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Corn Cakes with Shagbark Hickory Syrup

3.8

(3)

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

I always use white cornmeal, as do many southerners — it has better flavor and tends to have a finer grind. When traveling, I look for cornmeal from specialty mills, but at home I stick with Kentucky Kernel or Nunn-Better, which I get at the local grocery. I urge people to buy cornmeal that has been grown and ground close to home — freshness is more important than brand.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 16 (3-inch) pancakes

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal (preferably white and stone-ground; not coarse)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil plus additional for brushing
Accompaniments: butter and shagbark hickory syrup

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Whisk in egg, milk, and 1/2 tablespoon oil until combined.

    Step 2

    Brush a griddle or a 12-inch (nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron) skillet with oil and heat over moderate heat until hot. Using a scant 1/8 cup batter for each cake, cook corn cakes in batches of 4 until bubbles appear on surface and undersides are golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Turn over with a spatula and cook until undersides are golden, about 45 seconds more. (Corn cakes will be thin.) Transfer to a plate and keep warm, covered. Stir batter and brush griddle or skillet with oil between batches.

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