Rhode Island Johnny Cakes Recipes

RHODE ISLAND JOHNNYCAKES

Steps:

• Mix all dry ingredients.
• Add eggs to buttermilk in a bowl and beat lightly.
• Add the buttermilk to the dry ingredients and blend.
• Fold the melted butter into the batter.
• Let batter rest for 20 minutes and adjust consistency with a few tablespoons of water if necessary.
• Preheat a flat griddle to 350*F.
• Use 1 1/2 oz. of batter per cake and lightly grease the griddle.
• Pour the batter and cook until it bubbles and is golden brown, then flip over for 30 seconds or until browned.

TRADITIONAL JOHNNY CAKES

Steps:

• Combine the cornmeal, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl.Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Gradually pour the cornmeal mixture in a steady stream into the boiling water, whisking constantly. Turn off the heat and continue whisking until the mixture is smooth. Add the butter and whisk until melted and incorporated. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes (this will soften the grains to prevent a gritty texture as well as enable the consistency to thicken). At that point the consistency should resemble that of mashed potatoes. If it's still too runny let it sit a bit longer.
• Heat a cast iron or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add some butter, oil, or bacon grease to the cast iron pan. If using non-stick still add a little oil/butter.Drop the batter in roughly 1/4 cup scoops onto the frying pan about 3 inches apart. Let the cakes fry undisturbed for several minutes until the edges are browned. This can take anywhere from 6-12 minutes. If you try and flip them too soon they will fall apart in a mushy mess so be patient. Once the edges are browned flip the cakes over and use a spatula to press them down to a thickness of no more than 1/4 inch so they can become nice and crispy. Continue to fry on the other side for several more minutes until the cakes are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Add a little more oil or butter when you flip them over to fry them on the other side.Transfer the cakes to a wire rack placed on baking sheet and put them in a warmed oven to keep warm while you make another batch.
• Serve hot with butter, maple butter, maple syrup, or applesauce.Makes twelve 3-inch Johnny cakes.

GRAY'S GRIST MILL THIN JONNYCAKES

Steps:

• Combine the cornmeal and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the cold water and stir until smooth. Stir in the milk, adding more if needed to achieve a thin, pourable batter.
• Lightly oil the griddle. Stir the batter - it tends to settle - then spoon out 1 tablespoon of the batter for each cake onto the griddle. The batter should "dance" out into a thin disk. If it seems too thin, add 1 teaspoon of cornmeal to the batter. If the cake sits too high, thin out the batter with a little milk.
• Let the cakes bake on the griddle until the underside is deep brown, about 5 minutes. Miller Tim McTague says "You wait and then wait some more."
• Flip them with a metal spatula, being careful, as they are fragile and tend to stick, and fry the second side just until spotted brown, about 1 minute.
• Serve them immediately. Lightly oil the griddle and stir the batter between batches.

RHODE ISLAND JOHNNY CAKES

Steps:

• 1. Whisk together cornmeal, salt and sugar (if used). Bring water to a boil and pour over the meal mixture, whisking to prevent lumps. Let the batter rest 10 minutes.
• 2. Butter a large skillet or griddle and bring it to about 375 degrees, just to a sizzle (do not burn the butter). Add enough milk (1/2 to a cup) to the batter to make it the consistency of mashed potatoes, and drop by spoonfuls to make cakes about 2 or 3 inches wide and several inches apart (they will spread).
• 3. Let the cakes gently sizzle on the grill for about 6 minutes or as long as 11 minutes until you bring them to a deep golden brown on the bottom and slightly firm on the top, before turning them over.
• 4. Add some more butter to the griddle, and/or place a thin pat of butter on each cake, before turning them over and cooking for another 6 minutes (or longer) until they are a deep golden brown color.
• 5. Serve with butter and maple syrup.