What Cornbread Mix Has No Sugar? Your Guide to Unsweetened Options

November 4, 2025 •

4 min read

While many popular store-bought cornbread mixes include sugar for a sweet, cake-like texture, a growing number of brands cater to savory palates and specific dietary needs. This makes finding what cornbread mix has no sugar much easier than it used to be.

Quick Summary

This guide details several unsweetened and low-sugar cornbread mix options available, comparing brands based on ingredients, dietary suitability, and texture for savory baking. It also offers advice on finding the right mix.

Key Points

Identify Unsweetened Brands: Specialized brands like Miss Jones Baking Co., Good Dee's, and No Sugar Aloud offer cornbread mixes with no added sugar, often catering to keto and paleo diets.
Avoid Sweet Mixes: Mainstream brands like Jiffy typically contain significant added sugar and are not suitable for an unsweetened recipe.
Read Labels Carefully: Always check the ingredients list for different forms of sugar and the nutrition label for "Added Sugars" to ensure the mix is truly unsweetened.
Check Specialty Aisles: Health-focused and dietary-specific mixes are often found in dedicated sections of the grocery store or online, rather than with conventional baking mixes.
Use Savory Add-ins: Enhance the flavor of unsweetened cornbread by adding ingredients like cheese, jalapeños, herbs, or bacon grease for a classic Southern taste.
Understand Regional Differences: Remember that traditional Southern cornbread is typically unsweetened and savory, while many modern, commercial mixes follow a sweeter, Northern-style recipe.

The Shift to Unsweetened Cornbread

Historically, the debate over sweet versus savory cornbread has often been a regional one, with Southern-style cornbread traditionally unsweetened and more crumbly. However, the rise of health-conscious eating and low-carb diets has broadened the market for unsweetened options. Many brands now specifically formulate their mixes to be sugar-free, catering to keto, paleo, and diabetic-friendly lifestyles.

Top Cornbread Mixes with No Added Sugar

Finding a mix that meets specific dietary criteria requires careful label reading. Several key brands stand out in the unsweetened category:

Miss Jones Baking Not Cornbread Mix

Marketed as a "Not Cornbread" mix, this product is aimed at low-carb and paleo bakers.

Key Features: Made with almond and coconut flour, it contains no added sugar and is grain-free.
Dietary Fit: Ideal for keto, paleo, and diabetic diets.
Texture: Delivers a moist texture despite its alternative flour base.

Good Dee's Corn Bread Baking Mix

This mix is specifically crafted to be grain-free and sugar-free, making it another top choice for those following restricted diets.

Key Features: Uses almond flour and is sweetened with a Stevia blend.
Dietary Fit: Caters to keto, gluten-free, and grain-free lifestyles.
Flavor Profile: The Stevia blend provides some sweetness, but it's explicitly designed to be sugar-free.

No Sugar Aloud Corn Bread Mix

As the name suggests, this brand is dedicated to sugar-free products.

Key Features: Uses a blend of natural sweeteners like erythritol and stevia.
Dietary Fit: Perfect for those on a keto, diabetic, or low-carb diet.
Texture: Aims for a savory and satisfying cornbread without compromising on flavor.

Modifying Standard Mixes

For those who can't find a specialized mix, modifying a standard one is an option, though success can vary. Many traditional cornmeal mixes, like some versions of Martha White's or Bob's Red Mill's stone-ground options, contain little to no sugar. It's crucial to check the nutrition label for "Total Sugars" and the ingredients list for terms like "sugar," "high fructose corn syrup," or "honey." For example, Jiffy is explicitly labeled as a 'sweet' cornbread and contains added sugar. If using a mix with some sugar, you cannot remove it, but you can choose one with less to start.

Comparison of Sugar-Free Cornbread Mixes


Brand	Added Sugar?	Gluten-Free?	Primary Flour(s)	Notes
Miss Jones Baking	No	Yes	Almond, Coconut	Keto, Paleo friendly.
Good Dee's	No	Yes	Almond	Grain-free, uses stevia blend.
No Sugar Aloud	No	Yes	Almond, Coconut	Keto, natural sweeteners.
Jiffy (Standard)	Yes	No	Wheat, Cornmeal	Contains 15g total sugars.
Bob's Red Mill (Golden)	Yes	Yes	Cornmeal	Mildly sweet version. Check label for unsweetened options.

How to Identify a Truly Unsweetened Cornbread Mix

To ensure you are purchasing a mix without added sugar, follow these simple steps:

Read the Ingredients List: Scan for any form of sugar, including sucrose, honey, molasses, or high fructose corn syrup. For keto or low-carb mixes, check for alternative sweeteners like erythritol or stevia.
Review the Nutrition Facts: Look at the "Total Sugars" and "Added Sugars" lines. Many health-focused brands list "0g Added Sugars" on their labels.
Check Specialty Aisles: Gluten-free and low-carb mixes are often found in dedicated health food aisles or stores, making it easier to find appropriate options.
Look for Savory Keywords: Brands that market themselves as "Southern-style" or specifically mention being for dressing and stuffing are often less sweet. However, always double-check the label.

Elevating Your Savory Cornbread

An unsweetened mix is a blank canvas for savory additions. Some popular ideas include:

Jalapeño and Cheddar: Add chopped pickled or fresh jalapeños and shredded sharp cheddar cheese for a kick.
Herbs and Spices: Mix in dried or fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or rosemary, along with black pepper.
Bacon Grease: Use bacon grease in place of vegetable oil to add a smoky, rich flavor, a classic Southern technique.
Buttermilk: Using buttermilk instead of regular milk can provide a tangy note that complements the savory flavors well.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Unsweetened Mix

For those seeking a cornbread mix with no sugar, the market has several excellent options, particularly in the keto and paleo space. Brands like Miss Jones Baking Co., Good Dee's, and No Sugar Aloud have filled this niche with mixes that provide flavor and texture without the added sweetness. While traditional mixes like Jiffy contain sugar, modern dietary-focused alternatives make it easier than ever to enjoy a truly savory cornbread. By reading labels carefully and considering specialized products, you can find the perfect mix for your needs, whether for chili, dressing, or simply as a savory side.

For more information on the Miss Jones Baking 'Not Cornbread' mix, you can check their product details Miss Jones Baking Not Cornbread Muffin Mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many commercial cornbread mixes are based on the sweeter, Northern-style recipe, which is more cake-like in texture. The sugar helps achieve this moist, tender crumb and provides a sweet flavor that has become popular.

No, Jiffy's standard corn muffin mix is not sugar-free. It lists sugar as a primary ingredient, resulting in a sweet cornbread rather than a savory one.

Sweet cornbread is typically sweeter and moister, similar to a cake, and often includes more wheat flour. Savory cornbread, on the other hand, is less sweet, more crumbly, and features a stronger corn flavor, often baked in a cast-iron skillet.

Yes, an unsweetened cornbread mix is ideal for making traditional cornbread dressing or stuffing. The savory flavor of the cornbread provides a perfect base for complementing other ingredients like herbs, vegetables, and broth.

Common alternatives include almond flour, coconut flour, and blanched almond flour. These are often used to make mixes low-carb, grain-free, and gluten-free.

For extra flavor, you can mix in shredded cheddar cheese, chopped jalapeños, chopped herbs like chives, a touch of black pepper, or even substitute melted bacon grease for the vegetable oil called for in the instructions.

Unsweetened mixes can be harder to find than their sweeter counterparts but are available in many larger grocery stores, particularly in the health food, keto, or gluten-free sections. They are also widely available from online retailers.