How to Add Delicious Dietary Fiber to your Cornbread with Spelt Flour by Cleo Coyle

In our house, we often try “health foods” but unless they taste good, they don’t get tasted much. That’s why I’m delighted to share this recipe for Spelt Cornbread. My husband and I love it.

For those of you who are new to spelt flour, it comes from an ancient grain with more dietary fiber than all-purpose flour; protein that's easier for your body to absorb; and a lovelier, more mellow flavor than whole wheat flour, which is why I like to incorporate it into my baking. As you can see above, spelt also brings a rustic, darker look to baked goods, along with a slightly nutty flavor note that’s quite tasty.

If you'd like to begin using spelt in your own recipes (muffins, brownies, cookies, pie crusts), the rule of thumb is: Replace 25% of your recipe’s all-purpose flour with spelt flour. Once you see how the recipe turns out, you can consider whether or not to increase the percentage on the next go-round. 

From my own baking, I've found that all-purpose flour requires more liquid than spelt—which makes sense because spelt has a higher level of water solubility. In other words, as you increase the spelt flour in your recipe, you will likely have to reduce some of the liquid.

For my cornbread recipe below, I replaced 100% of the white flour with spelt. This required me to reduce a bit of the milk (and happily some of the calories) that I would have had to add if I had used all-purpose flour. 

So this cornbread is better for you, but how does it taste? Delicious! The traditional cornbread flavor is there but with a more complex background note of toasted nuts from the spelt. And now for the recipe...

Cleo Coyle has a partner in 

crime-writing—her husband.

Learn about their books

by clicking here or here.

Cleo Coyle's 

Spelt Cornbread

For breakfast, Marc and I enjoy eating squares of this tasty bread with fruit and coffee. We'll warm it up for 10 seconds or so in the microwave and melt a bit of butter on it—amazing! 

For dinner, we’ll pair it with a bowl of chili or barbecued ribs or chicken. Note my variation suggestions in the recipe. If you prefer savory cornbread, simply reduce the sugar to 2 T. and (if you like) fold in some sweet corn kernels, a finely diced jalapeno, maybe even some shredded cheddar cheese. 

Make it your own and bake it with joy! ~ Cleo 

To download this recipe in a PDF document that you can print, save or share, click here.

Click here for free
recipe PDF.

Cleo Coyle's
Spelt Cornbread

Makes one 8-inch square pan of cornbread

1 large egg
1/2 cup milk (whole, 2%, or skim)
1/2 cup sour cream (drain off any visible liquid)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (for savory cornbread reduce to 2 T.)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/4 teaspoon fine table salt
1/4 cup canola (or vegetable) oil 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
1 cup spelt flour (if using all-purpose flour, see my note below**)
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal


*SAVORY CORNBREAD IDEAS – For savory cornbread, consider adding ½ to ¾ cup sweet corn kernels (fresh or thawed frozen; if using canned, drain well). You might also add 1 finely chopped jalapeno pepper (remove seeds and white membrane) and/or ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.

**FLOUR NOTE – If you use white, all-purpose flour for this recipe, you must increase the milk to ¾ cup.

DIRECTIONS: 

One bowl mixing method: First preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg, milk, sour cream, sugar, salt, and oil. When the mixture is well blended and the sour cream smoothly incorporated, whisk in the baking powder and soda. 

Finally, measure in spelt flour and cornmeal. Switching to a spoon or spatula, stir until all the dry ingredients are incorporated into a loose, lumpy batter, but do not over-mix or you will develop the gluten in the flour and your cornbread will be tough instead of tender. 

Prep an 8-inch square non-stick baking pan by coating bottom and sides with cooking spray or generously buttering the pan or lining it with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan and tilt it back and forth to even it out. 

Bake in your preheated 350 degree F. oven for 20 to 25 minutes (the time will depend on your oven). When a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no wet batter clinging to it, remove from oven. Cool, cut, and eat with joy!

Click here for free
recipe PDF, and...

Stay cozy!

~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of

The Coffeehouse Mysteries 

Friend me on facebook here. * Follow me on twitter here. 

Learn about my books here. 

* * *

Once Upon a Grind:
A Coffeehouse Mystery

* A Best Book of the Year
Reviewer's Pick - King's River Life

* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews

* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction

* A Mystery Guild Selection

Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th 

culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...

* Black Forest Brownies 

* Cappuccino Blondies 

* Shrimp Kiev 
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken

* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings

* Poor Man's Caviar 
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways

...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...

See the book's

Recipe Guide (free PDF)

by clicking here. 

* * * 

Marc and I also write

The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries 

Get a free title checklist,
with mini plot summaries, 
by clicking here. 

Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost by clicking here. 

Sign up for my Coffeehouse Newsletter here.

(Recipes, contests, videos, fun info)


* * *