CORNBREAD WITH CARAMELIZED APPLES AND ONIONS

Cornbread with Caramelized Apples and Onions image

Number Of Ingredients 11

3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more
2 medium red- or pink-skinned apples (such as Pink Lady), thinly sliced
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided
1 1/2 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400°. Melt butter in an 8" cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour all but 2 Tbsp. butter into a small bowl; set aside.
Add onion to butter in skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add apples, 2 Tbsp. sugar, and 2 tsp. thyme and cook, stirring often, until apples are softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to a medium bowl and reserve skillet.
Whisk cornmeal, flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, and remaining 3 Tbsp. sugar in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in eggs, buttermilk, and ¾ cup reserved melted butter until smooth (no lumps should remain). Fold in half of onion mixture and scrape batter into reserved skillet. Top with remaining onion mixture and remaining 1 tsp. thyme.
Bake cornbread until golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30-40 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.