Pancakes, flapjacks and Johnnycakes (2024)

(WYTV)- The name flapjacks is very old, it goes back to the 1600s in England.

The “flap” part of flapjack is even older when the English used flap to mean flip.

What about the jack?

Historians say it may refer to the small size of the pancake because jack referred to something that was small. You’ll hear pancakes more in the north and flapjacks in the south, but there are exceptions such as the Flapjack Shack in Traverse City, Michigan.

Now, what’s a Johnny cake? A Johnnycake is a cornmeal flatbread, big in New England. Rhode Islanders take their johnnycakes so seriously that they hold baking and eating contests every year.

Why the name?

Some historians tells us it came from “janiken,” a Native American word that meant “corn cake.”

They were also called journey cakes because you could carry them on long trips in your saddlebag or carry the ingredients and bake it along the way.

Pancakes, flapjacks and Johnnycakes (2024)

FAQs

Are pancakes and johnny cakes the same thing? ›

Pancakes Are Typically Made With Sugar

In terms of ingredients, pancakes typically contain flour and sugar, resulting in a light and fluffy texture with a slightly sweet flavor. Johnny cakes, on the other hand, are made from cornmeal and water, giving them a hearty texture and a distinct corn flavor.

What is the difference between pancakes, hotcakes, and flapjacks? ›

While flapjacks is an informal nickname for pancakes, some people may use the terms hotcakes and griddlecakes to refer to specific types of pancakes. In the UK, the word flapjack refers to something entirely different—a baked good made from oats that resembles a granola bar.

Who call pancakes flapjacks? ›

The nuance in naming exists depending on where you live and the method in which you prepare it. For instance, folks from the South and Southeast call them flapjacks, while people from the West, North, and even the East tend to call them pancakes. Some states have entirely different names for pancakes altogether.

How did pancakes get the name flapjacks? ›

There are many variations on the flapjack, including the delicate French crêpe, the Canadian buckwheat ploye, and the potato pancake. The word flapjack is believed to come from flipping, or "flapping," the cake on a griddle.

What is Johnny cakes slang for? ›

cornbread usually cooked pancake-style on a griddle (chiefly New England) synonyms: johnnycake, journey cake. types: hoecake.

Why do they call them Johnny cakes? ›

The settlers took it all over the islands of the Caribbean, and after several linguistic and cultural modifications, it became also just as well-known under the name of Johnny cake. Historians also believe that “janiken”, a Native American word meaning “corn bread” could also be at the root of this cake.

What do Americans call flapjacks? ›

In other English-speaking countries, the same item is called by different names, such as cereal bar, oat bar or (in Australia and New Zealand) oat slice. In the United States and Canada, "flapjack" is a widely-known but lesser-used term for pancake.

What do Southerners call pancakes? ›

In the South, pancakes are interchangeably called hotcakes, griddlecakes, and flapjacks, though British flapjacks are made with rolled oats cooked in the oven.

What do British people call pancakes? ›

I called them, pancakes, flapjacks, and hotcakes, Depending upon my mood. I'm currently living in the UK and the only flapjacks I've seen are like granola bars. They literally call pancakes… pancakes lol.

Do Canadians call pancakes flapjacks? ›

In North America, Flapjacks and Pancakes Mean the Same Thing

And while Canadians call napkins "serviettes," serve milk from bags, and have their own definition of "bacon," it turns out they're the same as us Americans when it comes to pancake/flackjap taxonomy. Thanks, Canada!

Are flapjacks thinner than pancakes? ›

In the US, a flapjack is the same as a pancake in the US—a thin cake made from batter and grilled. It has become a regional colloquialism in certain areas of the US (especially the Southeast) to refer to pancakes.

What does McDonald's call their pancakes? ›

580 Cal.580 Cal. If you love hot pancakes, you've got to try McDonald's Hotcakes with a side of real butter and sweet maple flavored Hotcake syrup.

What's the difference between a pancake and a Johnny cake? ›

In terms of ingredients, pancakes typically contain flour and sugar, resulting in a light and fluffy texture with a slightly sweet flavor. Johnny cakes, on the other hand, are made from cornmeal and water, giving them a hearty texture and a distinct corn flavor.

What is flapjack slang for? ›

a pancake or griddlecake.

What is the American equivalent of flapjack? ›

In the US, a flapjack is a less common way of saying "pancake"; in the UK, it's a chewy, sweet granola bar.

What is another name for johnnycake? ›

Johnnycake, also known as journey cake, johnny bread, hoecake, shawnee cake or spider cornbread, is a cornmeal flatbread, a type of batter bread. An early American staple food, it is prepared on the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Jamaica.

What do southerners call pancakes? ›

In the South, pancakes are interchangeably called hotcakes, griddlecakes, and flapjacks, though British flapjacks are made with rolled oats cooked in the oven.

What is the difference between Johnny Cakes and Festival? ›

Festival (always in the singular) are defined by their long oval shape and crisp golden crust, while Johnny cakes are round and do not have the sweetness and crumbly texture of a festival.

What's the difference between Johnny Cakes and cornbread? ›

A Johnny cake recipe makes a thinner batter that is fried into rounds, essentially making cornmeal pancakes. Cornbread is made with baking soda or baking powder to give it a bread-like lift and texture and is oven-baked in a baking dish and cut into squares for serving.

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