How to Make Prairie Cornbread

If you’re looking for a delicious, hands-on activity to enrich your Little House on the Prairie unit study, learning how to make prairie cornbread is the perfect addition. Simple, hearty, and full of history, this old-fashioned recipe gives children a taste of what pioneer families, like the Ingalls, might have enjoyed after a long day on the homestead.

Read More! Click here if you’d like to learn a bit more about our plans for this Little House on the Prairie Unit study and to see all the bits and pieces in our adventure box.

Cornbread was a staple on the prairie because it used basic pantry ingredients, cooked quickly, and paired well with everything from stews to fresh butter and honey. Making it yourself is not only fun but also an easy way to help kids imagine the daily rhythms of pioneer life.

Check it out! Click here to find out how we made some prairie nightdresses from a couple of pillowcases

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup plain flour
• ¼ cup sugar (optional, depending on how “authentic” you want it)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup melted butter or oil
• Optional: honey or butter for serving

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a cast-iron skillet or baking dish. Pioneers commonly used cast iron, and it creates that signature golden crust.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. This is a great moment for children to help measure and compare textures of soft flour versus gritty cornmeal.

Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Avoid over-mixing. A slightly lumpy batter is perfect.

Step 4: Bake the Cornbread

Pour the batter into your prepared skillet or pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Your kitchen will fill with the warm, comforting aroma that pioneer families would have known well.

Step 5: Serve Prairie-Style

Once baked, let the cornbread cool slightly before cutting. Serve warm with butter, drizzle on honey, or pair it with homemade stew to complete the pioneer experience.

How This Recipe Fits the Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

Another great DIY! Click here and learn how to make your own DIY prairie mattress to go in your little house.

Adding cooking to your lessons turns a reading unit into a sensory, memorable experience. Children gain:

• A deeper appreciation for pioneer food traditions
• Hands-on practice following directions
• An understanding of simple ingredients used on the prairie
• A meaningful connection to the daily life of Laura and Mary

Making prairie corn bread brings history off the page and into your homeschool kitchen—making learning both delicious and unforgettable.

Click here for another prairie recipes – making sweet prairie pancakes

If you’re following along for the full Little House on the Prairie unit study, this is a wonderful activity to pair with chapters about homesteading, chores, or frontier cooking.

For more activities please do visit my MEGA Little House on the Prairie Unit Study page, which contains all ten weeks of our summer building our own Little House on the Prairie!