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Campfire (or Stovetop) Corn Bread

Miche Genest
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 cup yogurt or buttermilk substitute 1/4 cup buttermilk powder and 1 cup water
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 packed cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • For campfire cornbread:
  • At home, mix cornmeal, buttermilk powder (if using), flour, baking powder, salt and paprika in a 4-cup resealable bag and label it “Cornbread dry ingredients.”
  • Pack butter, eggs, yogurt or buttermilk (if using) and grated Parmesan in a cooler—either portioned out or as part of your general stores. Pack maple syrup in a camp bottle with a good seal.
  • In camp, melt butter in a 10-inch cast-iron frying pan over a medium flame. Place the grill at least 4 inches above the fire.
  • Remove pan from heat and pour 2 tablespoons of butter into a mixing bowl or a pot. Add water (if you’re using buttermilk powder), yogurt or buttermilk, and maple syrup, and stir vigorously to combine. Beat in eggs.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Add Parmesan cheese at the end, reserving a couple of tablespoons to sprinkle over top.
  • Swirl the butter in the frying pan, to evenly coat the bottom, and spoon in the batter, smoothing it out with the back of the spoon.
  • Cover tightly with tinfoil and place on the grill. Cook for 20 minutes, then poke a small vent in the tinfoil with the tip of a sharp knife, to let steam escape. (If you smell the bottom of the cornbread burning, move the pan off the flame for a couple of minutes.) Cook for another 10 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes.
  • Remove the tinfoil quickly so any condensation on the underside doesn’t drip on the bread. Rest the bread for about 5 minutes off the flame before cutting into wedges and serving.
  • Stovetop Method, At Home (pretty similar to in camp):
  • Start by melting butter in a 10-inch cast-iron frying pan over medium heat. Pour 2 tablespoons into a large bowl and whisk in buttermilk or yogurt, and maple syrup. Whisk in eggs.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together dry ingredients, except Parmesan. Add dry ingredients to the bowl and stir vigorously to combine. Add Parmesan at the end, reserving a couple of tablespoons to sprinkle over top.
  • Swirl the butter in the frying pan, to evenly coat the bottom, and spoon in the batter, smoothing it out with the back of the spoon.
  • Cover the pan tightly with tinfoil and cook for 20 minutes over medium-low heat. Poke a hole in the tinfoil, to allow steam to escape, and cook for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove the tinfoil quickly so any condensation on the underside doesn’t drip on the bread. Rest the bread for about 5 minutes off the flame before cutting into wedges and serving.
  • Best eaten the same day it’s made.