Crispy Crusty Jalapeno Cornbread Sticks

Ingredients

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (4 ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• cored
• seeded
• and minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups well-shaken buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• melted
• 2 large eggs
• lightly beaten

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
2. Lightly grease 2 cast-iron corn stick pans and place in the oven to heat while you mix the batter.
3. (If you have only one pan, halve the recipe or bake in batches, taking care to preheat the pan again before baking the second batch.
4. The batter will be fine left at room temperature while the first batch bakes.)
5. Stir together the cornmeal, flour, cheese, jalapeno, sugar, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and baking soda in a large bowl.
6. Whisk the buttermilk, butter, and eggs in a separate bowl.
7. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir just to combine.
8. Do not overmix; the batter should have a lumpy appearance.
9. Remove the pans from the oven and spoon about 2 heaping tablespoons of batter into each mold.
10. Return the pans to the oven and bake until the sticks are slightly puffed and golden, about 15 minutes (20 to 25 minutes if using a skillet).
11. Remove from the oven and serve warm.