×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Manage Account
  • Authors
  • Keyword Index
  • Join

Food Gardening Network

Growing Good Food at Home

Join
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Guides
  • Cookbooks
    • Beverages
    • Bakery
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Soups
    • Entrées
    • Side Dishes & Sauces
    • Desserts
  • Sign In
  • Search

Johnny Cakes

Cookbook: Breakfast

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Johnny Cakes

This New England staple has a long and controversial history. But unless you want a debate, Johnny Cakes are for eatin'–not talking about.

By Jim Almo

Southern Johnny Cakes

You would think something as simple as Johnny Cakes wouldn’t elicit that much controversy. It is essentially just cornmeal mixed with a little bit of salt, sugar, and milk and fried in a skillet. However, it’s anything but that simple.

In Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union, Johnny Cakes (which may also be spelled johnnycakes, jonnycakes, jonny cakes, or even journey cakes) are the stuff of legends and folklore, and no small amount of debate. Though a staple in Rhode Island as far back as the early 1600’s, these cakes most likely originated much earlier with the Narragansett or Wampanoag people.

Somewhere along the way, there was a divide, which led to a hearty debate in the general assembly in the early 1900’s. According to a report in the Providence Journal, two millers from different parts of the state engaged in some heated discussion, with one stating, “We not only grind the best meal, but we bake the best jonny-cakes. We scald the meal with boiling water and fry the cakes thick so all the sweetness of the corn is left in the meal.” To which the other miller replied, “Yes, you scald the meal, thereby destroying all the flavor. Now we mix our jonny-cakes with milk, fry them thin, we always save the pig’s tail to grease the griddle with, and WE NEVER WASH THE GRIDDLE.”

It’s not just the name, though. Nor is it only the way they’re made. Even the ingredients are up for debate, as is how you serve them. Some are made with boiling water rather than milk and other recipes omit sugar altogether. Traditionalists would tell you it’s an abomination to serve these with maple syrup and that butter is the only acceptable topping.

One thing is for sure, while the true recipe and serving style is up for debate, there’s no question that Johnny Cakes are a special treat.

P.S. You can order traditional grist mill ground cornmeal from Kenyon’s Grist Mill (in business since 1696!) and take a video tour of the mill on their website.

Print
Southern Johnny Cakes

Johnny Cakes

Johnny cakes are an American classic in the Northeast. And though they might look like pancakes, they’re an entirely different and delightful  breakfast (or dinner) item.

  • Author: Jim Almo
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
  • Category: Breakfast

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup white cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups milk or boiling water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, sugar, and salt.
  2. Gradually add the milk or boiling water and stir until you have a thick consistency that will slide off a spoon.
  3. Coat a griddle or skillet with oil and heat over medium-high heat.
  4. Drop a spoonful of the batter per cake onto the griddle and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown.
  5. For traditional Johnny Cakes, serve with butter, molasses, or honey. If you want to get fancy, you can serve them with yogurt and fresh berries.

What’s your opinion on the Johnny Cakes debate? Is there a version you’re more in love with?

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Tags

corn

Comments

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Honey Sunflower Bites
  • Pepper and Potato Frittata
  • Overnight French Toast Bake
  • Southern Biscuits ‘n’ Gravy Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Breakfast Quiche
  • Berry–Oat Breakfast Bake
  • How To Make The Perfect Slow-Cooked Veggie Omelet
  • Family Breakfast Pancake Casserole
  • Cheesy Croissant Casserole
  • Ooey Gooey Monkey Bread
  • Ho-Ho-Ho-liday Cinnamon Rolls
  • Christmas Morning Coffee Cake
  • Ham and Biscuit Breakfast Casserole
  • Easy Banana Nut Bread
  • 20-Minute Monte Cristo Sandwich
  • 30-Minute Baked Sausage and Potatoes
  • 30-Minute Kielbasa Hash
  • Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
  • Avocado Toast
  • Bacon and Egg Hash Brown Scramble
  • Bacon and Gruyere Quiche
  • Baked Avocado Boats
  • Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
  • Banana Chip Pancake Casserole
  • Basil-Potato Frittata
  • Berry Almond Scones
  • Biscuits and Gravy
  • Blackberry Jalapeno Jelly
  • Blazing Fast Blueberry Muffins
  • Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Breakfast Stuffed Peppers
  • Canned Strawberry Jam (Pectin-Free)
  • Caramelized Banana Pancakes
  • Cheese & Chive Frittata
  • Cheesy Sausage Fajita Frittata
  • Cherry-Almond Coffee Cake
  • Chicken and Waffle Sliders
  • Chicken Ranch Hash Brown Casserole
  • Cinna-Vanilla Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
  • Cinnamon Apple Cream Cheese Cake
  • Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake
  • Classic Egg-in-a-Hole Recipe
  • Classic Western Omelet with Scallions
  • Cornflake-Topped Breakfast Casserole
  • Creamed Chipped Beef
  • Denver Omelet Bake
  • Easy Broccoli Quiche
  • Easy Omelet Casserole
  • Easy Overnight Eggs Benedict
  • Easy Potato Quiche Casserole
  • Easy Quiche with Brown Rice Crust
  • Elvis’ Favorite Sandwich
  • Fennel and Kale Pancakes
  • French Omelette
  • Fruit & Granola Breakfast Bark
  • German Apple Pancake
  • Gooseberry Jam
  • Grape Jelly
  • Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bark
  • Hot Cross Buns
  • Johnny Cakes
  • Kumquat Scones
  • Layered Cinnamon Roll Casserole
  • Lemon-Parsley Goat Cheese Frittata
  • Make-Ahead Bite Size Omelet Cups
  • Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
  • Old-Fashioned Doughnut Muffins
  • Old-Fashioned Potato Doughnuts
  • Onion and Scallion Tart
  • Orange Marmalade
  • Orange Scones
  • Overnight Cinnamon Bread
  • Pear Jam
  • Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Pumpkin Spice French Toast Stick Casserole
  • Quick & Easy Blueberry Jam
  • Quick Energy Bites
  • Sausage & Scallion Eggs to Go
  • Roasted Asparagus with Baked Sheet Pan Eggs
  • Slow Cooker Cinnamon Rolls
  • Slow Cooker Monkey Bread
  • Snickerdoodle Muffins
  • Southwest Breakfast Bake
  • Spelt Porridge with Roasted Blueberries
  • Strawberry Avocado Toast
  • Strawberry Jam
  • Three-Cheese Soufflés
  • Vintage Coffee Cake

Enter Your Log In Credentials

This setting should only be used on your home or work computer.

  • Lost your password? Create New Password
  • No account? Sign up

Need Assistance?

Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at
(800) 777-2658

Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations:

  • American Horticultural Society
  • GardenComm Logo
  • MCMA logo
  • Renewd logo
  • Manage Account
  • Join
  • About Food Gardening Network
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Food Gardening Network
99 Derby Street, Suite 200
Hingham, MA 02043
support@foodgardening.mequoda.com

FREE E-Newsletter for You!

Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own garden—with our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Powered by
Mequoda Publishing Network
copyright © 2023 Mequoda Systems, LLC

Food Gardening Network® and Food Gardening Magazine® are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC.