Cornmeal Pancakes

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 1 review

Cornmeal Pancakes, stacked high and topped with Fresh Cranberry Compote, are a fabulous holiday breakfast or anytime weekend brunch.

stack of cornmeal pancakes on blue plate with fork, topped with cranberry compote

Fluffy, golden Cornmeal Pancakes are easy to make and have a beautiful, complex flavor. Perfect for lazy weekend breakfasts or a special holiday brunch, these festive griddle cakes are a favorite of kids and adults alike. Like our skillet cornbread, Cornmeal Pancakes cakes are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You can eat them with your hands or top them with fresh cranberry compote.

Jump to:

Ingredients
Instructions
Top tip
Variations
Storage
FAQ
Related recipes
Cornmeal Pancakes recipe

Ingredients

FLOUR: AP Flour (All Purpose Flour)
CORN MEAL: yellow corn meal (fine ground cornmeal or medium grind cornmeal)
SUGAR: granulated sugar
BAKING POWDER: baking powder
BAKING SODA: baking soda
SALT: sea salt or Kosher salt
MILK: whole milk, 2% milk, or any nut milk
WHITE VINEGAR: white vinegar
EGGS: large eggs or extra large eggs
MARGARINE or SALTED BUTTER: melted margarine or melted butter
VEGETABLE OIL: vegetable oil as needed

For the Cranberry Topping

CRANBERRIES: fresh cranberries
SUGAR: granulated sugar
WATER: tap water or filtered water

*see recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Mix the Wet Ingredients: Measure milk and place in bowl. Add vinegar and allow to sit for 15 minutes (the milk will start to curdle so don't be alarmed).
Mix the Dry Ingredients: Combine the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
Add Eggs and Melted Margarine to the Wet Mixture: Once milk has set for 15 minutes, add melted margarine and eggs and mix.
Combine Wet Ingredients with Dry Ingredients: Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients until combined.
Cook Pancakes: Heat a large cast iron skillet on stove top until hot. Add a little oil (about a tbsp) and drop batter by ¼ c fulls. Cook until bubbly, then flip and cook another 30 seconds. Continue until all pancakes are done.
Make Cranberry Compote topping: Place cranberries in a medium sauce pan and cook over low heat until the berries start to "pop". Add sugar and water and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Mix 1 teaspoon corn starch with 1 tablespoon of water. Add to mixture and stir.
Top Pancakes with Cranberry Topping: Remove topping from heat and serve in between pancakes and on top.

Top tip

For a crunchy, textural pancake, use medium grind cornmeal. For a less crunchy pancake, use finely ground cornmeal.

Variations

toppings: not a fan of cranberry compote? Top 'em with a pat of butter and maple syrup. Or try our homemade Bourbon Maple Syrup.
add-ins: mix some fresh cranberries or blueberries right into the batter, or add chopped pecans.
gluten free: substitute a gluten free flour (like oat flour or ground rolled oats) for AP flour.

Storage

Store cooked pancakes (without topping) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat pancakes in the microwave.
Freeze cooked pancakes (without topping) in an airtight container, stacked with parchment or waxed paper in between each pancake.

Would you like to save this recipe?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

cornmeal pancakes served on blue plate, topped with fresh cranberry sauce + cup of coffee and holiday greens

FAQ

What's the best way to cook pancakes?

We recommend a cast iron skillet or a griddle for best results.

What kind of cornmeal works best?

A fine grind cornmeal is easiest and works best, like Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Corn Flour.

Can I make these pancakes in advance?

Yes. Cook all pancakes and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Pop them in the microwave when ready to serve.

🍅 Making this recipe?

Please feel free to reach out with questions. We're happy to help.
If you enjoyed it, please leave us a comment with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️