This traditional Johnny Cakes recipe is made the old-fashioned way with only a small handful of ingredients and they’re fried until golden brown and delightfully crispy! Serve them hot with butter, maple syrup, maple butter, or applesauce for a filling a thoroughly satisfying meal.
Corn has been a central, staple ingredient in the Americas for thousands of years. Corn was one of the main dishes gifted to the Pilgrims by the local Native Americans during the first Thanksgiving and some historians believe that Johnny Cakes may have been one of the dishes eaten on that occasion.
What Are Johnny Cakes?
Also known as Rhode Island Johnny Cakes, they are basically all-corn pancakes. Most contemporary recipes for Johnny Cakes include ingredients like flour, eggs, baking powder, milk or buttermilk, and even vanilla and spices. In other words, a pancake with some added cornmeal. A true Johnny Cake however, also known as Rhode Island Johnny Cakes, were very simple and were made with only a small handful of ingredients: Cornmeal, salt, and water. Occasionally also some sugar and/or some fat like butter or bacon grease. The mixture is scooped onto a hot griddle or heavy pan and fried until they are golden brown and crispy. Their texture is like the corn version of potato pancakes: Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
We’ll show you how to make Johnny Cakes the old-fashioned way and they are sure to satisfy your tummy and soul just as they did the many generations before us!
Other regional names for Johnny Cakes (also spelled Johnnycakes or Jonnycake) include corn cake, ashcake, battercake, hoe cake, cornpone, hoecake (or hoe cake), journey cake (some believe “johnny” derived from “journey”), corn pone, mush bread, and Shawnee cake (some believe “Johnny” may be derived from “Shawnee.”).
How to Serve Johnny Cakes
Traditionally they are served hot with butter, maple butter, or maple syrup.
Here are some additional options:
- With fruity toppings like applesauce, sliced bananas, or fresh berries with some honey drizzled over.
- With savory toppings like a slice of crispy bacon or cooked sausage. You can also sprinkle them with some grated cheese.
- With a dollop of whipped cream or spoonful of yogurt with a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon.
© Liudmyla Chuhunova | Dreamstime
Traditional Johnny Cakes Recipe
Recipes don’t get much simpler than these. The prep time is quick however they do require some patience to cook to develop that nice crispy texture. Depending on your griddle/pan, the heat, and the thickness of your cakes, it can take up to 11-12 minutes of frying on each side until they are golden brown and crispy. So it’s best to have something else to do in the kitchen while these are frying on the griddle.
Let’s get started!
Combine the cornmeal, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl.
Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan.
Gradually pour the cornmeal mixture in a steady stream into the boiling water, whisking constantly.
Turn off the heat and continue whisking until the mixture is smooth.
Add the butter and whisk until melted and incorporated.
Let the batter rest for 15 minutes (this will soften the grains to prevent a gritty texture as well as enable the consistency to thicken).
After about 15 minutes the consistency should resemble that of mashed potatoes. If it’s still too runny let it sit a bit longer.
Drop the batter in roughly 1/4 cup scoops onto a frying pan heated over medium-high heat. You can either use a non-stick frying pan (still use a little bit of oil) or oil a cast iron pan. Space the scoops of batter about 3 inches apart because they will spread.
Let the cakes fry undisturbed for several minutes until the edges are browned. This can take anywhere from 6-12 minutes. If you try and flip them too soon they will fall apart in a mushy mess so be patient.
Once the edges are browned flip the cakes over and use a spatula to press them down to a thickness of no more than 1/4 inch so they can become nice and crispy.
Continue to fry on the other side for several more minutes until the cakes are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Add a little more oil or butter when you flip them over to fry them on the other side.
Transfer the cakes to a wire rack placed on baking sheet and put them in a warmed oven to keep warm while you make another batch.
Serve hot with butter, maple butter, maple syrup, or applesauce.
Enjoy!
For more breakfast favorites be sure to try our:
- Sausage Gravy & Biscuits
- Crumpets
- German Potato Pancakes
- Goetta
- Whole Wheat Sourdough Waffles
- Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Cereal
- Healthy Homemade Granola
- Oat and Buckwheat Waffles
- Sweet Potato Orange Buttermilk Pancakes
Traditional Johnny Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 cups stone-ground cornmeal (white or yellow)
- 3 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- butter, oil, or bacon grease for frying
Instructions
- Combine the cornmeal, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl.Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Gradually pour the cornmeal mixture in a steady stream into the boiling water, whisking constantly. Turn off the heat and continue whisking until the mixture is smooth. Add the butter and whisk until melted and incorporated. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes (this will soften the grains to prevent a gritty texture as well as enable the consistency to thicken). At that point the consistency should resemble that of mashed potatoes. If it's still too runny let it sit a bit longer.
- Heat a cast iron or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add some butter, oil, or bacon grease to the cast iron pan. If using non-stick still add a little oil/butter.Drop the batter in roughly 1/4 cup scoops onto the frying pan about 3 inches apart. Let the cakes fry undisturbed for several minutes until the edges are browned. This can take anywhere from 6-12 minutes. If you try and flip them too soon they will fall apart in a mushy mess so be patient. Once the edges are browned flip the cakes over and use a spatula to press them down to a thickness of no more than 1/4 inch so they can become nice and crispy. Continue to fry on the other side for several more minutes until the cakes are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Add a little more oil or butter when you flip them over to fry them on the other side.Transfer the cakes to a wire rack placed on baking sheet and put them in a warmed oven to keep warm while you make another batch.
- Serve hot with butter, maple butter, maple syrup, or applesauce.Makes twelve 3-inch Johnny cakes.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet December 30, 2020
Caitlin says
I too found the ratios off. After 30 minutes it was still runny. I added some flour and an egg in attempt to salvage it. It was ok but not what I was hoping for. I used whole grain blue corn meal
William says
Does it matter if the cornmeal is medium grind or fine? Is one better than the other for this recipe?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi William, stone-ground cornmeal is typically coarser in texture and works better for these than a fine grind.
Karen says
I tried these for the first time ever, following the recipe exactly. They were better than these comments might indicate. Making them again tomorrow to s we be with ratatouille.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Karen, I’m so glad you enjoyed them and appreciate the feedback!
Clifton C valarose says
Brings back memories from the 1950s…love Johnny cakes..
Need to make them soon…thank you…
KM says
Made tonight for my daughter to share with her some of my swamp yankee childhood memories – they were great! I did not let them sit as long as recommended and they were still perfect to me, just like my gram used to make. To those complaining they’re “not cooked” in the middle, they’re supposed to be crispy on the outside and soft in the center. Otherwise you’re making hardtack.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, KM, I’m so glad they were a hit and I appreciate the feedback, thank you!
Sarah says
Unfortunately, I too, must say that this recipe, although well intentioned, is not without its flaws. I followed this recipe completely,used local organic stoneground cornmeal along with my farm fresh lard on my cast iron skillet and every time the cake was uncooked in the middle. Halfway through the batch, I added an egg which helped, but still wasn’t great.
I have a book from childhood called Little Sarah and her Johnny cake which is a story circa 1830. In the book, Sarah’s grandmother tells her to quickly go make it (Johnny cake) in 1 minute mix and in 2 minutes bake it.
This recipe is only conducive if you have a lazy day with plenty of time to stand at the for at least 12 min increments to fry every cake and not hungry on top of that.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Sarah, how is the fact that the Johnny Cakes take upwards of 12 minutes to cook indicative of a flaw in the recipe? I mean, that’s just how long a thick batter of stoneground cornmeal takes to cook. As for the poem you cited, I’m familiar with it. And ironically you’ve missed the very point of it: that things take patience and perseverance.
Knowing something about the home cooks of yesteryear and that they were anything BUT lazy, my guess is that they’d be spending those 12 minutes working on other tasks.
Ann says
I never knew why my johnnycakes never worked like the ones my mom made for me growing up. Mine always fell apart in the pan or weren’t cooked in the center but burned around the edges. Now I know why. I was not waiting long enough for the cornmeal to absorb the liquid, plus I was cooking over medium high heat. Using your instructions got me closer to the crispy, almost lacy cakes I remember. Unfortunately, I have a ceramic topped electric stove, so temperature control is harder than with a gas flame. Also, my cast iron pans will scratch my cooktop if I slide them on/off the burner to control how hot the oil is, so I’m going to concede defeat with the perfect texture. But the taste is exactly what I wanted, so thank you for reminding me of my childhood in New England.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Ann, have you tried placing parchment paper on top of your ceramic cooktop and then setting your cast iron skillet on it? It’s a great way to prevent scratching the cooktop’s surface and it doesn’t interfere with the heating. Here’s wishing you success in achieving the perfect texture in addition to the perfect flavor! :)
Anonymous says
This recipe does not work. The consistency is just too wet.
Jo says
I agree a complete failure. I added some flour to hold it together.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Jo and anonymous, did you use stoneground cornmeal as opposed to instant cornmeal or some kind of cornmeal mix? Did you follow the steps to boil the water, gradually pour in the cornmeal and continue to cook and whisk it until the mixture is smooth? And then to let it sit for a full 15 minutes? And to let it sit longer if the mixture is still too wet? As noted, the consistency will become like that of mashed potatoes and if it’s still too wet let it sit longer. To put this into perspective, if you’ve made grits before the ratio for making grits is 2 1/2 cups water to 1/2 cup cornmeal. Johnnycakes call for double the amount of cornmeal (a full cup) so the texture will be much, much thicker than grits, definitely not too wet. Again, something definitely went wrong in the process for both of you and it was either using the wrong cornmeal or not following the instructions to cook it and then let it sit for the proper length of time.
Ted Ford says
HOW MUCH WATER FOR TWO CUPS OF CORNMEAL
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Ted, the recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of water for 1 cup of cornmeal. So for 2 cups of cornmeal you’ll need to double the water to 5 cups.
Joshlynn says
Could I use jiffy cornbread mix instead? I somehow have an unreasonable amount of them!
Kimberly Killebrew says
It’s certainly worth a try, Joshlynn!
SBH says
Jiffy mix already has salt and sugar and likely has some wheat flour and baking powder or soda. But I think you could achieve the same result with just mixing it with the hot water and frying in the pan. Or just make the mix using the directions, adding egg, milk and butter, and then fry the batter like a pancake.