When you think of the recipes that shaped your upbringing, staples like biscuits and gravy, chicken pot pie, and a myriad of casserole dishes come to mind. As for side dishes, there's nothing like a basket of cornsticks that will transport you back to Grandma's kitchen. Whether you're enjoying a wintery soup or summer barbecue platter, cornsticks (cornbread molded into the shape of ears of corn) always deserve a spot on the table. If you haven't inherited a cast iron cornstick pan, you can still get the old-fashioned bakeware with a push of a button at Amazon. 

This cast iron corn stick pan, from the iconic Tennessee-based brand, Lodge, is designed to make six golden cornbread sticks with crispy crusts all around the edges—and it's on sale for $20. The heavy-duty cast iron offers expert heat retention to evenly bake the cornbread. It's also pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, so the pan has a natural nonstick coating to ensure it gets the classic corn on the cob-like indents.

BUY IT: $20.33 (orig. $29.85); amazon.com

For the best results, the brand recommends brushing a half teaspoon of vegetable oil and pre-heating the pan in the oven before adding the batter. The pan's angled feet will ensure a steady balance on your oven grates, while the dual handles make it easy to transfer from oven to table. And cornbread isn't the only thing you can make with this pan—it's also great for sausage-stuffed pancakes, polenta sticks, cornmeal madeleines, and even brownies. 

Related: Some Shoppers Are Reaching for This Carbon Steel Skillet Over Their Cast Iron Pans—and It's Just $30 on Amazon

Hundreds of Amazon reviewers love this Southern kitchen must-have because it's durable, easy to use, and makes flavorful cornsticks. One shopper said it makes, "perfect cornbread sticks that the family loves," while another reviewer wrote, "This mold is heavy cast iron, and with preheating, it makes six very crisp cornbread sticks."

Whether you're using a cornbread mix or making your grandma's famous recipe, this cast iron corn stick pan makes the perfect batch for just $20.