Johnny Cakes

What is a Johnny Cake? Though they look almost exactly like a pancake, Johnny Cakes are essentially a flatbread version of cornbread. These wonderful cornbread cakes can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Enjoy them with maple syrup or as you would cornbread, with a good bowl of chili. There’s no wrong way to enjoy the Johnny Cake!

What Are Johnny Cakes?

Johnny Cakes are essentially pancakes made mostly from cornmeal. Think of them as flat cornbread. And though they look like a pancake, and are made in similar fashion, they’re really more than just a breakfast item.

Johnny Cakes (consisting of mostly cornmeal) have a history which dates back to the early Native Americans who treasured corn as one of their main staples. In fact, it’s believed that the name “Johnny Cakes” is actually a slip of the tongue for its true name “Shawnee Cakes,” named after the Shawnee tribe in the northeaster parts of the United States. Some historians even believe that the Johnny Cake was on the menu during the first Thanksgiving dinner. They were also consumed by our early settlers who called them “Journey Cakes” because they were tucked into saddlebags as a remedy for groaning stomaches during arduous travels. Finally, they were called the “Hoe Cake” by slaves who fried the corn batter upon sun-baked garden hoes.

Whatever the nomenclature or peoples surrounding this corn-fried delight, one thread ties them all together: humble people using little means to create not just life sustaining remedies, but reaching beyond to do one better, to create joy, to make the mundane become delightful.

Why I Love This Recipe

While I love pancakes, they have their place in my life only occasionally. That’s because they’e so darned heavy they make me want to climb into a sarcophagus and sleep for a century. Not so with Johnny Cakes; because they’re made with only a half measure of flour, I don’t feel as full when I eat them. They’re also a multipurpose food item; they can be eaten like cornbread with lunches and dinner and then back to pancake status during breakfast. Kind of a jack-of-all-trades, if you will. I’ll make up a large batch for breakfast and have leftovers for the hours to come. Finally, they’re extremely easy to make; minimal household staples being put to good use in under 15 minutes.

Johnny Cakes Recipe

My recipe for Johnny Cakes doesn’t strictly follow traditional recipes wherein only cornmeal is used. I enjoy this version of the recipe much better because the corn flavor is more subtle when mixed with flour. Additionally, most recipes call for the cakes to be fried in bacon grease; I’m using vegan butter and a little olive oil.

• All purpose flour
• Cornmeal
• Baking powder
• Sugar
• Salt
• Vegan butter
• Oat milk
• Water
• Vanilla
• Olive oil

How To Make Johnny Cakes

1. Mix dry ingredients. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
2. Mix wet ingredients. Whisk together melted vegan butter, oat milk, water, and vanilla.
3. Mix dry and wet ingredients together. Place mixed dry ingredient and mixed wet ingredients into one bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Fry cakes. Heat a little olive oil and vegan butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter, per cake, into the skillet and cook, flipping cakes when bubbles begin to rise to the surface and edges become darker in color. Flip cakes again and cook the other side.

Recipe Tips

Don’t rely on the bubbles. Keep in mind that the batter for this recipe will cook differently than that of traditional pancake batter. Namely, you won’t get as many little heat bubbles rising to the surface; at least not enough to sufficiently serve as notice that you need to flip the cake. However, pay attention to the edges of the cake; you will notice that they begin to change color and darken. You will also want to slide your spatula under the cakes occasionally and lift the bottoms to see if they are golden brown and ready to flip.

Serving Suggestions

As mentioned, one of the best things about Johnny Cakes is their versatility. Think of them as a pancake during breakfast, to be enjoyed with maple syrup or Strawberry Chia Jam. But then, when dinner rolls around, break out some Johnny Cakes to wipe clean your bowl of Vegan Chili or Shipwreck Stew.

Storing Suggestions

Johnny Cakes are best consumed hot off the skillet. However, they will keep for up to 3 days if zipped up in an airtight baggie and kept in a cool place.

More Vegan Breakfast Recipes

• Easy Vegan Crepes
• Vegan French Toast
• Blueberry Toast
• Chia Seed Oatmeal
• Quinoa Oatmeal
• Avocado Toast With Sprouts
• Vegan Cream Cheese
• Roasted Breakfast Potatoes