A classic southern recipe, this cornmeal hoecakes combine cornmeal and bacon and pan fries them to create crispy perfection. They are a great breakfast meal, but will also be a great dessert option.

Fried cornbread, also known as cornmeal hoe cakes is a fried cornmeal flatbread, similar to what you’d get if you took cornbread batter and fried it in a skillet like a pancake. The center puffs up like cornbread, and the outside crisps up nicely when fried in oil. It’s great with a big bowl of greens, for breakfast, or as a sweet treat drizzled with a little syrup.

HoeCakes may have an odd name, but it was formerly assumed that the term came from the name of the griddle pan in which they were baked. Hoe Cakes were a mainstay of early American life in the South, but their name varied by area. Johnny Cakes, corn pone, and corn cakes are all terms used in some parts of the country.

My family loves this fried cornbread, as I’ve always called it. I make them about once every two weeks, and they seldom last long. This classic recipe has been passed down through my family for generations, and I hope they remain so for generations to come.

These hoecakes go great with any meal. If I have any left over, I eat them as a snack in the afternoon. They’re awesome with buttermilk or with a drizzle of maple syrup on top! Try it once and I guarantee it will quickly become a household favorite to accompany any meal.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising cornmeal
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 cup boiling water
¼ cup bacon drippings for frying
¼ cup vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

Step 1:Mix cornmeal, salt, and water together in a bowl, not to be too dry. Heat bacon drippings and oil in a cast iron skillet until it is almost smoking.

Step 2:In the oil, drop 2 tablespoons of cornmeal mixture and allow to brown for about 2 minutes or until the golden crust forms around the edges of the cornbread, then turn the other side and do the same. Do this for all and remove to a paper towel to drain and serve hot.

Nutritional facts:

Calories: 83Kcal
Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 5mg
Sodium: 104mg
Potassium: 1mg
Calcium: 1mg
Iron: 1mg