When we go camping with friends we like to share cooking responsibilities which is a great way to make it a little easier for everyone. I always love to offer to make breakfast, and one of my favorite recipes to serve are these homemade cornmeal griddle pancakes. It is super easy to whip up as I make the dry mix at home before leaving and that is left to do is add the wet ingredients and then cook. Everyone is always so excited when presented with a plate full of cornmeal griddle cakes covered with fresh fruit and maybe a side of bacon.
During a recent camping trip, we were ready to wow our friends with a platter full of these cornmeal griddle cakes. Sleepy-eyed, the next morning, we went to the car to get the bag of ingredients to start cooking. We had been talking about this meal the night before so everyone was pretty hungry. We could barely wait to start cooking. It was odd as I reached for the hatch at the back of the car as it was slightly undone. Who got into the car late at night? As I put my hand into the bag, grabbing around for the mix, something did not feel right. Where was the mix? Did we forget it at home? Where could it have gone? Slowly as I looked down at the ground, I saw a trail of pancake mix going into the woods. Breakfast was not going to be happening as someone or something had already eaten breakfast.
When preparing for a recent camping trip I decided that I would try to recreate this special breakfast but for two. Instead of buying a prepared package of pancake mix, I wanted to make our own. So I mixed up the dry ingredients at home to save a step. It was perfect as I was able to have perfect dollar-sized, texture-rich pancakes smothered in butter and maple syrup ready in no time.
Since this recipe has become a camping staple for us. Served with crispy, smokey bacon and hot maple syrup, they make the perfect camping companion. I like to serve the pancakes with fresh fruit such as blueberries or raspberries along with warm maple syrup.
Homemade Cornmeal Griddle Pancake Mix
** notes I recently (July 2020) made this mix using a new flour as I usually use King Arthur. This other flour is not as dense as King Arthur so when I mixed the dry mix up to cook I had to use a bit less liquid.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup cornmeal, we like medium grain
1 1/4 cup ap flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
How To:
In a large mason jar or another storage container, add all of the dry ingredients.
Close the lid.
Shake to mix.
Make pancakes.
Serve.
Eat.
Griddle Pancakes
* serves 4 hungry people or 2 really hungry, people
Ingredients:
1 1/8 cup of cornmeal griddle cake mix (above recipe)
1 cup milk or a little more than a cup, depending on how thin you like your pancakes, we like ours a bit thinner
1 egg
1 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled
How To:
In a mixing bowl add the dry mix.
Make a well in the dry mix then add the milk, egg and melted butter.
Stir to combine.
If you like a thinner pancake add a little more milk.
Heat your griddle over medium heat, coat with a thin amount of butter, add about a 1/4 cup pancake mix.
Once bubbles have formed, flip the pancake over, continue to cook until golden brown; about 2 minutes.
Continue making pancakes until the mix is gone.
Serve.
Eat.
I use cornmeal for baking and making Indian flat breads..but the idea to make pancakes never struck…these look gorgeous!
Must make these this weekend!
Can’t wait to make this with stoneground cornmeal (ran out of medium). YAY!!!
So where is the Bourbon Maple Syrup recipe?!?!?!
Your recipe sounds delicious and I’ve looked around a bit for it on your site, but can’t find it. Other things I saw look very interesting, too, but I’m dying to make those pancakes to soak up that Bourbon Maple Syrup!
Hi Rob,
Wish I could take credit for making the syrup; but, I can’t. If you click on the bourbon syrup link it takes you to where I get it – http://www.earthy.com/BLiS_Bourbon_Barrel_Maple_Syru_P1769.cfm – you have to try it. Amazing!
Sound amazing, not to mention easy. Love ANYTHING cornmeal and transported in a mason jar… these are double win! Is there a gluten free flour you’d recommend instead of ap?
I made these while camping this past weekend. The batter was very runny and the pancakes were like crepes prior to adding more mix. Can you clarify that the recipe calls for 1 and 1/8 cups milk?
One more mix was added, they were quite good.
Hello JC – sorry to hear it did not work for you. Did you use AP flour as well as a medium grain cornmeal? We have made these hundreds of times and haven’t had a problem. We do like our pancakes a bit more on the thin side and it sounds like you prefer them fuller – I would start with 1 cup of milk and then go from there to get the consistency you like. Also, I have found that altitudes can affect pancakes. We have had to adjust here and there when camping at high altitudes or lower.
I just made these this weekend during camping. I was super excited to try these out! They came out a little thin (I only used 1 cup of milk), but I will definitely be using this recipe again. Definitely going to be tweaking to find that perfect pancake. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed these, thanks for sharing!