Elevate Your Basic Cornbread Recipe With An Indulgent Tres Leches Twist

Cornbread is one of those dishes that just screams comfort. Slightly sweet, soft, and crumbly, this classic quick bread pairs wonderfully with rich, savory dishes like Texas-style BBQ, cheese-topped Cincinnati chili, or even spicy, New Mexico-style green chili. But did you know that cornbread can also make for a great dessert when used as the base for a decadent tres leches cake? That's right; dessert cornbread is officially happening, and it's delicious. Multiple chefs have developed their own takes on a classic Latin American tres leches cake, which is soaked in whole, condensed, and evaporated milk, only instead of using white cake or similar, cornbread is the batter getting a bath.

The rich sweetness of cornbread, and its highly absorbent texture, make it an ideal base for this dreamy dessert. While you can try it with your own favorite cornbread formula (and a little maple syrup to make it even sweeter), there are tons of ways to take it to the next level by incorporating citrus fruit for added zesty flavor, or you can try cinnamon, for a more traditional tres leches spice.

If you're not a fan of tres leches cake, with or without cornbread, there are plenty of great ways to enjoy twists on this iconic quick bread. In addition to the classics, like pans of cornbread or cute little cornbread mini muffins, it can also make a flavorful base for stuffing (or, as some may call it, dressing) at Thanksgiving, or whenever you like. Add ingredients like black beans or bacon, like Tina Turner did, to your cornbread before making your stuffing, for more savory punch. Or, use cornbread batter as the topping for a southwestern-inspired pie, and watch it bake as the spicy filling cooks.

There are also additional ways to incorporate cornbread into desserts besides just making tres leches cake. Cornbread as a base for cakes more generally, whether that's a pecan-swirled coffee cake or a richly frosted treat, is a fun way to add more flavor and sweetness to your baked goods. Cornbread also pairs especially well with fruit, particularly blueberries, blackberries, and other forest berries, making it a great addition to a crumble or cobbler, served warm with a scoop of ice cream.