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Easy Bird Food Recipe: Backyard Bird Cornbread

Image Credit:
Pixabay
Written By: Heidi Stonehill Executive Editor

Are your birds tired of bland birdseed mixes? Ditch the store-bought stuff and whip up a batch of these irresistible homemade birdseed cakes that will have your feathered friends flocking to your yard! Check out our recipe for our ever-popular Cornbread bird food that you can make at home.

Why You Should Try  Making DIY Bird Food

  • Attract a wider variety of birds: This simple recipe packed with nutritious cornmeal, fat, and baking powder caters to a wider range of birds than basic seed mixes. Think cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, and more! Check out our Woodpecker Pudding recipe to attract even more birds!
  • Save money and avoid waste: Skip the overpriced store-bought birdseed and utilize kitchen scraps like leftover fat or drippings. Plus, no more throwing away stale bread—crumble it in, and the birds will love it!
  • Bond with nature: Watching birds enjoy your homemade treats is a heartwarming experience. It’s a fun activity for the whole family, perfect for sparking a love for nature in children.
  • Support local birds: Providing a reliable food source during harsh winter months or nesting season can make a real difference in the lives of backyard birds.

Cornbread Bird Food Recipe

Ready to get started? This recipe is super easy to follow, requiring just a few simple ingredients and minimal baking time. Plus, it’s adaptable! Feel free to add chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even crumbled cheese for extra flavor and nutritional value. Try this bird food recipe—just place it in mesh bags and hang it outdoors!

  • 3 cups cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup fat (meaning drippings or lard)
  • 3 cups water

Mix all the ingredients together and bake in a deep 9x13-inch pan at 375ºF for 30 to 35 minutes. Reduce heat if the bread looks as if it is forming a hard crust. This recipe may be doubled or halved.

So, ditch the generic birdseed and embrace the joy of homemade! Hang these delicious birdseed cakes in your backyard and witness the magic unfold as your feathered friends come to visit.

What birds are in your backyard? We would love to hear about them! Share your birdwatching stories with us below.

Backyard Birds

About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill

Executive Editor

Heidi Stonehill is the executive editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she focuses much of her time on managing content development for the Almanac’s line of calendars.

Read more from Heidi Stonehill

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Comments

<span>Carla Mceldowney</span> Mon, 12/09/2019 - 21:44
What do you use for mesh bags? I read that using net bags that some veggies come in is dangerous to birds.
<span>John R Shalack</span> Sun, 02/25/2024 - 14:06
Many store sell suet cages that should serve just as well...?
<span>Karene</span> Mon, 12/24/2018 - 04:49
Is it alright to use bacon grease for suet?
<span>Jan</span> Sun, 12/16/2018 - 19:31
Can I use Crisco instead of Lard... I have several cans of Crisco and would love to use it up for the birds if its safe.. It's been in the fridge and it's still good but only for a few more months...Thanks, Jan
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 12/18/2018 - 16:41

Yes, you can use vegetable shortening (such as Crisco) in place of lard!