Cornmeal hoecakes, also known as cornbread, are a delectable Southern staple that has been enjoyed for generations. These delicious flatbreads, made from a simple combination of cornmeal, flour, and buttermilk, are a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the early settlers who created them. With their crispy edges and fluffy interiors, cornmeal hoecakes are a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Whether you prefer them slathered in butter and honey, topped with savory stews or chili, or simply served alongside a bowl of beans, cornmeal hoecakes are sure to satisfy your taste buds and transport you back to simpler times. In this article, we will explore the history, variations, and best recipes for cooking these iconic cornmeal hoecakes, ensuring that you can create this timeless dish in your own kitchen.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
QUICK AND EASY HOECAKES RECIPE (FRIED CORNBREAD)
Easy old-fashioned, southern Hoe Cakes or fried cornbread are versatile little yellow miracles of crispy, warm corn cake deliciousness! Hoe cakes are considered a southern quick bread or flatbread and can be served any time of day straight out of the cast-iron skillet.
Provided by Sharon Rigsby
Categories Appetizer Bread Side Dish Snack
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Add the flour, cornmeal, and sugar to a large bowl. Add the eggs and buttermilk to a smaller bowl and whisk well.
- Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients along with ¼ cup of vegetable oil and ½ cup of water. Mix well to combine all ingredients but don't over mix. The batter will be thick. If you think it is too thick, add a bit more water, about one tablespoon at a time, until it gets to the consistency you like.
- Add ¼ cup of vegetable oil (I use peanut oil, but any kind will do) to a large skillet over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the batter using a large spoon or small ice-cream scoop. About two tablespoons of batter will make a hoecake about 3 inches across.
- Cook the hoe cake for one to two minutes on each side or until each side is brown and the edges are crispy. Use a pancake turner or spatula to remove them and drain them on a paper towel.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 154 kcal, Carbohydrate 18 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, TransFat 0.005 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 287 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
FRIED CORNBREAD - SOUTHERN CORNMEAL HOECAKES
A classic southern recipe, cornmeal hoecakes are little pan fried cornmeal medallions that are at home as breakfast, as much as they are as a side dish with a mess o' greens, and just about anything else!
Provided by Deep South Dish
Categories Bread
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and place a rack on top; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar.
- Add buttermilk, water and eggs; mix well.
- Heat oil and butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-to-medium high heat and drop batter by 1/8 cup measure into the hot skillet to form small medallions.
- Fry until brown and crisp, turn and brown the other side. Remove and let drain on rack.
- Serve immediately with warm syrup or honey butter for breakfast, as a snack, or as a savory bread. Dip 'em in a mess o' greens to sop up that pot likker (juice from the greens)!
HOECAKES
These cornmeal and buttermilk cakes are the perfect side dish for a classic Southern meal.
Provided by Deborah Harroun
Categories Side Dish
Time 30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs, buttermilk, water and 1/4 cup oil with whisk. Add to dry ingredients; stir just until combined.
- In cast-iron or other heavy skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. For each hoecake, pour about 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet. Cook until browned on both sides. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to skillet as needed.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving
YELLOW CORNMEAL HOE CAKE
Hoe Cakes were the first simple forms of corn bread in the South. Simple corn meal mixed with water and salt and then baked. Originally, Native Americans cooked these on hot rocks in an open fire. They were commonly referred to as Ash Cakes. Later, settlers from Europe adopted the recipe, cooking the cakes on the blades of their hoes in the fireplace. Slaves baked theirs on a plank or the cotton hoe on hot embers. This is where they get the name "Hoe Cake". Serve Hoe Cakes as bread or as a side item with dinner or as breakfast with butter and syrup.
Provided by Mommykicksbutt
Categories Quick Breads
Time 13m
Yield 12 cakes, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Put water on to boil. In a large cowl combine the cornmeal and salt. When the water boils, measure it in a metal or tempered-glass measuring cup and measure 2 full cups water. Pour the boiling water over the cornmeal and stir. The cornmeal will swell up, absorbing the water and making a very thick mash. Heat a very well oiled large skillet over medium high heat, re-oiling the pan after each batch. Scoop out about ¼ cup of hot mash and shape into a patty. Fry the cakes in hot oily skillet until brown & crispy on both sides.
DUTCH OVEN HOECAKES
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 8 to 10 (3 to 4-inch round) cakes
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place the cornmeal, baking powder, salt, egg and water into a bowl and stir to combine. Once mixed, stir in the corn. The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter. Brush the lid or griddle with vegetable oil until shimmering. Pour enough batter onto the lid or griddle to form a 4 inch round, approximately 2 tablespoons. Depending on the size of your griddle or lid, you can cook more than 1 cake at a time. Cook until brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately or transfer to a warm (200 degree F) oven until all of the cakes are done.
- Place a cast iron griddle over medium heat or prepare charcoal for cooking outdoors by heating coals in a chimney starter until hot and ashy.
- Cooktop: Place a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Pour enough batter onto the skillet or griddle to form a 4-inch round, approximately 2 tablespoons. Depending on the size of your griddle or skillet, you can cook more than 1 cake at a time. Cook until brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately or transfer to a warm (200 degrees F) oven until all of the cakes are done.
- Outdoor coals: Using a Dutch oven with feet, turn the oven upside down. Place 22 hot, ashy coals on the bottom of the inverted oven. Lay the lid upside down on top of the Dutch oven feet and over the coals and allow to heat for 10 minutes.
SWEET 'N' CORNY HOECAKES
Provided by Sunny Anderson
Time 35m
Yield 14 hoecakes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the thawed corn, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and combine. Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
- In a cast iron pan on medium-high heat, add enough vegetable oil to fill the pan about 1/2-inch deep. When the oil begins to swirl, add the batter in batches to the pan using a small ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure to make each hoecake. Gently spread into a circle, if needed. Flip the hoecakes when the air pockets begin to pop on the surface of the batter and a peek underneath the cake reveals a golden rim and surface, about 2 minutes.
- Once the second side is golden brown, transfer the hoecakes to a baking sheet in a warm oven and continue making the rest. Serve with maple syrup.
WHITE CORNMEAL HOE CAKE
Hoe Cakes were the first simple forms of corn bread in the South. Simple corn meal mixed with water and salt and then baked. Originally, Native Americans cooked these on hot rocks in an open fire. They were commonly referred to as Ash Cakes. Later, settlers from Europe adopted the recipe, cooking the cakes on the blades of their hoes in the fireplace. Slaves baked theirs on a plank or the cotton hoe on hot embers. This is where they get the name "Hoe Cake". Serve Hoe Cakes as bread or as a side item with dinner or as breakfast with butter and syrup.
Provided by Mommykicksbutt
Categories Quick Breads
Time 13m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Combine the cornmeal and salt in medium bowl. Stirring cornmeal mixture constantly with spoon, pour in boiling water in a slow stream and beat until smooth. Let stand a few minutes. Heat a large heavy skillet with bacon fat, butter or oil until hot. For each hoe cake, drop 2-3 tablespoons batter into skillet of hot bacon dripping or oil and pat into flat circles, about 4 inches in diameter. Cook hoe cakes about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown, turning them with a wide spatula. If needed, add more fat to pan for remaining cakes. Serve hoe cakes while still hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 110.4, Fat 1.1, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 12, Carbohydrate 23.4, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 0.2, Protein 2.5
CORNMEAL HOECAKES
Bob's Red Mill makes a coarse cornmeal that's perfect for these, but don't stress if you can't find it. A finer grind will just have less crunch.
Provided by Barrel & Ashes, Studio City, CA
Categories Side Cornmeal Bake Cake Bon Appétit Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes 2
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, kosher salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Whisk egg, egg white, and milk in another medium bowl to combine. Mix egg mixture into cornmeal mixture just to incorporate, then stir in melted butter.
- Heat 1 tsp. butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium, swirling pan to coat bottom. Spoon in half of batter and cook until bubbles appear on top, about 3 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until hoecake is set, about 3 minutes. Return skillet to stovetop, turn cake over with a spatula, and cook over medium heat until cake feels firm when pressed, about 2 minutes. Turn out onto a plate and repeat process with remaining batter and 1 tsp. butter to make a second cake.
- Serve hoecakes topped with sour cream and scallions and sprinkled with sea salt.
Tips:
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Always use fresh cornmeal for the best flavor and texture. Freshly ground cornmeal is ideal, but store-bought cornmeal will work well too.
- Don't Overmix the Batter: Overmixing the batter will result in tough hoecakes. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Cook the Hoecakes Over Medium Heat: Cooking the hoecakes over medium heat will help them cook evenly without burning.
- Serve the Hoecakes Warm: Hoecakes are best served warm, right out of the skillet. You can top them with butter, honey, or your favorite syrup.
Conclusion:
Cornmeal hoecakes are a delicious and versatile Southern dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be customized with a variety of toppings. Whether you like them plain or dressed up, cornmeal hoecakes are sure to please everyone at the table.
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