In the realm of culinary traditions, few dishes evoke the nostalgic charm and simplicity of old fashioned johnny cakes. These humble griddle cakes, crafted from a blend of cornmeal, flour, and buttermilk, have graced breakfast tables and hearths across the centuries, embodying the spirit of American ingenuity. Whether topped with dollops of butter and maple syrup, or savored alongside hearty stews and savory dishes, johnny cakes hold a special place in the culinary tapestry of the Southern United States. Their rustic appearance and comforting flavor transport us back to a time when kitchens were filled with the warmth of wood-fired stoves and the aroma of freshly milled grains. In this article, we embark on a journey to uncover the best recipe for these iconic johnny cakes, exploring variations, techniques, and culinary secrets that will elevate your breakfast or brunch experience to new heights of deliciousness.
Let's cook with our recipes!
TRADITIONAL JOHNNY CAKES
Traditional Johnny Cakes made with a small handful of ingredients and fried until they're golden brown and delightfully crispy!
Provided by Kimberly Killebrew
Categories Breakfast
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- 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 Facts : ServingSize 3 Johnny Cakes, Calories 214 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 300 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 4 g
OLD-FASHIONED JOHNNY CAKE
This is a very old time recipe. My great grandparents used to eat this in a bowl with milk on it.
Provided by EDSELS1959
Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes Cornbread Recipes
Time 1h45m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
- Sift cornmeal and flour together and spread thinly on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until lightly brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mixture, salt, sugar and baking powder. Pour in shortening and milk; stir to blend.
- In a separate large bowl, beat egg white until stiff. In a third bowl, beat egg yolk then fold into egg white. Gently stir flour mixture into beaten egg. Pour into prepared baking pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.1 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 17.1 mg, Fat 2.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 141.9 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
JOHNNY CAKE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease thoroughly an 8 inch square cake pan.
- Combine cornmeal and milk. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir together the egg and milk.
- Cream shortening, and blend in sugar. Stir flour mixture and egg mixture alternately into creamed mixture alternately. Blend in cornmeal mixture.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve hot, with maple syrup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 223.9 calories, Carbohydrate 30.3 g, Cholesterol 17.9 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 317.6 mg, Sugar 9.9 g
PA'S OLD-FASHIONED JOHNNY CAKE / CORNBREAD
The plain version was a staple during my dad's Depression-years childhood; but we rarely had it when I was growing up. My children expect this at least once a month as a regular feature on our Saturday morning breakfast menu OR when we have breakfast-for-supper. Prepare the optional sausage and hard-boiled eggs ahead of time, and it goes together quicker-n-anything!
Provided by Debber
Categories Quick Breads
Time 32m
Yield 1 large cake pan, 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425; grease a 13x9 pan.
- Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl, stir through, make a well in the center.
- In another bowl, add eggs, milk, and oil all at once; blend well.
- Add wet to dry ingredients, stir until moistened (don't over-mix or you'll be sorry!).
- Fold in optional ingredients. Sausage should be in crumbles or bite-size pieces.
- Pour into prepared pan; rap pan on counter-top several times to bounce out the air-bubbles.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes--top will be golden-brown.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup.
- OPTION #1: Add 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese.
- OPTION #2: Add 1/2 - 1 cup of sweet corn (plain kernels); adds a neat "chewy" texture to the 'cake.'
- OPTION #3: Add 6 hard-boiled, chopped eggs.
- OPTION #4: Add 1 pound fried & drained pork sausage (crumbled) or links (bite-size).
- TIME-SAVING HINT: Gather a handful of 1-quart zipper bags, fill with DRY ingredients, and store in your cupboard. At meal-time, add wet ingredients as described.
JOHNNYCAKES
Provided by Bobby Flay
Time 25m
Yield 10 to 12 (3-inch) johnnycakes;
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combine sugar and salt with meal in large mixing bowl. Scald with boiling water and stir well. Thin immediately with milk to a mixture that will drop easily from spoon (additional milk may be necessary: mixture should be consistency of thin mashed potato).
- Drop by the spoonful onto medium hot griddle greased with 1 to 2 tablespoons of bacon grease or corn oil (do not let griddle get dry). Cook 5 to 6 minutes on each side until a brown, crunchy crust is formed and inside is soft. Serve hot with butter.
OLD-FASHIONED JOHNNY CAKES
Make and share this Old-Fashioned Johnny Cakes recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Bill From New Mexico
Categories Breakfast
Time 15m
Yield 12 cakes
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Beat egg, stir in corn meal, salt and milk.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a well-greased, hot griddle.
- Fry until golden brown on each side.
OLD-FASHIONED JOHNNY CAKE
This is a very old time recipe. My great grandparents used to eat this in a bowl with milk on it.
Provided by EDSELS1959
Categories Cornbread
Time 1h45m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
- Sift cornmeal and flour together and spread thinly on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until lightly brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, combine cornmeal mixture, salt, sugar and baking powder. Pour in shortening and milk; stir to blend.
- In a separate large bowl, beat egg white until stiff. In a third bowl, beat egg yolk then fold into egg white. Gently stir flour mixture into beaten egg. Pour into prepared baking pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.1 calories, Carbohydrate 12.1 g, Cholesterol 17.1 mg, Fat 2.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Sodium 141.9 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
JOHNNY CAKES MADE EASY! (AND GOOD:)
I have looked all over for this simple recipe that I love. Very few ingredients, and easy to follow!
Provided by Taste and see that
Categories Breakfast
Time 35m
Yield 7-10 cakes
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Whisk together cornmeal, salt and sugar (if used).
- Bring water to a boil and pour over the meal mixture, whisking to prevent lumps. Let the batter rest 10 minutes.
- Butter a large skillet or griddle and bring it to about 375 degrees, just to a sizzle (do not burn the butter).
- Add enough milk (1/2 to a cup) to the batter to make it the consistency of mashed potatoes, and drop by spoonfuls to make cakes about 2 or 3 inches wide and several inches apart (they will spread).
- Let the cakes gently sizzle on the grill for about 6 minutes or as long as 11 minutes until you bring them to a deep golden brown on the bottom and slightly firm on the top, before turning them over.
- Add some more butter to the griddle, and/or place a thin pat of butter on each cake, before turning them over and cooking for another 6 minutes (or longer) until they are a deep golden brown color.
- Serve with butter and and honey, or maple syrup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 63.1, Fat 0.6, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 339, Carbohydrate 13.4, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 0.1, Protein 1.4
OLD FASHION JOHNNY CAKE
Steps:
- Directions: Sift together dry ingredients. Rub in a piece of butter Stir in egg and milk; batter may be slightly lumpy. Turn into greased 8 by 8-inch baking pan; bake about 1/2 hour at 375 F. or until inserted pick comes out clean. (In pioneer days, they might stir in some dried berries before baking.)
Tips:
- Use fresh cornmeal: Fresh cornmeal will give your johnnycakes a better flavor and texture.
- Grind your own cornmeal: If you can, grind your own cornmeal. This will give you the freshest and most flavorful cornmeal possible.
- Use buttermilk: Buttermilk will help to make your johnnycakes light and fluffy.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will make your johnnycakes tough.
- Cook the johnnycakes over medium heat: Cooking the johnnycakes over medium heat will help to prevent them from burning.
- Serve the johnnycakes with butter and syrup: This is the classic way to serve johnnycakes.
Conclusion:
Johnnycakes are a delicious and easy-to-make breakfast food. They are perfect for a lazy weekend morning or a quick weekday breakfast. With a few simple ingredients, you can make a batch of johnnycakes that will be sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new breakfast recipe, give johnnycakes a try.
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