Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (2024)

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A simple sourdough cornbread recipe made with sourdough discard. Sourdough discard gives this quick bread a great yeasty flavor.

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (1)

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You probably didn’t know you needed another cornbread recipe in your life but here we are. And you definitely need this homemade cornbread because it’s not just any old cornbread.

It’s gluten free cornbread made with sourdough discard and it’s probably the best cornbread recipe I’ve ever had.

The sourdough discard gives this cornbread a distinct yeasty flavor that’s just phenomenal.

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (2)
Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Please, please, please put down your gluten free cornbread mix and give this homemade cornbread recipe a try! I guarantee, it’s easier than you think it is!

Plus, the results you get from this recipe are way better than anything you’d make from a box.

What You Need To Know About This Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe:

I adapted this recipe from my regular gluten free cornbread recipe. I use 1 cup of sourdough discard to replace 1/2 cup gluten-free flour and 1/4 cup milk.

Sourdough Discard Cornbread Ingredients

  • Sourdough Discard from a mature gluten-free sourdough starter.
  • Gluten-Free Flour – I use my nightshade-free gluten-free flour blend in this recipe with excellent results.
  • Xanthan Gum – omit if your flour blend contains it.
  • Cornmeal – for best results, use a finely ground cornmeal. If your cornmeal is too coarse, run it through a food processor for a few seconds to grind it finer.
    • See below for gluten-free cornmeal options.
  • Sugar – a little granulated sugar flavors the cornbread without making it sweet.
  • Baking Powder – Always use aluminum-free baking powder when baking. I use Rumford.
  • Salt – I use fine sea salt.
  • Milk – 2% or whole milk yields the best results. See below for dairy free.
  • Oil – I use avocado oil but canola or vegetable oil works great too.
  • Egg – use a flax egg for egg-free or your favorite substitute for eggs in baked goods.
Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (3)

Dairy Free Cornbread

To make dairy free cornbread, use unsweetened coconut milk beverage in place of the regular milk. Make this a vegan cornbread by using the dairy-free sub and use a flax egg in place of the regular egg.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Is cornmeal gluten free?

Cornmeal is made from ground, dried corn, which is a naturally gluten free food. Personally, we use Quaker Cornmeal because we’re not a Celiac family and it’s easy to find. Quaker doesn’t list their product as gluten free because there is a risk of cross-contamination so if you have Celiac Disease, look for cornmeal that’s labeled gluten free.

Arrowhead Mills makes certified gluten free cornmeal and Bob’s Red Mill also makes a gluten free cornmeal separate from their regular cornmeal. Bob’s Red Mill cornmeal is a medium-grind though so be sure to run it through a food processor to make it finer before baking.

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (4)

Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Cornbread

How to Make Cornbread with Sourdough Discard

Step 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray an 8×8 square baking pan with non-stick spray or grease with butter.

Step 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then set aside.

Step 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg then whisk in the sourdough discard.

Step 4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until completely incorporated.

Step 5. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and gently smooth out the top and make sure the batter is evenly distributed in the pan.

Step 6. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until done.

Step 7. Serve warm or room temperature with honey butteror spread with grass-fed butter and a drizzle of honey.

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (5)

Tips for Making Cornbread from Scratch

  • Use finely ground cornmeal for the best texture.
  • Use discard from a mature sourdough starter. Your starter should be at least a week old.
  • Don’t overmeasure your flour. Too much flour will make your bread dense and dry.Get my free guide to measuring flour here.
  • Use a sourdough starter made with 100% hydration (made with equal parts flour and water). Too much flour or water will through off the ratios in this recipe and you can end up with cornbread that’s either too dry or too wet.

Other Gluten-Free Quick Bread Recipes To Try

  • Honey Cornbread – from The Gluten-Free Quick Breads Cookbook
  • Sourdough Banana Bread (made with sourdough discard)
  • Buttermilk Biscuits or my original Gluten Free Biscuit Recipe
  • Cheddar Bay Biscuits
  • 15+ Gluten Free Quick Bread Recipes
Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (6)
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Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (7)

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (8)

4.70 from 30 ratings

A simple sourdough cornbread recipe made with sourdough discard. Sourdough discard gives this quick bread a great yeasty flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes

Total Time: 37 minutes minutes

Servings: 9 -16 pieces

By: Sharon Lachendro

Print Rate Pin

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup 105g gluten-free flour (note 1)
  • 1 teaspoon 4g xanthan gum
  • 3/4 cup 125g cornmeal (note 2)
  • 1/4 cup 50g granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons 10g aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon 3g fine sea salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk room temperature (note 3)
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil or neutral oil of choice
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 cup 265g sourdough discard (note 4)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray an 8x8 square baking pan with non-stick spray or grease with butter.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then set aside.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg then whisk in the sourdough discard.

  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until completely incorporated.

  • Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and gently smooth out the top and make sure the batter is evenly distributed in the pan.

  • Bake at 400 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until done.

  • Serve warm or room temperature with honey butter or spread with grass-fed butter and a drizzle of honey.

Notes

  1. I use my Nightshade-Free Gluten Free Flour Blend in this recipe. If your flour blend contains xanthan gum, omit what's called for in the recipe.
  2. Use gluten free cornmeal. For best results, use a finely ground cornmeal. If yours is coarse, run it through a food processor to make it a bit finer.
  3. For dairy free, use Silk Heavy Whipping Cream Alternative for the best whole milk sub. You can also use unsweetened coconut milk beverage.
  4. I used the discard from my starter made with Nightshade Free Flour Blend. Brown rice flour or sorghum starters would also work well in this recipe.
  5. Store leftovers at room temperature in an air-tight container up to 2 days. Leftovers can also be frozen for up to a month in a freezer-safe bag.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 86kcal

Disclaimers

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.

Did you make this?Mention @whattheforkfoodblog or leave a comment rating below!

Did you make this cornbread recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Gluten Free Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to sourdough? ›

The secret to sourdough is simple: water. The more water you add to your dough will affect how open the crumb (bigger holes and softer texture) will be once it's baked.

How do you keep a gluten free sourdough starter? ›

Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter Maintenance

Once established, you can store your starter in the refrigerator. Regular Feeding Instructions: if your starter is at room temperature, you will want to feed it every day so it doesn't get too hungry. You will continue with the 100% hydration feedings.

What are the best gluten free grains for sourdough? ›

*Whole grain gluten free flour options include brown rice flour, millet flour, sorghum flour, buckwheat flour, and teff flour to name a few. **See the sourdough starter recipe post for more details about how to work with the starter and get it going. Ripe starter is starter that's been fed within the past 12 hours.

What happens to gluten in sourdough starter? ›

Does sourdough have less gluten than regular bread? Yes sourdough does have less gluten than regular yeasted bread. Sourdough goes through a long fermentation period whereby the lactobacteria in your starter start to break down the gluten in the flour. This results in a lower gluten level in your baked bread.

What is the best flour for sourdough bread? ›

Whole wheat flour is an excellent choice for creating a sourdough starter due to its nutrient-rich composition and potential for fostering a robust microbial community.

What makes sourdough taste better? ›

The sourdough starter is the real secret to getting a good fermentation going. Essentially your sourdough starter is old dough, which has already pre-fermented and contains Lactobacillus culture. Lactobacillus culture has a sour taste and is an active culture that lives off natural yeast spores from the air.

Why won t my gluten free sourdough bread rise? ›

Without an active, happy starter, your bread will be dense and won't rise well when it hits the oven. I feed my starter with brown rice flour, but you can use sorghum, millet, or most other wholegrain flours for your starter. I would not recommend using a premade gluten-free flour blend, or a starch.

What consistency should my gluten-free sourdough starter be? ›

A note on hydration

Gluten free flours are often incredibly thirsty, meaning they'll need a lot more water than regular flour. Your starter needs to be the consistency of a thick paste in order to ferment. It can be wetter, but it can't be drier. So please take the 100% hydration as a guide.

Why is my gluten-free sourdough starter not rising? ›

Most commonly, the issue here has to do with temperature (which is very important). If your sourdough starter is kept at a low temp, even 70°F (21°C), it will slow fermentation activity and appear to be sluggish, taking longer to rise and progress through the typical signs of fermentation. The solution: keep it warm.

Why is my gluten-free sourdough bread gummy? ›

The simple reason is that gluten free bread takes much longer than a regular loaf to bake and therefore a sticky crumb is generally the result of under baking (there could be other reasons but this is the first place to start troubleshooting).

Can I feed my sourdough starter with gluten free flour? ›

Maintaining And Feeding Your Starter:

If you are planning to bake a lot with your starter, you can leave it on the counter and feed it every 12 hours equal parts GF flour and water. Or else, place it in the fridge with a lid and feed every 7 days.

Can gluten-free people tolerate sourdough? ›

No, regular sourdough bread is not gluten-free.

Beyond Celiac does not recommend that those with celiac disease eat sourdough bread unless it is clearly labeled gluten-free or has been made safely at-home with gluten-free starters/ingredients.

How do I know when my gluten free sourdough starter is ready? ›

How do I Know When My Gluten Free Starter is Ready. Once the starter has doubled in size, is bubbly and has a sweet-sour aroma, it's ready to use in your gluten free sourdough bread recipe.

Why does gluten not bother me in Europe? ›

Those with a gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance may have less symptoms with wheat-based foods in Europe. This is likely because of the types of wheat used in the EU and how they're processed. But this isn't a guarantee. So when you're traveling, your best bet is to stick to foods that are naturally gluten-free.

How long does sourdough need to ferment to be gluten-free? ›

Put in the fridge for a couple of days. Long-Fermentation Rise in Fridge: For the longer fermentation process to eliminate 97% of gluten, keep your floured bowl or proofing basket in the fridge for 48-72 hours.

What makes sourdough more or less sour? ›

The ideal dough temperature for most breads, post-kneading, is in the 75°F to 78°F range. Water temperature: The higher the temperature of fully kneaded dough, the more likely your resulting bread will be more (rather than less) sour.

Why do you put honey in sourdough bread? ›

Honey: Honey adds a sweetness to this dough and helps balance any sour flavor that comes through from the fermentation process. If you are looking for whole wheat bread without the honey, try this recipe. Salt: Salt enhances the flavor and helps tempers the fermentation.

Why do you put baking soda in sourdough bread? ›

What does baking soda do to sourdough? because it reacts with the acid from the sourdough starter to create carbon dioxide gas, which provides leavening.

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