Jennifer Garner’s Cornbread
Were you even born in the ’90s if Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30, in that fabulous dress doing the Thriller dance with Matty, isn’t a core childhood memory? Jennifer Garner. Absolute icon. And as some have generously suggested — my doppelgänger.
While she has countless films I adore, one of the things I most admire about Jennifer is how she’s built one of the most category-defining baby food companies in the biz: Once Upon A Farm. She and her incredible team (John Forraker among others) quite literally created the category of fresh baby food, and frankly, our babies are far better off as a result. She’s a brilliant actress, sharp businesswoman, and, I think, a genuinely good human. When she smiles, she lights up a room, even if she’s just on your TV.
This recipe is her Grandmom’s Cornbread, passed down from Patricia English Garner and shared on her #PretendCookingShow, probably my favorite cooking show on the internet. I love everything about it.
First, it captures exactly what Recipes for Success aspires to be: an heirloom cookbook of life rules and delish recipes for a good life, meant to be passed down to my daughters.
Second, in the video, Jennifer FaceTimes her mom to make her grandmom’s cornbread, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done the exact same thing. Two iconic recipes on my site, my grandma’s lasagna and my other grandma’s cheesy potatoes, came from those same moments of kitchen connection.
Thirdly, while Jen is known for redefining the baby food market, what I love most is how human she is. When she asks her mom what kind of cornmeal to use, her mom doesn’t give a second thought to “stone ground” or “artisan milled.” She just says, “No, Jennifer, I don’t care [if the cornmeal is ‘Stone Ground.’”
And last but certainly not least, when Jennifer is getting ready to put the pan in the oven with oil in it, her mom reminds her “I don’t measure the oil, I just pour it in.” The perfect reminder to us all, that the best recipes are like that, measured with your heart and shared with the people you love, generation after generation.
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff…
What You’ll Need
2 tbs oil
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup flour
1 rounded tsp baking powder
1/4 rounded tsp baking soda
1 tbs sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
How to Make
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
First, prep your pan.
Pour the oil into a heavy oven-safe skillet and place it in the oven to heat.
Next, let’s get our dry ingredients combined.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
Now, time to add in the wet ingredients.
Add the egg and enough buttermilk to create a batter that’s thinner than pancake batter.
After, you’re going to combine the hot oil and the wet cornbread mix.
Remove the hot skillet from the oven. Pour the hot oil into the batter and stir to combine. Pour the batter back into the hot skillet.
Finally, let’s bake!
Return the skillet to the oven and bake ~10 minutes, it’s done when the top is golden brown. Serve warm, with butter or butter and honey (as Jennifer’s mom and Jennifer insist… don’t mess that part up!).
Enjoy!
Serve this golden, buttery cornbread straight from the skillet while it’s still warm, a little crisp on the edges, soft in the center, and best enjoyed with a generous pat of butter (and maybe even some honey). Pair it with a cozy bowl of chili, or alongside a holiday family feast. For full Jennifer Garner energy, call your mom while you make it, laugh about how much oil you’re “just pouring in,” and remember: the best recipes aren’t measured perfectly, they’re shared, loved, and passed down, one slice, one smile, and one generation at a time.
You Might Also Enjoy…
