Too much cornmeal – Insufficient binding from flour causes crumbling.

Not enough moisture – Skipping oil, butter, or milk dries it out.

Overbaking – Excess time in the oven leads to dryness and cracking.

Incorrect flour-to-liquid ratio – Imbalanced ingredients weaken the structure.

Skipping eggs – Eggs provide essential binding for cornbread stability.

Coarse cornmeal – Larger grains resist cohesion, causing crumbles.

Not enough fat – Fat adds moisture and binds the cornbread together.

Improper mixing – Overmixing breaks down gluten, making it fragile.

No resting time – Cutting it too soon prevents it from fully setting.