Healthy Cornbread Recipe (whole wheat) (2024)

Home Recipes by Type Quick Breads

3030 Minutes or LessVGVegetarian

4.36

30 minutes mins

41 Comments

Jump to Recipe

By: Rachel GurkPosted: 05/13/2016Updated: 01/04/2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Serve up a slice of cornbread with your chili….without the guilt! This healthy cornbread recipe is just as satisfying as traditional cornbread, and you can feel better about eating it.

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (whole wheat) (1)

About this healthy cornbread

I made some simple swaps to make this cornbread a little healthier than traditional cornbread.

whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose
maple syrup instead of granulated sugar
olive oil instead of canola oil

Now, it’s not like you’re eating celery or anything, but it’s certainly a less indulgent way to enjoy cornbread. We hardly ever eat chili without cornbread, so it’s nice to have something a little lighter to accompany the chili.

If you don’t eat a lot of whole wheat flour and are not used to the texture and density of it, start off by using half whole wheat and half all-purpose, or use a white whole wheat flour.

You could also make this into muffins! Pour into a muffin pan and reduce baking time (I’d start with 15 or 16 minutes and go from there).

This would be great with jam, too! Try it with strawberry freezer jam or orange marmalade!

Healthy Cornbread Recipe (whole wheat) (2)

More Quick Breads Using Whole Wheat Flour

I substitute whole wheat flour for white all purpose flour whenever I can. It’s much more nutritious and adds an extra layer of hearty flavor. Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Pumpkin Streusel Bread
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Whole Wheat Applesauce Bread with Walnuts
Whole Wheat Biscuits with Cornmeal, Cheddar, and Black Pepper

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Healthy Cornbread Recipe (whole wheat)

4.36 from 54 votes

Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup pure maple syrup
▢ 1 cup milk
▢ ¼ cup olive oil
▢ 2 egg whites (or 1 egg)
▢ 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
▢ ¾ cup cornmeal
▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 8- or 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking or baking spray.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together maple syrup, milk, olive oil and egg whites.
On top of wet ingredients, add dry ingredients and whisk together until combined. Don’t overmix.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

if you prefer, substitute all-purpose flour for the whole wheat flour, or a combination of the two.
Bread can be baked in a 8 inch square pan if you prefer.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 166mg, Potassium: 154mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 25IU, Vitamin C: 0.05mg, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

Adonna Puckett says
October 31, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I’m from and in Deep South. We don’t sweeten our cornbread. At all.
What do I replace it with, maybe more cornmeal?
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  November 9, 2023 at 3:18 pm
  I haven’t tested this without sweetener so I can’t guarantee it will turn out as sugar/honey can affect texture as well as taste. Let me know if you give it a try!
  Reply
Brian T Truax says
April 1, 2023 at 3:51 pm

I have been making this recipe for years now and it is hands down the best cornbread going! What’s not to like. Quick, easy, nutritious, and delicious. I do use the entire egg but find that the cornbread turns out just fine.
Thanks Rachel!
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  April 10, 2023 at 9:53 am
  I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
  Reply
Emma says
December 26, 2022 at 10:33 pm
How can i make this with much less syrup? Since it’s liquid i think there must be something I need to add to balance it out.
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  January 3, 2023 at 10:46 am
  I haven’t tested it, so I’m not sure. I think you could just reduce it slightly and it would still turn out okay, but I haven”t tested it. Let me know if you give it a try.
  Reply
Roxanne Cole says
March 20, 2022 at 10:34 am

I had to cook it longer because of it’s density but it was delicious. I added a Jalapeno pepper.
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  March 20, 2022 at 4:04 pm
  So glad you enjoyed it!
  Reply
Alicia Murray says
November 5, 2021 at 12:35 am
I really liked the recipe and will use it again.
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  November 5, 2021 at 7:26 am
  I’m so glad it was a hit!
  Reply
Drew says
May 13, 2021 at 8:34 pm
I found this on the web. I’m used to cooking with whole wheat flour but this recipe made a dense rather flavorless bread. I would not make it again.
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  May 18, 2021 at 4:43 pm
  Sorry to hear that this wasn’t a home-run for you!
  Reply
Theresa Putz says
April 14, 2021 at 11:48 am
I don’t like sweet cornbread, can I omit the maple syrup? The recipe looks great, however! Thx!
Reply
- Rachel Gurk says
  April 16, 2021 at 9:58 pm
  Probably, but I haven’t tested it that way! It may affect the texture.
  Reply

Older Comments