Fluffy, light, and easy-to-make, Cornmeal Pancakes are a tasty twist on classic pancakes. | One Bowl Recipe. No buttermilk. No need to whip egg whites!
Pancakes don’t have a season, of course. But I find myself making cornmeal pancakes more often in the winter than at any other time of year.
What’s a Cornmeal Pancake? Is It a Johnnycake?
Maybe. It depends on how you define a johnnycake.
When I think of a johnnycake, I think of something akin to cornbread. (It’s thought that the original johnnycake was basically unleavened cornbread.) Some folks, however, think of cornmeal pancakes when they hear the term johnnycake.
But! If you think of johnnycakes as a thin pancake, these won’t fit the bill either. Because these pancakes are fluffy. Really fluffy. If that’s your thing, these are for you.
How to Make Fluffy Cornmeal Pancakes: Keys to Success
- Start with finely ground cornmeal. There are a lot of different cornmeals on the market. And while I love coarse cornmeal for polenta, I prefer finely ground cornmeal in my pancakes. Quaker cornmeal is actually perfect for this recipe. If you want a cornmeal with a more pronounced corn flavor, use Bob’s Red Mill cornflour. The name is confusing, but it’s basically a finely ground cornmeal.
- Use flour. These pancakes aren’t 100% cornmeal — they’re 50% flour and 50% cornmeal. The split keeps them soft and fluffy.
- Use sugar. A little sugar in the batter brings out the flavor of the corn without making the pancakes too sweet.
- Skip whipped egg whites. Instead of relying on whipped egg whites to make these pancakes fluffy, the recipe uses baking powder.
- Cook on a hot griddle. The temperature of your griddle matters. You want it hot but not screaming-hot. Look for the batter to sizzle gently when it hits the pan. If it sounds like a steak searing, it’s too hot; if it makes no sound at all, it’s too cool.
Cornmeal Pancake FAQs
Are these sweet or savory?
These are definitely breakfast-style pancakes. While I think anything would go great with my Instant Pot chili, I’d probably recommend a pan of cornbread over these pancakes for a side dish.
Can I make these in advance?
Yes! Heat your oven to 200 degrees F. Place the pancakes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Keep the pancakes in the warm oven until you’re ready to serve. (For up to one hour.)
Can I freeze pancakes?
Yes! Cool the pancakes. Stack with a piece of parchment or wax paper between each pancake and place into a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or at low heat in the microwave.
Fluffy Cornmeal Pancakes
Fluffy, light, and easy-to-make, Cornmeal Pancakes are a tasty twist on classic pancakes. | One Bowl Recipe. No buttermilk. No need to whip egg whites!
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely ground cornmeal (5 ounces cornmeal; 142 grams)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (4 ½ ounces; 127 grams)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (1 ⅓ ounces 38 grams)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs (out of shell: about 4 ounces; 113 grams)
- 1 cup milk (8 ounces; 226 grams)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- Nonstick cooking spray or vegetable oil for greasing the griddle
For Serving
- Butter
- Maple syrup
Instructions
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Make the Batter. Whisk cornmeal, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Add the eggs, milk, and vegetable oil. Whisk until smooth.
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Heat the Griddle. Lightly oil a nonstick griddle. Heat griddle over medium-high heat. P
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Cook the Pancakes. Pour batter, approximately ¼ cup, onto griddle. Batter should sizzle when it hits the pan. Cook for approximately 3 minutes. Flip pancakes when bubbles appear all over the surface of the pancake and begin to pop. The pancake should begin to look almost dry. Flip and cook another 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
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Serve. Serve with butter and syrup, if desired.
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Keep Pancakes Warm: To keep warm, preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place cooked pancakes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Peggy says
Pancakes are versatile. This recipe is a great starting point! I used some whole grain flour, used melted ghee/butter instead of oil, and mixed in some wild blueberries. Yummy! Ty for the recipe!
Holly says
I halved the recipe. These turned out very rubbery. Like others mentioned, the batter was very thick, even though I added maple syrup instead of sugar.
To thin the batter, I stirred in milk, more maple syrup, and half an egg.
Still thick, so on the grill the outsides cooked more quickly than the insides. I had to press the pancakes down so the batter cooked through. Probably what made them rubbery.
I have looked at other recipes and they use a lot more liquid than this one.
Larissa says
I followed the recipe exactly and these turned out nice and fluffy. The batter should be thick to get a good rise. Adding more egg and milk will make it thinner and rubbery, more like a “crepe”.
LYDIA BRYANS says
I agree, Larissa. I didn’t change the recipe and these turned out great.
jesse says
I use coffee creamer in my pancakes. Carmel macchiato to be exact. They are fluffy and soft AF .lol
RAYMOND SNYDER SR says
For a different great taste,fry the cakes in melted coconut oil,makes the edges crispy and adds crunch,and a slight nutty flavor.
Marcy Ann Hubbard says
Batter was to liquid, I had to add a lot more flour.
Elizabeth says
That’s odd. 2 cups of dry ingredients to 1 cup of milk shouldn’t have been too liquid.
Mary J Robbins says
I thought this batter was perfect, not too thin or thick. I like the consistency, which was a little crunchy, so I will definitely make them again.
Jerry Vivino says
I followed this recipe to a “T” 👍🏼 🥞👍🏼🥞 PERFECTO INCREDIBLE!
Ella says
Added diced ham and about a cup of shredded Harvarti cheese, came out great! Going to make a cheddar jalapeno version along with the plain because they make a very easy to grab breakfast
Bert M says
These were great! Don’t change anything and they’ll be light and fluffy. Loved to see them rise after the flip. I used a cast iron pan.