Last Updated on July 31, 2025 by Lisa Keys
How would you like a slice of warm Pumpkin cornbread? With a touch of spice and baked in a cast iron skillet for some crispy edges it's perfect along side a bowl of chili or as a side on your holiday table. But before we get to the recipe here is a bit of a grief pep talk.
Grief and the Holidays
Losing someone you love makes celebrating the holidays difficult. It can bring on dread and sadness, and the loss hits hard. Instead of planning family gatherings and buying gifts, you may feel like burying your head in the sand.
I remember our first Thanksgiving and Christmas after my son's death. In the days leading up to them I couldn't stop crying. I couldn't even be in my own house. Thankfully, my brother and sister-in-law hosted Thanksgiving at their beach house, and my father-in-law invited us to North Carolina for Christmas. This gave us a great escape from so many happy holiday memories. It was a relief not to decorate, plan a meal, or see an empty chair at my dinner table.
Grief and Gratitude
The holidays will never be the same. Those days will always bring sadness, but I can assure you that it gets a bit easier with time. You start to decide what you can still feel grateful for. Grief and gratitude can coexist.
For instance, I feel so grateful for the 23 years I had with the most amazing son on the planet. I am grateful that I can still hear his voice and feel his hug. There is gratitude for all the times he made me laugh and let me take his picture. I see his dazzling smile and loving eyes in so many photos. Just thankful that he is still with me in spirit and that his energy is ever-present, giving me peace in my heart.
Isn't having peace in your heart what the holidays are supposed to be about? I have many things to be grateful for.
I feel most peaceful at the beach. Luckily, that's where my family and I are heading this Thanksgiving. What a blessing to be surrounded by family and friends! We will all bang pots and pans together, enjoy an amazing feast, play bocce in the sand, and search for sea glass along the shore. We'll remember all the reasons we are grateful to be together.
Pumpkin Cornbread Inspiration
This year, I am grateful for the vegetable garden that keeps on giving. I'm amazed I grew these pumpkins from seeds in a plot of ground no bigger than 2 by 4 feet. The pumpkin vines were out of control, but that's a small price to pay.
Just yesterday, I roasted a baby pumpkin to try out a new recipe for pumpkin cornbread. I created it using some Martha White self-rising cornmeal mix. The sweetness of the pumpkin puree marries well with the graininess of the cornmeal. It's surprisingly moist with a pleasant kick from warm spices. I hope it makes its way onto your Thanksgiving table or holiday brunch. Let me know if you try it. If you don't own a Lodge cast iron skillet, that's a must-have for your Christmas list!
Pumpkin Cornbread
Ingredients
- 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix*
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated preferred
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup mashed pumpkin**
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Heat oven 425F. Heat a lightly greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir together the cornmeal mix, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, pumpkin, eggs and olive oil. Add the pumpkin mixture to the cornmeal mixture, stirring just until moistened.
- Carefully spoon the batter into the hot skillet.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick or wooden tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
No. The pie filling has numerous other ingredients in it including sugar and spices. It will change this recipe completely. However, you can use 100% canned pumpkin instead of making fresh pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin cornbread can be either by adjusting the amount of sugar. Use less sugar for a more savory recipe that will pair well with soup.
It's best served warm right from the skillet with some butter or your favorite spread for breakfast and brunch. It's also perfect along side soup, chili, pot roast and your Thanksgiving turkey.
No worries. Any baking pan you have will work.
Sallie Smith says
Remarkable post Lisa. Blessing to an amazing writer. Keep them coming!
lisakeys64 says
Thank you. I some times don't know myself where the words come from. I hope you will roast your own pumpkin and try it in those breakfast smoothies you love--go orange instead of green.
Carol Walsh says
Why do I keep tearing up when I read your posts? Always beautifully written and from deep in your heart. You are such an inspiration mama! I'll let you know if I muster up enough courage to actually roast a pumpkin (there's one sitting on my mantel daring me to cook him) and actually make this! 🙂
lisakeys64 says
You cry because you loved him like a son and he felt the same for you. Now go roast that pumpkin before it rots all over your mantel and gives you one more reason to cry!
Danielle @ the Growing Foodie says
Not only does the recipe look amazing but I love your writing as well; what a great difference - to be able to be thankful for all the little things you had with your son amongst the sadness. I will try this recipe - it sounds wonderful (just like you)!
lisakeys64 says
Parents like me have learned that our children will always be the source of our greatest joy and our greatest sadness--it is best to dwell on the joy.
I was thinking about the recipe today and next time I will ad some dried cranberries to the mix.
Evelyn says
My dear sister,
I love reading your beautiful stories although through tears & only hope someday your brother will be able to read them too. Your writing is as amazing as your cooking. I can see William smiling, encouraging you & I know so proud of his Mom.
Hopefully, the walk on the beach today brought you some peace to your heart.
Love you!
lisakeys64 says
This time of year is always so bittersweet as I so miss him joining in our crazy family antics. As I was walking the dog down the beach someone was playing the Rodney Adkins country song "If you are going thru hell" and the lyrics "Use the needle of your compass to sew up your broken heart"......he is always a thought away