Cornbread: compare the 2 variations

Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.

Which should I make?

  • Lightest Cast-Iron SkilletAbout 190 calories a serving, against 330 calories for the other (an estimate).
  • Kid helper Sweet HoneyA child can do 4 of the 8 steps: no knife, no heat.
  • Make it ahead Sweet HoneyBake a day ahead, wrap well and rewarm at 300°F for 10 minutes.

Side by side

Sweet HoneyCast-Iron Skillet
Total time45 min50 min
Prep10 min10 min
LevelEasyEasy
Steps88
Serves9 squaresone 12-inch round
Key ingredientsyellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour and milkyellow cornmeal, buttermilk and eggs
Only in this onemilk and honeybaking soda and buttermilk
DietaryVegetarianVegetarian
Calories330190
Protein5 g5 g
Carbs40 g25 g
Fat18 g7 g
Cleanup3/5 3 things to wash3/5 3 things to wash
Kid helperYes, 4 of 8 stepsNo

Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.

How we pick

  • Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
  • Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
  • Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
  • Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
  • Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
  • Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
  • Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.

A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.

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