Southern Hoe Cakes are little cornmeal pancakes that are wonderfully crispy around the edges. Serve them warm and top them with butter for a delicious southern breakfast or treat any time of day.
Similar To Cornbread
This classic southern recipe is wonderfully easy. The batter is basically a cornbread batter so these cute little pancakes are basically fried cornbread. Yum!
Hoe Cakes Origin
Hoe Cakes may seem like a strange name but it was thought that they got their name because they were cooked on a hoe over an open flame, but now it is thought that the name comes from the name of the griddle pan they were cooked in.
Hoe Cakes were a staple of early American life in the South, but you’ll find their name varies some in different regions of the south. Some areas refer to them as Johnny Cakes, corn pone, or corn cakes.
How To Serve
Hoe Cakes are typically either served for breakfast like pancakes or with a bowl of greens (typically collard or turnip greens). When served with greens, they are used to mop up the pot licker, the tasty liquid that the greens are cooked in. Try spreading pimento cheese on them for an amazing appetizer.
Hoe Cakes are made from self-rising cornmeal, self-rising flour, a touch of sugar, eggs, oil, and buttermilk. I use bacon grease to fry these Southern Hoe Cakes in but it’s more common to use vegetable oil. Feel free to do so.
If you love okrs, try these fabulous Okra Hoecakes!
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Pin ItTry These Other Classic Southern Recipes
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Southern Hoe Cakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- 1 cup self-rising cornmeal mix
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup bacon drippings
- butter
Instructions
- Combine flour, cornmeal mix, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Measure buttermilk in a glass measuring cup. Add eggs to measuring cup and whisk egg and buttermilk together. Pour into bowl with flour mixture.
- Pour water and vegetable oil into bowl and mix everything together.
- Heat a cast iron pan or nonstick skillet or griddle. Add bacon grease.
- Pour batter into pan to form hoe cakes, using about 2 tablespoons of batter for each one. I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup and fill it about half way.
- Cook until bubbles form on top, flip over and cook until bottom is golden.
- Serve with butter.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
The crispy edges you described are honestly my favorite part of dishes like this. That contrast between the golden, crunchy outside and the soft, tender inside is what makes hoe cakes so special. It’s also great how versatile they are photo booth web you can enjoy them sweet with butter
These look absolutely delicious photo restore there’s something so comforting about simple, traditional recipes like this. I love how Southern hoe cakes have such a rich history while still being made with basic, everyday ingredients.
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So crispy on the outside and soft inside! Love how simple and comforting this Southern recipe is, perfect with butter or honey. With tools like ai art extender, it would even be fun to enhance food visuals and make recipes like this look extra mouthwatering.
It’s amazing how recipes like this have been passed down through generations unblur a photo free, and yet they’re still so easy to make at home. Thanks for sharing such a timeless dish!