Looking for a healthy cornbread recipe made without flour for diabetics? This homemade Southern cornbread is fluffy and slightly sweet from honey instead of sugar, no flour and no saturated fat. It’s naturally sweetened with cornmeal and honey, soft on the inside and golden on top. Whether you're managing blood sugar, reducing sodium, or following a low calorie diet, this heart-healthy cornbread recipe brings the flavor without the crash, making it our best cornbread recipe for diabetes. In fact, this heart-healthy corn bread makes a quick diabetic snack recipe.
Pair this flour-free cornbread with one of our popular healthy chili recipes for a deliciously crumbly bite.
Most traditional cornbread recipes are loaded with sugar, butter, and salt. This healthy cornbread recipe keeps the traditional flavor with lighter, lower calorie ingredients. The balance of whole grain cornmeal, light buttermilk, and heart-healthy oil creates a moist, tender crumb, with no gluten, no refined flour, no added sugar, and no saturated fat. You've found a healthy recipe for cornbread that is naturally low in sodium with no sugar, making it a great bread recipe for a diabetic-friendly diet. You can make this diabetic cornbread in under an hour, and it serves well as a heart healthy side dish, a healthy snack, or part of a healthy dinner meal prep plan for the week.
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Yes, this cornbread recipe is designed for heart-health. It's low in sodium (134mg) and uses minimal saturated fat. The fiber from the cornmeal is also beneficial for heart health.
Yes. This diabetic recipe for cornbread is good for people managing blood sugar. This healthy recipe contains no flour and no added sugar. We use whole grain cornmeal because it digests slower than refined flour. Pair this Southern cornbread with protein or healthy fat for even better blood sugar balance.
Yes. Substitute the buttermilk with unsweetened almond milk plus lemon juice, and use a dairy-free yogurt or plant-based sour cream if needed for extra moisture.
This healthy recipe is good for a cholesterol-conscious diet. It contains only 40mg of cholesterol per slice and uses heart-healthy fats.
Yes, follow this recipe to make cornbread without flour. Our dietitian uses whole grain cornmeal instead of flour.
This healthy corn bread recipe is recommened by HealthEcooks dietitians for people following low carb guidelines for a diabetic diet. Our cornbread recipe is naturally sweet from cornmeal and honey with no added sugar nor high carb ingredients. Like all HealthEcooks diabetic recipes, this diabetic cornbread was developed by professional chefs and dietitians in the HealthEcooks Recipe Test Kitchen.
If you enjoyed this cornbread with chili, here are a few other healthy side dishes you might love:
Healthy cooking start with healthy ingredients. Try these ingredient swaps for a healthy cornbread. Many recipes include white flour, sugar, or butter, which increase carbs, fat, and calories. This version keeps it light with just a touch of honey, heart-healthy olive oil, light buttermilk, and pure cornmeal not flour. The result is a tender, golden cornbread that’s both heart-healthy and sugar free. Since cornmeal is naturally gluten-free, it’s also a perfect recipe for gluten-free diets when made with certified gluten-free ingredients.
Here are some other gluten free baking recipes you may like!
Recipe yields 12 servings
Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly coat an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Add the honey, oil, egg and buttermilk and stir to combine. Do not overmix. Pour into prepared baking pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden.
Freeze tightly wrapped slices in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months.
Reheat in a toaster oven or microwave with a damp paper towel to keep it moist.
Serve with chili, soups, or top with avocado for a balanced snack.
For a crispy edge, toast leftovers in a dry skillet or oven.
For more sweet treats to nibble on, try a slice of Cranberry Nut Bread or Banana Bread. Other delicious but healthy sides include our Jalapeno Corn Muffins, Cheddar Bacon Muffins and Pumpkin Muffins. And if you can’t get enough cornbread, be sure to check out another Homemade Cornbread recipe, as well as our Cornbread Stuffing.
