a good side dish to help fill everyone up and make the main dish stretch a little bit more. Here are some of my other favorite gluten free side dishes:
- Instant pot mushroom rice
- Roasted garlic balsamic asparagus
- Vegan scalloped potatoes
- Dairy free slow cooker sweet potato casserole
- Gluten free vegan brown sugar Brussels sprouts with craisins
- Dairy free mashed potatoes
THE Best Top 8 Free Cornbread (GF, Vegan, Allergy Friendly)
Gluten free, vegan, allergy friendly & top 8 free cornbread. No gluten free flour mixes needed. So good, it's been on TV!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk of choice (we use rice)
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups cornmeal
- 2 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup sugar
- one 15-oz can sweet corn, undrainedÂ
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 cup applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 420.
- Mix the vinegar with the milk, and set aside.
- Combine dry ingredients and mix very well.
- In your blender, combine the oil, applesauce, and corn. Pulse until it reaches your desired consistency. (I prefer mine totally smooth, but some prefer more of a rustic texture with the corn kernels more noticeable).
- Then pour the wet (both the blender and vinegar-milk mixture) into dry and mix until just mixed. Pour into a greased 8×8 dish and bake for about 25 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before trying to cut, or it will crumble.
Notes
*If you can have eggs, I highly recommend this more updated version: Gluten Free Dairy Free Cornbread (Plus a Video!)
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 759mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 10gProtein: 5g
Hi! I’m Megan, a mom to four kids, two with multiple food allergies & one with EOE. I’m a published cookbook author that constantly tweaks recipes to make them allergy friendly–it’s an addiction. I share every recipe & tip with the hope that they help you as you manage your food allergies & dietary restrictions. You can still be awesome, even with food allergies!
Aprelle
Hi! I am planning to make this for my boys. One has nut allergies. Is the cornmeal used in this recipe verified nut free and/or processed in a nut free facility?
Megan Lavin
Hi Aprelle. You can see my thoughts about this in the notes section of the recipe: “*Our allergies, while severe and that get re-tested frequently, are such that we can go strictly by what’s on the label. I do not call companies to see what things are derived from, or call manufacturers to see about potential cross contact. If your allergies require you to do so, please do your own homework. I cannot assure you of any ingredient’s safety, only you can do that. I simply share what works for our family.” If it helps you feel any better, both of my boys are very allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.
Lynsey
I made this tonight to go with Megan’s no red meat chili from her amazing instapot cookbook. I didn’t have enough corn meal for this (I should have checked!) so I subbed gluten free flour to make up what I needed. I didn’t think it would turn out. But, it turned out so good! My kids were begging for more and asked why I didn’t put frosting on the cake they were having for supper (hahah!) they are already claiming leftovers for tomorrow.
Megan Lavin
yay–that’s great to hear you can sub in some flour, so appreciate you letting us know. And, it’s extra great to hear your kids loved it too. Enjoy!
Patricia
How much gluten free flour did you use? and what brand did you use?
Megan Lavin
If Lynsey doesn’t get back to you, and you want a cornbread that uses gluten free flour, then you can see this recipe as well: https://allergyawesomeness.com/pumpkin-cornbread-gluten-free-vegan-options/
Arisha
Firstly – thank you so much for your recipes! They usually turn out great! However my cornbread today came out very bitter. I went online to search for a possible reason, somebody says it’s spoiled cornmeal (mine was fresh) or too much baking powder… don’t know what to try next. If not this bitterness the bread would be amazing! Do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
Megan Lavin
Hi Arisha. I’m so sorry to hear this cornbread didn’t work out for you. I’m not sure what to say, I’ve had many people make it and have never had anyone say that. That is a huge bummer. Perhaps try my other cornbread recipe and see if that works out better for you? https://allergyawesomeness.com/pumpkin-cornbread-gluten-free-vegan-options/
Arisha
Thank you Megan for your reply! I believe it’s not the recipe itself, maybe the brand of cornmeal I’ve used? It’s Arrowhead mills, do you have experience with it? Perhaps I should try the one in your recipe.
Megan Lavin
Hi Arisha, I use quaker yellow cornmeal. I have not used arrowhead mills before.
Arisha
Thank you! I will try quaker!
Angie Leet
Best allergy free cornbread!! My daughter has been craving cornbread and this was delicious with our pork roast! I substituted mashed bananas for the applesauce since we have an apple allergy too. Wonderful recipe! I have used many of your recipes, thank you so much!
Megan Lavin
I’m so happy to hear it worked for your daughter. Thanks so much for letting me know!
Emily
Loved this recipe! I didn’t have coconut oil on hand so I subbed olive oil instead. I thought it turned out great. I didn’t cook it in an 8×8 pan. I actually poured it into muffin pans and made them into corn dog muffins. I started the timer at 15 min and just kept an eye on them. I figured they didn’t need to cook that long in the muffin pan. Kids ate the heck out of them.
Megan Lavin
I like to make it into muffins too. So glad your kids enjoyed it, and I so appreciated it when people tell me how they’ve tweaked it, in case others need that sub too. thanks!
Twinkle
I made cornbread for the first time today using this recipe. I used frozen corn about 1 1/2 cup instead of canned. I did not use any sugar and used twice the quantity of applesauce instead. It was excellent. Savory, moist and held its shape. Thank you for sharing. I had to stop wheat and loved finding this alternative.
Megan Lavin
So glad it worked for you!
Shay
Thanks for sharing your experience! I was looking for a gluten free and dairy free cornbread for my toddler but we also avoid added sugars so I was wondering if I could double the applesauce. Thanks so much!
Megan Lavin
Hi Shay. Avoiding sugar is not my specialty. It’s already hard to get the liquid ratio right in gluten and dairy free bakes, so I don’t mess with the sugar content. You could try more applesauce, but I don’t know that it would work out, as it would add a lot of water content to the recipe. Good luck!
Maria
Hi,
How long does it last in the fridge if not consumed within 2-3 days at room temp?
Megan Lavin
Hi, I would say 2-3 days is the longest, whether room temp or frigerated. Enjoy!
Sharon Ad
I just made your Top 8 Free Cornbread. As I did step 5, blending wet and dry ingredients, the mixture started bubbling and overflowed the 8×8 inch baking dish all over the oven. Could you have mistakenly put 2 tablespoons of baking powder instead of al lesser amount.
Thanks,
Sharon
Megan Lavin
Hi Sharon. Darn! So sorry to hear that. Mine never bubbles over, but it definitely fills the pan. No one else has ever said that, but perhaps mine is a little more deep? I hope you can try it again in a slightly larger pan next time and enjoy it.
Megan
Hi, my son was recently diagnosed with ANA to PN/TN and then allergy to egg and Soy( soybeans and other legumes)
Would you mind commenting with brands Of things you use and trust – knowing there is either none of those /
Top 8 allergens processed in the facilities in them. ( ie brand of corneal, braking powder and soda etc). I appreciate- all so new to me and trying to navigate all of this-
Thanks , Megan
Megan Lavin
Megan (great name!) I always link to the products I can find online, so you can see exactly what I use. If the ingredient is hyperlinked, it will be in the recipe. Please note that I go strictly off label and do not call the manufacturing facilities.
Mark
Hi,
I have a question.
Is placing the ingredients in the blender necessary?? Or can I mix them by hand??
Megan Lavin
Yes. That way the corn gets processed and it’s smooth.
Mark
Thanks
Victoria
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe! I made a different top-8-free cornbread recipe a few weeks ago and was very disappointed in it, but yours is so good!
My son and I doubled this recipe and baked it in a larger glass pan. We had to use dark brown sugar instead of granulated, but we did everything else as-written. It was light, and yes, crumbly as many GF baked goods are, but it tasted like real corn bread!
I was hoping it might firm up a little as it sat overnight, but it didn’t. That’s not a deal-breaker, though, my kids and I eagerly gobbled it up the next day too.
I might try making it again sometime and experiment with some other ingredients; maybe flax-egg or something to get it to bind a little more?
Thanks again for all of your work!
Victoria
Oh, actually, I just realized that I used half canned corn and half frozen and blended those together in my blender. And it still turned out great! 😉
Megan Lavin
That’s great to know–I appreciate you letting us know.
Megan Lavin
I’m so glad that you liked it! If you’re looking for a sweeter cornbread, this one also gets great reviews, and tends to hold better: https://allergyawesomeness.com/pumpkin-cornbread-gluten-free-vegan-options/
Lisa
Hi..i have no allergies per say and found this amazing recipie with no flour. Great!!!
I have limited access to applesauce…I could use 1/4 cup mayonnaise here no?
Megan Lavin
I’ve never tried it with mayo. If you try it, let me know. Otherwise, I’d try to get another fruit puree, like maybe a pear? Have you tried the baby food isle? That’s one place people sometimes forget to look.
Jen
You can also cook a couple of apples and make your own apple sauce! Super easy!!! 🙂
Megan Lavin
True!
Kirsten
Do I have to add the sugar? Is there a substitute for sugar?
Megan Lavin
I don’t bake sugar free, so I’m not familiar with sugar substitutes. I wouldn’t recommend it, as it will probably be bitter.
Victoria
Do you ever use date sugar?
Kirsten
I’ve never heard of date sugar! Is it a healthier option than normal sugar?
Victoria
I have heard that it is supposed to be healthier from Dr. Michael Greger; he could be right. 🙂
Megan Lavin
Hi, I do not. If you try it, I’d love to hear how it works.
Tiffany
Will this recipe work for corn dogs?
Megan Lavin
I’ve never tried it. If you do, please report back!
tracy swords
I need to substitute the coconut oil and rice milk for flax. What do I sub for coconut oil??
My son has EOE as well. Hes top 8 minus the fish but navy bean, mustard, rice/rice product, palm oil and pork are also on the NoNo list.
Megan Lavin
Any neutral oil should work. 🙂
Laura
Thank you for this email! I am making dressing for a party and have a guest with multiple allergies. I did use a pie pan as it was what was pictured on your site and the overflowing was intense! Perhaps your pie pan is larger then the tin type from the grocery store- and that is my mistake (I was trying to use a completely wheat free container)
I hope it turns out well- i pulled some out and put it in a ramekin and am hoping for success!
[email protected]
I’m so sorry to hear that Laura! I have a 9.25 in pie plate, and it comes close to the top. I’ve also done it in other size pans. So, hopefully you can find a larger size that works. That’s so kind of you to be so careful and want to serve something safe. Happy holidays.
Teresa
Is the corn for added liquids only, or can i leave it out…i may be attempting this one for the dressing…
[email protected]
The corn is both for texture and a thickener. It would be too runny without it.
Teresa
I just cooked this corn bread with the corn and its literally AM. MA. ZING!!!! Definately using it for dressing!! Thank you fot sharing your recipes!!!! And i pray you have a Blessed Thanksgiving!!!
[email protected]
You’re sooo nice. Thanks Teresa!!! 🙂 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!
Paula
Hi,
How long does this bread keep for room temperature before putting it away i the fridge?
[email protected]
Hi Paula! Thanks for stopping by. No need to refrigerate this. I keep it covered and on the counter for 2-3 days while we finish nibbling on it.
Sheri Olsen
I want to make the corn bread but can’t use applesauce is there something else I can substitute it for?
[email protected]
Hi Sheri. I’d use some other fruit puree. Can you do pear?
Gagan Brar
Hi Megan, Can I replace 15oz of corn with something else? I don’t have any on hand.
Thanks,
Gagan
Megan Lavin
Hi Gagan, sorry I’m just seeing this. Busy with holidays. I suppose you could try hominy, but I really wouldn’t suggest anything else as it’s the main flavor of the cornbread.
Gagan
Thank you Megan! Happy Holidays!!
Katie
Made his last night, and it’s so good! Perfect corn bread texture, and hold together wonderfully! Be sure to let it cool as suggested, the cooler it is the more it holds together. All in all, this will be a staple this fall! Thank you!
[email protected]
Yay! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. I appreciate you letting me know, Katie!
Amy
Do you think this would work with maple syrup rather than sugar? We are currently trying to avoid refined sugars. Thank you for any help!
[email protected]
Hi Amy, thanks for stopping by. That’s a good question. I’ve never tried it with maple syrup, so I can’t say for sure. The tricky thing about maple syrup is that it adds to the wetness and liquid of the recipe. You’re welcome to try and sub it out 1:1, but you may find it browns more, or is more crispy on the edges. If you try it, please comment back for others to hear how it went. Good luck!
Amy
I am very excited to report that I tried it, and it turned out beautifully! My whole family loved my test run, and it WILL make it to the Thanksgiving table! I searched online for tips to substitute maple syrup for sugar in baking and found an article that recommended reducing the liquid by 3-4 tbsp per cup substituted (meaning a reduction of about 1 tbsp liquid for this recipe, which could easily be taken off of the canned corn liquid).
However, I was working with what I had in my kitchen – frozen corn instead of canned corn, and fresh fuji apples instead of applesauce. I used my nutribullet to make the applesauce (1/2 an apple equaled about a 1/4 cup), but it was a wet applesauce, so I didn’t feel like I needed to add any liquid to make up for the fact that the corn had none. For the corn I found online that a 15oz can contains approximately 1 1/2 cups of corn, so I substituted 1 1/2 cups thawed frozen corn. I blended the corn, applesauce, and coconut oil in the nutribullet as well.
Also, I preheated my cast iron skillet in the oven while the oven itself was preheating, pulled it out and swirled a pad of vegan butter in it to coat, and cooked my cornbread in it. I watched it, and it needed about 10 mins less cook time.
I was worried by all my crazy substitutions, but it turned out soooo good!!!
[email protected]
Thanks for sharing all of your substitutions in case anyone else is in that same boat. So glad to hear it worked out and that you enjoyed it! Cheers!
Kirsten
Hi, did you end up using the maple syrup?
Angela
Thank you! I was hoping to use my cast iron skillet too!