One of the most enduring Southern country holiday traditions is the family gathering for Christmas dinner. The mainstay of this meal for over a hundred years has been cornbread dressing. The reason for this is simple: ingredients were always available--free-range chickens and their eggs; corn meal from field corn ground at the mill; and scallions, onions and herbs from the backyard garden. More than that, the dish could be easily stretched to feed a crowd--and there was usually a crowd. No one can say where the recipe originated, though it’s known from Virginia to Texas, Arkansas to Florida.

My great-grandmother and grandmother were famous for their cornbread dressing, and my mom makes an awesome pan of it. Now my children and grandchildren look forward to my version every year. For a true taste of a Southern Christmas, then, I'm offering my Country Cornbread Dressing recipe, along with a few tips for success. Please read the tips before beginning!

Download the printer-friendly PDF for the complete recipe, including how to make the Southern Country Cornbread that's the basis for the Dressing. Enjoy!

With warmest wishes for everything that is heartwarming and bright at this magical season of the year,
Jennifer