Start by preheating your oven to a toasty 400°F. Pro tip: if you're using a cast iron skillet, throw that in the oven to heat up—it gives those crispy edges we all love.
Now, let's get our ingredients in order. Room temperature butter, a bit of sugar (not too sweet, trust me), and crack those eggs. Whisk it all up until it's creamy.
Next, pour in the milk gradually. Don't worry if it looks a bit lumpy; the dry ingredients will sort that out. Now, let's talk dry mix: flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until combined.
Fold in the dry ingredients to the wet until you've got a smooth batter.
Drop a tablespoon of butter in there, let it melt, and then pour in your cornbread mix. This combo is the secret to those crispy edges.
Pop it in the oven for 25-30 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the edges are golden brown. Trust me, you'll be tempted to add more butter, but resist—it's all about that drying out process for the dressing.
And there you have it, a simple, crispy-edged, and moist cornbread ready to steal the show in your next cornbread dressing!