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Hot Water Cornbread

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 23, 2012

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Makes 20 fritters

Hot Water Cornbread

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water ¾ teaspoon salt 1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg 1 cup peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Before You Begin

Use medium- or finely ground cornmeal. Serve with honey butter.

Instructions

  1. Set wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet. Bring 1 cup water and salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in cornmeal until no lumps remain, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to large bowl and whisk in remaining 1/2 cup water until smooth. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
  2. Whisk flour and baking powder together in small bowl until combined. Whisk flour mixture and egg into cornmeal mixture until smooth.
  3. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Drop 10 heaping tablespoons of batter into hot oil and cook until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes. Flip each fritter, press lightly to flatten, and continue to cook until golden brown on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to wire rack and repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
Hot Water Cornbread

Hot Water Cornbread

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

40 minutes

Yield

Makes 20 fritters

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 cup peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 cup peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 cup peanut or vegetable oil, for frying

Why This Recipe Works

A quick-cooked mixture of cornmeal and water is the base for this simple dish. A mere tablespoon of flour helped bind the mix together, an egg added richness and structure, and baking powder kept our hot water cornbread light. After a few minutes in hot oil, these bite-size morsels were crispy and brown—ready to be eaten warm with a dab of honey butter.

Before You Begin

Use medium- or finely ground cornmeal. Serve with honey butter.

Instructions

  1. Set wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet. Bring 1 cup water and salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in cornmeal until no lumps remain, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to large bowl and whisk in remaining 1/2 cup water until smooth. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
  2. Whisk flour and baking powder together in small bowl until combined. Whisk flour mixture and egg into cornmeal mixture until smooth.
  3. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Drop 10 heaping tablespoons of batter into hot oil and cook until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes. Flip each fritter, press lightly to flatten, and continue to cook until golden brown on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to wire rack and repeat with remaining batter. Serve.

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