Southern Hoe Cakes Recipe (JohnnyCakes).

Hoe cakes also known as Johnny cakes are essentially a cornmeal flatbread made out of cornmeal. Fried in bacon grease or oil and smothered in maple syrup or used to soak up savory sauces or gravy.

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Southern hoe cakes are a delicious and satisfying food that my family can’t get enough of. They can be enjoyed on their own or as a side dish to a variety of southern favorites like my Slow Cooker Green Beans, Shake and Bake Pork Chops, or my Cube Steak with Onion Gravy.

Why this recipe works

I love the texture the cornmeal gives this hoecake recipe, frying them in a little bacon grease or oil gives them those delicious crispy edges everybody loves! These corn cakes only require a few ingredients and can be eaten any time of day with a side of my Country Breakfast Sausage and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup or as a savory side dish.

Ingredients for Johnny Cakes

Notes

• Flour: All-purpose flour works best.
• Corn meal: Either yellow cornmeal or white cornmeal will work.
• Sugar: You can leave it out if you prefer.
• Buttermilk: You can use whole milk in a pinch or make your own buttermilk in the notes section
• Bacon Grease: Or oil to fry the cornmeal hoe cakes.

How to make Hoe Cakes

• Step 1: In a large bowl add the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.
• Step 2: Make a little well in the center and add the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

• Step 3: Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat add the bacon grease or oil to the hot skillet and drop the batter into small discs.
• Step 4: Cook until golden brown and flip finish cooking and serve!

Recipe Tips

• These are best served hot off the pan when the edges are crispy.
• The batter is supposed to be thick.
• I prefer to fry these in bacon grease, I just fry my bacon first then use that grease to fry these Johhny cakes.
• I love to use a cast-iron skillet for these but another heavy skillet or griddle will work just fine.