Smoking-Hot Skillet, Bourbon Glaze: The Cornbread That Gets Passed Twice
Bacon fat in the pan, bacon in the batter, and a bourbon-brown sugar glaze brushed on while the bread is still hot. A skillet for sharing with the whole table.

The smoke does its magic. You just have to be patient enough to let it.
Y'all know I'd rather be out by the coals, but some gatherings need something that comes straight out of the oven and onto the table in the same pan. This is that. Cornbread with bacon in it, a crust that crackles, and a bourbon glaze that makes the neighbors ask whose recipe it is. Bring a skillet to the next potluck and watch it empty.

45 minutes, and you’re ready to cook.
Get everything measured and staged before the oven comes on. Six steps, in order, and the skillet is hot before you know it.
- Gather EquipmentGather a large cast iron skillet, two large mixing bowls, a small saucepan, a whisk, a wooden spoon or spatula, a pastry brush, paper towels, a sharp knife, a toothpick, measuring cups and spoons, and a prep container for the crumbled bacon.2 min
- Prepare the BaconCook 84 g Bacon in the cast iron skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Once cool, crumble into bite-sized pieces and place in a prep container. Reserve the skillet with rendered fat (approximately 3 tablespoons) for later use.10 min
- Measure Cornmeal, Flour, and Dry SpicesMeasure 1½ cup Cornmeal, 1 cup All-Purpose Flour, 1½ tsp Baking Powder, 1 tsp Salt, and ½ tsp Black Pepper into a large mixing bowl.3 min
- Measure Buttermilk, Eggs, Honey, and ButterMeasure 1½ cup Buttermilk, 2 Eggs, 2 tbsp Honey, and ¼ cup Butter into a second large mixing bowl.3 min
- Measure Glaze IngredientsMeasure ½ cup Brown Sugar, 3 tbsp Butter, 3 tbsp Bourbon, and ½ tsp Vanilla Extract into separate prep containers.2 min
- Stage IngredientsArrange all prepped ingredients near the stove in order of use: the bowl with dry ingredients, the bowl with wet ingredients, the container of crumbled bacon, the glaze ingredients, and the cast iron skillet with reserved bacon fat. Have the pastry brush, paper towels, and sharp knife ready.2 min

Short on time
Cook the bacon the night before and keep the fat in the skillet. Cooked bacon crumbles easier cold anyway. The glaze takes only 2 to 3 minutes on the stove, so make it while the bread bakes and you lose nothing.
Brush it on hot
Glaze the second the bread comes out. The heat is what makes it glisten and set. Then give it 3 to 5 minutes before you score the wedges, and you'll get a crisp, glossy top instead of syrup running off cooled bread.
Here's what's in the skillet, plain and simple, for anyone checking before they take a wedge.
- Contains
- milk, egg, wheat, gluten
- Fits
- Nut-Free
Substitutions that still taste like the recipe.
Short on something, or cooking for a different crowd? These swaps cover the main ingredients.
- hot dog
Lacks the earthy and roasted notes; leaner; less savoury depth.
- pancetta
Brings fresh and grassy notes; lacks the clove-like, smoky, oniony and garlicky notes.
- andouille sausage↑ spicy↓ salty
Lacks the oniony and garlicky notes; less savoury depth.
- grits
- polenta
- millet
Lacks the buttery notes.
- baking soda↑ salty
Lacks the tangy notes.
- sourdough starter↑ sour↓ salty
Sharper; fermented funk.
- instant yeast↑ savory
Brings fruity and caramelly notes; lacks the tangy notes; more aromatic.
- sour cream
Richer.
- creme fraiche↑ fatty
Richer.
- yogurt
Fermented funk.
Feeding a table doesn't have to cost much. Here's the pricing, broken down by what goes in the cart.
- Dairy & Eggs
- $3.28
- Meat & Poultry
- $3.74
- Beverages
- $3.80
- Pasta & Grains
- $0.96
- Spices & Seasonings
- $0.03
- Baking
- $1.05
Common questions
Why heat the skillet with the bacon fat first?
When do I brush on the glaze?
Can I make the bacon ahead?
How do I keep the cornbread tender?
What if my glaze turns grainy?
How many does this serve?
Set the skillet in the middle of the table and let folks cut their own wedge. Somebody will go back for a second before the first is done, and that's the whole idea. Fire up something good.

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