How to Bake Johnny Cakes Over a Campfire

Johnny cakes are little corn pancakes, small enough to carry in a pocket. The name is believed to be a corruption of the words journey cake or Shawnee cake. Johnny cakes can be baked on a stone, in the ashes, on a griddle or in a skillet, but they are best over a campfire. Here is how to bake Johnny cakes over a camp fire without burning them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups white corn meal
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Wet corn husks
• Bacon grease or butter

1. After your fire has burned awhile and is mostly coals, mix corn meal, water, salt and sugar together to make a thick batter. If you want flatter johnny cakes, add just a little more water. For thicker ones, use less water.

2. Lay out three or four wet corn husks side by side, overlapping a little. Spread with a little bit of bacon grease or butter. Spoon batter in the middle and roll the husks over and around the batter.

3. Lay cakes in the ashes of the fire. Use tongs to avoid getting burned. Let cakes bake for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn over with tongs. Bake for five more minutes.

4. Remove cakes from fire with tongs. Carefully unwrap each cake. Serve with red eye gravy, honey or molasses.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to soak the corn husks before using them. This will help keep your cakes from being scorched in the fire.
• Use tongs to prevent getting burned.

Resources

• Origin of the Johnny Cake
• Native American Recipes
• More Native American Recipes
• How to Make Red Eye Gravy
• History of Red Eye Gravy

[arwen1964]

on 12/8/2008 Winter camping? Wow, you're brave, lol. Have fun!

[beckylyn]

on 12/8/2008 we're camping this weekend ... i will definitely try my hand at making these over our campfire! 5*

[Traqqer]

on 12/7/2008 Thanks for the suggestions....these sound like great snacks.

[ursaminor]

on 2/21/2008 This sounds like an excellent campfire treat. It also sounds like authentic Americana.