Unfortunately, we had to come home from the beach. You see, I’d left my chef’s knife at home and seriously, people, I never knew I was the kind of person who had to have their creature comforts to cook. In fact, I get some sort of sick enjoyment out of making do with whatever’s in front of me (see also: my shoebox kitchen with a mini-stove, single tiny counter and a climbing baby over- under- and hanging-off-of-foot, putting everything he can find into his mouth) but I got bested last week by a drawer full of dull knives and not a sharpener in sight. You don’t want to know what the best of the lot did to some tomatoes — it should be ashamed of itself! Plus, there were the small matters of a city baby who refused to sleep in such foreign places with large rooms, crickets and scary flowers outside and the fact that we’d only rented the house for a week. What were we thinking? Two weeks! A month! More! Farm preschool, here I come!
And so, I’m back, at least physically. (My brain is still with the swans.) These were supposed to be the perfect beach house breakfast, as what could be a better embodiment of high summer than fresh corn kernels sauteed in butter, lightly salted and tucked into a barely sweet pancake? Nothing, clearly. Alas, they never made it into our rental kitchen but they’re quickly becoming a regular at home and they seem gunning for a savory application too — nixed sugar, a dollop of sour cream and fresh tomato salsa. And now that I’ve given you an excuse to have pancakes for breakfast for dinner, I think my work is done here and I’ll go back to looking at North Fork real estate working hard on that cookbook.
One year ago: Grilled Eggplant and Olive Pizza
Two years ago: Slow-Roasted Tomatoes
Three years ago: Plum-Almond Tarts
Sweet Corn Pancakes
- 2 tablespoons butter (1 ounce or 30 grams), melted, plus additional for brushing pan
- 3/4 cup kernels (cut from one large ear fresh corn), roughly chopped (130 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 to (170 grams) 1 1/4 cups (285 grams) buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup (100 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (35 grams) cornmeal, any kind
Cook the pancakes: Heat your skillet or saute pan to medium. Brush the pan with butter and ladle with 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter at a time, 2 inches apart. When the pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around the edges, flip them over and cook them until golden brown underneath. If they seem to be cooking too quickly (dark on the outside, raw centers) turn your heat down to low for the next batch and inch it up as needed. Repeat with remaining batter.
To serve: Top with a pat of pat of salted butter and a healthy dose of maple syrup. We sometimes finish these with a pinch or two of flaky salt, too.
Notes:;:
Wow is my mouth watering right about now. I think I need to do a savory twist on them! Sounds like a good dinner plan for next week.
oh my goodness these sound decadent and delicious! i can’t wait to make them…extra butter please :)
Oh. My. Goodness. You absolutely read my mind, Deb! Thanks for posting another amazing recipe.
this sounds delicious! I’ve had polenta pancakes before, but having actual corn kernels in the batter sounds even better :)
Heading to the roadside farmstand today and I know what I’m making for my back to school dinner! Yum! Can’t wait!
I make a delicious version of these minus the sugar. Then I top them with a sour cream, lime juice and cilantro sauce. I make them blini-sized and everyone dollops the sauce on top. They’re always the first to go at summer parties!
these sound absolutely AMAZING! i cannot wait to try them. i’m taking part in a local food challenge right now, and apparently there is no such thing as local flour in wisconsin… but as soon as i’m back on the flour train, these are going to be making an appearance in my kitchen!
by the way, i recently found your blog and absolutely LOVE it! i’m a new blogger, and yours is definitely one i am turning to for inspiration. thanks for putting such lovely content and pictures out into the world!
Absolutely delicious! Love the versatility of corn in sweet and savoury applications. I might serve these with fried chicken as a “chicken and waffles” alternative…
Those sound great. I love fresh kernels off the cob. Thanks for sharing this
These look amazing!! I’ll bet they would be a perfect weeknight supper!
Am I crazy or am I missing when you add the roasted corn kernels to the batter?
When do you add the corn?
Corn goes in with the buttermilk, now fixed.
This is the closest recipe I’ve ever seen (in English) for corn pancakes. I am in love with them at a Columbian breakfast place in Minneapolis and have never been able to make them at home. I can’t wait!
(Also, they are divine with a little Cotija cheese, if you want savory over sweet.)
These look wonderful! Might have to try these out this weekend with the corn we got from our CSA. Great recipe!
Ahh this looks like a great recipe. I attempted to make something similar last month up in Maine per my father’s request, and it was just alright. This, though, this looks REALLY good. Can’t wait to try both sweet and savory versions.
The saddest day of the year for me is when corn goes out of season :( These look delish!
Becca
Dang, those look really fluffy! I made some sweet corn custard last weekend that turned out a little too corn-y for my taste, but I’ve been dying to find a good sweet corn baked-type thing that hits the middle ground. These pancakes sound like they might be just right!
These look awesome! And I’m drowning in corn from my CSA. An abundance of tomatoes, I have that covered – it’s the corn this year that’s vexing me.
Wow these sound so different and fun. I would definitely try out the savory side with sourcream. Yum!
I’m sorry your rental kitchen refused to cooperate!! There’s nothing worse than dull knives.. :[
The corn pancakes look wonderful! I can’t imagine people eating pancakes plain… you always need an excuse to use maple syrup!!
oooh i have been all over the corn lately, since it started showing up at the market here in zürich. last weekend was banana cornbread. and now this is up next, i loooove corn pancakes, sweet especially. zoom in on huge gallon jug of maple syrup. can’t wait for the weekend already.
Damn, I wish I had cornmeal in the house right now — I actually have a couple of random ears of corn in the fridge that would be perfect for this (and this looks so much better than the leftover Chinese food I’m currently eating for breakfast).
Do you add the corn with the wet ingredients?
Sweet corn pancakes sound delectable. But plum almond tarts from three years ago?? Hel-lo!
These look great! Just had my first great local corn the other day so this will be a great way to prepare it!
Oh my goodness these look amazing, Deb! You’ve outdone yourself again. I think my parents will flip for these.
After fighting with my mother’s cuttlery every time we returned to PA to visit, we finally purchased a blade protector so we could bring out good knife with us. God help me if the Port Authority ever searches my luggage. Which reminds me, I must add this to my packing list for my own Shore vacation in September!
Mmmmmmmmmm,delicioso
I’m with you on the whole maple syrup thing. A pancake shouldn’t be too sweet, because that’s what maple syrup is for!
Sometimes a pancake is just a vessel for the maple syrup.
I like the idea of the savory pancakes with homemade salsa with the last of the summer’s tomatoes. Yum! Vacations at the beach are the best!
This is definitely dinner tonight. We got some sweet corn from our CSA – perfect!
Those look amazing! I’ve been toying with the idea of using the batter from my favorite cornbread recipe, which (damn Yankee!) contains sugar, on the griddle as a pancake batter just to see what happens. Now that I’ve seen these, griddle I must.
fantastic Debs, these look amazing……….I’m off to heat up that pan!!
I would never have thought to have corn for breakfast, but now I want it!
I agree that these are begging to be made savory as well! They look so, so delicious.
yum–I go into a carb coma if I eat pancakes with syrup…like, I actually fall over onto the couch and can’t get up for an hour or three….
but I’d make these savory with some bacon/herbs/cheese thrown at them…..
I always bring my paring knife and chef’s knife with me (and sometimes various other pieces of my kitchen) when I rent a house–I’ve learned the hard way! So many people don’t understand why I would want to cook on vacation…
Oh do these pancakes look wonderful! The freshly cut corn then sauteed really adds a depth of flavor, amen!
Bon appetit!
=:~)
These look delicious! I make something similar with canned corn instead of fresh, year round, and serve them with bacon, avocado, and rocket (arugala) for brunch! They are delicious! I will try your recipe next time, sans sugar.
Mmmm… My great grandmother made those all the time. Called them corn fritters, though. We ate them with King syrup (it’s a Baltimore thing). Those look like home to me.
I am from Baltimore, too! My mother made them and also called them corn fritters. She also made rice fritters using leftover white rice. In the fifties and sixties, our family used Log Cabin syrup, but I use pure maple syrup these days.
omg this is probably the most cravable breakfast i have ever seen on the blog. i don’t know. something about pancakes that always get me.
Hey, where does the baking soda go? Or doesn’t it?
These sound perfect for this time of year. I’d love to try both the sweet and savory versions, yum.
Ah, holiday come-down…Well, WE are glad you’re back ^_^
Corn fritters! We used to eat these down on the chesapeake bay on my grandparents boat. Hello childhood, welcome to my Brooklyn kitchen sometime soon this week. Thanks for posting this :)
Great recipe! I make corn pancakes for dinner all the time–but I add an amount equal to corn of shredded, salted and drained zucchini or yellow squash–and in the batter I basically go equal parts flour and cornmeal. The base batter you have here is fine for just adding the squashes straight in. Squash always seems to “disappear” and doesn’t require extra batter. Sometimes, if I’m making BLTs for dinner (a summertime easy favorite) I barely pour off the bacon grease and cook the pancakes directly in it! Growing up on a farm, mom would often bread and fry tomato slices right next to the corn or zucchini “fritters” in the bacon grease. Nothing could be better than this! Mmmmm.
Baking soda goes in with baking powder. Now fixed.
I will have to make these! And I totally agree with you on using syrup for the sweetness. I can’t eat pancakes without syrup so I’d prefer them not to be too sweet to begin with!
Good news — the cornmeal can be substituted! They might be lacking in texture a bit, but I’m eating ones made with oat flour right now and they’re really tasty. :)
I’ve made do with some pretty scary rental kitchens. I can handle pretty much anything. Stoves clearly not installed according to fire code, only one thin bottomed pot, burners that have only two settings, coolish and burn-everything-to-a-crisp-in-half-a-second, but dull knives are the hardest to deal with (especially since my husband bought me a new M.A.C. knife (just ’cause he loves me, awww).
I’ve had corn cakes before but never sweet corn cakes – these look amazing….i never would have imagined corn cakes with maple syrup but I’m sure it can’t be bad! =)
Those pancakes look amazing. I have made blue corn pancakes before, but have never considered using “real” corn. Thanks for this great idea! Yum!! And, welcome home.
I think I need these.
Man I love your pancake recipes. Will you have at least 2 pancake recipes for each season in your cookbook?
My husband usually doesn’t like pancakes because they are too sweet. These might change his mind. Thanks!
Ah these look wonderful. Perhaps I should make them for the first breakfast in our beach house, which we’re settling on this Friday! YAY!!!! Not that I’m excited or anything ;-)
I can’t get enough of corn these days and corn pancakes, wow sounds awesome!
gorgeous, and these remind me of a lovely pancake dish i had at a restaurant a while back. sadly, i used all my corn on this lovely dish of corn pesto that i just posted about, but i think there’s more coming in the CSA this afternoon – woot!
Those are some seriously good looking pancakes… I love the idea of using corn for sweet breakfast pancakes. Bookmarked your recipe!
Considering my love of pancakes of all sorts, I cannot wait to try these. I would probably switch out the all-purpose flour for whole wheat, though. I also wonder what would happen if you didn’t saute the corn first, but just threw it in raw. Could be too sweet…or just downright yummy!
YUM! Simple and delicious, will have to give these a shot over the weekend since I have a ton of cornmeal =D
i think i could get into that for breakfast. i love pancakes but not overly sweet ones drowned in syrup. fresh local sweet corn is perfect enough for me.
cheers,
*heather*
These look amazing. Really, really amazing.
mmm, have been thinking of making mark bittman’s arepas but might make these instead…
Have to search the local farmers market for corn this saturday – then hurry home to try this recipe and pray for a sunny day so that I can enjoy these yummi pancakes on the balcony.
We’ve made these before, but as a base for shrimp and eggs benedict. It was fabulous. These look great too.
My parents live in a tiny little town in Texas surrounded by farms and cattle ranches. And yesterday my mom called because she wasn’t sure how she should freeze some sweet corn a family friend delivered to their doorstep yesterday. It was an on-the-cob or off-the-cob crisis.
At first I was flummoxed as to why she would even need to freeze beautiful summer corn. But, apparently, “some” corn in the spirit of small town neighborly sharing is approximately 4 dozen ears.
I am so forwarding her the link to this recipe. And then I am also demanding she save at least one bag of corn for when I go to visit her in a few weeks time. Because, even though I could totally make this recipe on my own, pancakes always taste better when my mom makes them!
yum.. I think I just drooled a little. I have fresh sweet Jersey corn just waiting to be used for this recipe. Thank you!
Yum – Corn fritters are a staple on the cafe menus down here in New Zealand, usually served with avocado, sourcream and sweet chilli sauce. So good but my favourite way of having them is (and it sounds a little nuts) with lemon and sugar sprinkled on top!
What a fabulous summer breakfast. We have SO. MUCH. CORN. And we adore pancakes swimming in syrup so this slightly less sweet version would be perfect for us!
This reminds me of the “corn fritters” we had growing up in PA Dutch country. Corn fresh from the garden, fritters served with syrup, Lions brand, I seen to recall. Yum.
Wow, those look fantastic! I can’t wait to try this. Beautiful photos, as well.
WOW, these look great!! I’m not sure how my lactose intolerance will do with the buttermilk, so I’ll have to play around with dairy free options. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Oh my . . . I heart corn, and this looks PERFECT! I love sweet pancakes, so I think I’ll have to go ahead and add some sugar to my version. :)
Delicious! My husband loves anything with corn in it (it’s his Indiana farmboy upbringing), so I’m super excited to whip these up tomorrow morning. Thanks for the recipe!
I’ve put cornmeal in pancake batter, but kernels of corn sounds crazy-good!
Corn pancakes! Oh yummy! I simply have to try a savory version!
I love this recipe! Would it be sacreligious to sneak a little buckwheat flour in there?
Ha! As far away as we moved from NYC, I still browse the North Fork Real Estate websites. .
This sounds wonderful and is actually a dish that I can find all the ingredients for .. here.
I have a friend whose baby hates “Nature” .. the ground, a flower, a leaf, grass, god forbid any of it touches him. I, on the other hand, had a baby that had to be watched every minute, he liked to eat the grass, flowers etc :)
Babies are fun, aren’t they :)
Yes, I learned my lesson about rental house knives at last and bought some little paring knives in plastic holders as well as a pair of chef knives in a wooden case. These go at the bottom of my suitcase (checked of course!) whenever I go to Italy and rent a place with a kitchen. Impossible to use those dull knives! Better luck next time!
Isn’t that Latham Farm in Orient in the farmstand picture? It’s not a drive out east without a stop there.
Katy — Yup! I seriously wanted to haul everything home from every market. Actually, I hauled a lot home and now it’s sitting in my kitchen tap-tap-tapping for me to come up with something new to do with it.
mmm sounds great. Now I can’t stop thinking about how great corn pancakes would taste with a smattering of syrup drizzled over the top….seems like perfection.
I too was on vacation in a house with nothing but those knives that are never supposed to go dull – what was anyone thinking?? A table knife would have done the same job. Too bad I had carry-on.
Corn pancakes… so interesting! Does it take kind of like corn bread? This recipe reminds me of corn fritters that are served with maple syrup at the local BBQ restaurant!
Ahh, it is always so hard to come back from vacation and face “real” life. I have made sweet corn pancakes, but the idea of little savory ones is new and intriguing. I will be adding that to my long list of things to make. Thanks for the idea!
Mmm…. I think I would like these. Yes I would. And what I don’t like? Going somewhere with dull knives, so I can completely understand your feeling of needing to be back in your own kitchen (although sad to leave such an awesome vacation home!). If I am going to a friend’s place to cook, etc, and I know they have dull knifes, I usually pack up my favorite chefs knife and bring it with me. That might be crazy, but that is the way i roll. :)
I was just wondering what to serve alongside gazpacho, and I think your suggestion of these turned savory is just the ticket. Right on target, as always.
There’s a great recipe for fresh corn arepas (corn pancakes) in Ana Sortun’s cookbook, Spice (http://www.amazon.com/Spice-Flavors-Mediterranean-Ana-Sortun/dp/0060792280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282077315&sr=8-1). We had them with butter alongside a farmer’s market gazpacho and it was mighty fine. Anyway, I think you’d really dig her Middle East-inspired recipes.
wow, only 90 comments to slog through. I am waiting for that cookbook, and it better have your photos and not some stylist’s idea of what’s hot.
That said, where was that beach?
I ruined my throat yesterday with sunchips, and now can only eat slushy stuff like the limeade thingy, except that I have none of the above in the house, and could not do citrus anyway with the throat and the reflux… no I’m not 90, (there’s 90 again!) but i’m starting to wonder…
meg — You get a gold star for reading all previous comments. I’ll be doing the photography. I mean, I am doing the photography, like right now. :)
Life and kitchen — No. These are truly a buttermilk pancake, with a very slight extra texture from cornmeal, with sweet corn kernels speckled throughout. I am sure there’s potential to make them more cornbread-like (I’m thinking Jonnycakes) but these are really pancakes.
Wow, not much else to say. I love corn, I love breakfast for dinner. This may make it on the menu next week for kid food thursday.
These sound (and look) delicious! I’ve been trying to eat as much sweet corn as I can while it’s in season, so I might just have to try these out this weekend. Great idea!
I hear you about the frustrations of cooking in an ill-equipped kitchen! I mean, no sharp knife?? We have taken to taking a capsule kitchen kit with us on vacation that includes a sharp knife and a coffee maker!! I think, though, that the number one sin of which vacation properties are guilty is simply not providing equipment large enough to cook for the number of people the house is supposed to accommodate!! We take a short break with a large group of friends every February, and the number of times that a house that allegedly sleeps 14 simply hasn’t had a pan big enough to cook pasta for more than four is outrageous! OK, enough. LOVE the corn pancakes. LOVE anything to do with corn…. except I live in the UK and it’s just not remotely the same here. I cra-a-a-a-a-a-ve good corn.
Here in NZ we call them corn fritters — a definite Kiwi staple! Great with some sweet chilli sauce.
In Minneapolis my favorite thing to do is to go to the Farmer’s Market on Sat mornings then to Maria’s Cafe for corn pancakes…mmm…the best way to order it is with a side of cojito cheese (kind of like a parmesan thing). Sounds strange, but the salty sweet thing is amazing.
I haven’t seen corn . . .yet. ;)
this sounds pretty amazing!!!!
I wonder if it would be a sin to use canned or frozen corn in this recipe? The market by me has the SADDEST looking fresh corn in the world today and I’d like to eat these, like, right now.
Knifes: If you’re ever in dull knife-land again, find a piece of pottery with a raw edge..bottom of a coffee mug, a bowl, pizza stone (ha!) a flower pot..and hold the knife at a 5-degree angle to the pottery edge and give the blade several long sweeps on both sides..or as many as it takes to sharpen it satisfactorily. I always test the blade on a cherry tomato to see if it can slice it easily. It’s not perfect, but it does hone the edge enough to get you through.
Pancakes: Corn..this is what I’ve been missing! We’ve been making these zucchini and yellow squash and carrot cakes sort of like fritters, using an egg, corn meal, butter and a little flour. They could use the corn, too..maybe mashed at bit to extract some starch. Your cakes look so good. Can’t wait to try them.
Susan — As always, so helpful! I hadn’t even thought of that. You get very spoiled when you work with sharp knives. That would have helped.
P.S. I mentioned this in my gift guide many moons ago, but I swear by my Furi to keep my knives sharp (and desperately wish I’d brought it to the beach). I don’t have the time or energy to schlep my knives to a fancy sharpener as often as I like them sharpened (constantly for me, given the amount that I cook) nor am I much of an expert on sharpening my knifes like a good professional chef. The Furi totally covers my tush. If I buy someone a chef’s knife as a present, I always throw one in because it allows you to be totally self-sufficient in your knife maintenance. Apologies for the product plug but it’s a really great one and as I hope you all know, I buy 100% of the stuff in my kitchen with my own cash.
Corn fritters vs. these pancakes — I see a lot of corn fritter comparisons and am fearful that people might be disappointed when they try these. They are a pancake with corn kernels in them; the corn kernels take up maybe 1/3 the volume of the pancake. So, it’s studded with kernels rather than using kernels for the structure. There’s definitely potential to double the amount of corn in them, but I might be tempted to puree half of them with the buttermilk so that it’s not too hard to keep the kernels inside the pancake. Can I admit that sounds really good to me? I obviously have to try that next.
Another wonderful recipe! Looks like your week away was a lot of fun. I’ve been out there on the North Fork – my friend has a house there. It is quite lovely and you had gorgeous weather indeedy! Oh and my knives in my all-the-time kitchy are duller than dull. When I save up some loot that is going to be my NEXT purchase!
These look delicious… almost as delicious as the photos from your trip. They make me want to pick up and drive to the North Fork right now. Just for the farm stand! Gorgeous! Perhaps your next book should be in the travel genre?
These look like an easy summer meal. Yum
Last summer I sampled some sweet corn pancakes at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Farmer’s Market, they were topped with a dollop of goat cheese – the combination was out of this world delish!
Wow, I can totally see these being a creative stand-in for cornbread! :D
I made these tonight and they really didn’t work out. The batter was extremely thin and when I spooned it into the pan it just ran everywhere. The pancakes were thin and greasy and basically inedible. The same thing happened to me when I used your buttermilk pancake recipe, even though I’m following the recipe to the letter. I’m not an amateur pancake maker! I don’t understand what’s going on.
I took a picture this time: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmarley/4902452075/
Any thoughts??
Me too, number 108…also can’t wait to try these, both sweet and savory. I think savory they’d be good with some caramelized onions and chives tucked in. Or just chives. Am on total chive kick!
Long time recipe follower, first time commenter. Made these for dinner tonight and just – WOW!
Dull knives do have a way of ruining a good mood. I like the savory potential of these too. Thanks.
Oooh, the savory version sounds even better than this one! *Makes a mental note to try it*
These looks so good. I have been dying to try the beet pancakes from Good to the Grain. These corn cakes sounds like they would also be good with some roasted peppers. Lovely. Glad you were able to relax.
Oh my gosh – corn pancakes for dinner were one of my favorite things as a kid and one of my dad’s specialties (that everyone else said was weird). I’m going to have to send him this post, he’ll love it!
I just watched an episode of Good Eats where Alton talked about the wonders of homemade pancake and waffle batter. Sadly, I’d never tried to make any from scratch (but I always use good quality pre-mix!). These look delicious and may be my first dive into the homemade kind!
I make a pancake similar to this, but I add fresh blueberries as well as the corn. They are out of this world.
But… where’s my baby, Jacob? No new pictures?
Oh, yum, now you just have to saute some apples and fry up some bacon and stack it up. Trust me, it’s perfect that way!
Elizabeth…Your batter does look too thin! Did you add the cornmeal? Your batter should look thick and almost gritty. I think if your gave the cornmeal a few moments alone in the milk before adding the flour, it would thicken it considerably.
Elizabeth — I can’t make sense of it either. (I left a response last night for you — on the wrong post! It’s like I’m new here or something.) I dug and dug but couldn’t find my photo of the pancakes in the pan, I guess it came out that awful looking and I deleted it. But it looked nothing like yours. You can probably see in the batter photo that mine was pretty thick. I do remember some people responding on the buttermilk pancakes that they’d found it a little thin (again, nothing I’d run into but obviously a concern for some) and realized while adapted this from there that you can pretty easily dial back the liquid. This recipe has 20% less liquid and the butter, rather than going directly into the batter, adding liquid, largely clings to or is absorbed by the corn (or left in the pan), so possibly 25%. I’ll watch as other responses come in, see if anyone else runs into the problem.
I’m excited to try your take on a corn pancake recipe – I have a similar recipe that I clipped earlier this year and have been wanting to make all summer. However, the last three weekends that we went to the farmers market, the corn we got ended up lacking most of the kernels – perhaps because of drought?
Anyway, as soon as I find some decent corn, I’m going to make corn pancakes – perhaps topped with blueberry syrup!
Those have my mouth watering! And I have at least 2 kiddos who will eat those up :) I have been wanting to make a Farmers Market run, and now I have a good excuse to get some sweet corn, thanks for the great recipe!
Last weekend I purchased a waffle iron JUST to try out a cornmeal waffle recipe that sounded really good.
My favorite type of corn muffin has whole kernels of corn in them that add little chewy bits to them. So I was thinking about adding whole kernels to the waffle mix…
Then you come along with this genius idea of replacing some of the grainy texture with a little bit of soft & fluffy texture in the form of a pancake!
I’m thinking buttermilk fluffiness + corn kernels + butter + syrup = exactly what I’ve been looking for! I am so trying these this weekend! Thank you!
I really need to go to the supermarket because I have a list of things to make. This just made it
Hi Deb! Real cooks and chefs will cringe, but… my mother in law told me of 2 tools to sharpen knives in a pinch. 1) aluminum foil. 2)a ceramic mug.
told ya you’d cringe. :) For the former, crumple a good size up in your hand, and run the knife into the side of the aluminum ball furthest from your hand in the same motion as while using he sharpening stick. For the mug, flip it upside down, and run it up and down the bottom of the mug in the same manner. give it a try! :)
After using my Shun knives I didn’t realize how bad cheap knives were until I sent them to sharpen. Ugh – that was the longest 2 weeks of cooking ever!
omg this looks superyum
My husband’s grandmother would make corn pancakes for him when we was a kid. I’ll have to surprise him with these. Thanks!
Oh Deb, has this made my day! I just spent a weekend in Sugar Hill New Hampshire, where I had to most fantastic pancakes that I have ever eaten (buttermilk corn, buckwheat, oatmeal…I had a sampler). I brought back some fresh corn and a jug of syrup, oh, and some cobb smoked bacon. I can’t wait to try this recipe! Your buttermilk blueberry pancakes have become a standard in our home. My kids (they will always be kids even if they are in their late 20’s) are coming for a long weekend. I think we will have a pancake feast on Saturday Morning! Thank you so much. BTW, I travel with my Furi also.
Corn pancakes, perfect for this time of year. Great looking stack.
Thanks for posting these Deb!! They too are a beach treat for me and my family! We have been enjoying them at a local restaurant for as long as I can remember! We usually make regular pancake batter and then add a healthy dollop of just off the cob corn while they’re in the pan. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
The only time I ever had corn pancakes was at our cabin when I was a kid. Of course, these were nothing like yours!! But they were GOOD! I LOVED them! I so want to make these for my kids and see what they thing. Thanks!
I feel your pain.. Just last month I had this realization while at a beach house. From now on: Chef Knife, Sharpener, Cutting Board (large), Decent Sautee Pan, Coffee Maker… and frankly, a microplane or zester (if you are as obsessed with zest as I am)- ALL of these things will go with me to my next summer rental. The horrors committed on local produce are too many and too shameful to admit… not to mention the time it took me to make fresh salsa using a dull oversized steak knife. or using an even duller fork/steak knife combo to zest a lemon…sigh.
Know exactly about dull knives in a rental unit… because of past experiences, my family now packs our own razor-sharp knives, a grater, sometimes a can opener, and a large salad bowl… one year a house didn’t even have a cookie sheet! That was horrible.
My grandmother used to make something similar to this to go along with fried chicken (they were a bit more like corn fritters). So painfully delicious. May I recommend next time you make them, serve with fried chicken and maple syrup doused over everything. bliss.
I think you might have gone near to where we go. We are headed out to Mattituck today, right on Peconic Bay Blvd. Can’t wait!
Farm preschool, here I come… HAhaha!
When I was just a wee one, my mom used to make my brother and I corn pancakes for dinner! It was always our number one choice and I hadn’t thought of making them in so long! Thanks for posting this recipe, now I can invite my brother and mom over and we can relive those glory days of corn pancakes for dinner!
I also think making them savory sounds AMAZING! Anything with sour cream on it gets me every time.
These will be making it to our dinner table tonight… Thanks for the inspiration!
I totally hear you about the chef knife-that & spring loaded tongs are a NECESSITY I just can’t live without! Tried slicing seared tuna w/a steak knife while on our vacay this summer in the OBX…wasn’t pretty.
Those look amazing. Is that Latham’s sign? We are Busy Bree camp customers too. Dying to send my kid to farm preschool! Will import my chef’s knife to rental house and get started!
In Rhode Island Johnny Cakes (cornmeal pancakes) are king. But I like to add a handful of fresh corn kernals to mine. I usually go for more cornmeal and less flour and I’m addicted to Kenyon’s cornmeal: http://www.kenyonsgristmill.com/home.html. But I love the fluffier texture of your pancakes… I may have to try your recipe next time! Oh… and every so often I add some crumbled bacon into the batter – amazing!
Yes, never leave home without a good knife! I learned that on my last vacation, I was so frustrated every second in the kitchen there. It’s the sign of a serious cook I suppose … my, could I possibly call myself that?!
a good corn fritter is a wonderful thing and makes the end of summer special. i can eat mountains of these things! yours sound excellent and i will go home and make a slew of them. thanks!
Heading to an antique Appalachian cabin near the Blue Ridge Parkway this afternoon with a big bag of fresh corn picked this morning. Guess what’s for dinner tonight! We’re having fried chicken and instead of rice I’m making THESE to be the recipient of my hot southern (made with canned milk and fresh cayenne) chicken gravy! Think I’ll make it a little thinner than usual too.
And Susan & Sharon are right about knife sharpening. Have made bludgeon edge blades razor, and quickly. Look for a big plate or platter with exposed ceramic surface on its foot and slide the knife across. You will be amazed at the precise edge you’ll get. Sometimes do this in my own kitchen when I’m rushing and don’t want to wet up my stone.
I have been making savory corn cakes for a long time–add scallions to the batter, yum! But one great topping I can suggest is caramelized onions with a few teaspoons of dijon mustard and balsamic stirred in, it is a must try! Love the blog, your recipes are my go-to spot. It has been fun to watch the baby grow too! and Jacob is ridiculously cute (from a photographer who specializes in kids, so I know from adorable!).
Darn! Now I’m sad that we actually ate the last two ears of corn last night dripping with butter and salt. I can’t wait to try this recipe out and oh well, gives me the excuse/reason to head to the farmer’s market Saturday morning!
I am not a noble being – bring on the syrup. These pancakes are so fluffy and I can only begin to imagine how tender they must be. By the way, I commiserate with you on the dull knives. It is the one thing I can’t stand while cooking.
After months of silent fandom, I am coming out of the woodwork to say that these pancakes are AWESOME! I had some corn that needed to be used, so the timing was perfect. They were delightfully pancake-y, but with the added charm of corn fritters. I made both a savory version and a sweet one, dividing the batter in half (pre-vanilla, of course!).
To the sweet half I added nothing, except perhaps a touch more sugar, and also a sprinkle of powdered sugar over the finished product. To the savory half I added 1 chopped jalapeno (which I seeded, but that is optional), about 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and a generous sprinkle of paprika before cooking. Yum! Thanks again for this recipe!
These look amazing. You are right, they do seem more like a Johnny Cake. I’m in WI and the corn now is beautiful. Going to have my husband (the chef) read this post and get after it. Great idea, great photos. Keep up the great cooking (and posting it for everyone else.)
Oh buttermilk in the fridge = corn pancakes for me. Can’t wait.
Deb, I have read about the Furi sharpener and it sounded wonderful…until I saw the price. Now I see the price of the Furi sharpener is all over the place. How do you decide which on to buy? I would love to know that a $16. one will do me as well as an $80. one.
I asked this before, and I am going to ask again! Could you please make the links you put in your posts a different color or more pronounced? Being the nosey (curious) type I want to know it all, I don’t want to miss anything. I can get lost for hours clicking links in your posts. Love your blog, love your pictures
While I am at it, is there anyway that you can set it up when new posts are added to a comment section? For example, Elizabeth might like to be informed when you give her your ideas on what went wrong with her pancakes.
I have an idea why her pancakes might (just might) be too thin. I live in South Florida and I have no air conditioning. It is very humid here. I find I have to use much less liquid in many recipes (bread in particular) because the flour absorbs humidity/liquid from the air. She also said her pancakes were greasy. It looked to me like she had to much grease in the pan. I thought that pancakes should be cooked with a barely greased pay or griddle? and maybe her pan was not hot enough.
Good thing that I don’t post very often..I am far too wordy
June123 — How did I decide? Easy. I’m incredibly cheap and my first rule of buying anything on earth (This is like Smitten Kitchen Business Axiom One, heh) is to buy the least expensive version first (you know, presuming people seem to like it, which they do) and if I use it so much that I use it out or am dying for something better, then upgrade. Because of this inherent cheapness, I’ve discovered that I have no idea what the $80 Furi offers, but I don’t need it, that a $20 mandoline has suited all of my thin-slicing needs for years and that inexpensive kitchen supply baking pans work as well as anything else. :)
There is an RSS feed for comments: http://smittenkitchen.com/comments/feed/ where one can watch new ones come in. There’s also an RSS feed for comments on each post… I’ll see about linking that into the template. Thanks for the suggestions.
Have made this type of corn pancake for years, lots of times for entertaining. Never sweet, always a savory version and here’s the best: serve with sour cream and tomatillo (green) salsa. To die for. Like another poster above, mine has scallions in the batter too. My sister was up in Olympia, WA this past weekend for a birthday celebration and she was making a double batch of the corn pancakes. She called to tell me that she never even got them on a platter, people kept coming into the kitchen and eating them basically right out of the pan – they are that good! Enjoy y’all!
We have taken to bringing our knives everywhere we go. Dull knives are terrible. And tongs. My husband gets cranky if we forget tongs. Kitchen snobs.
The pancakes look delicious, almost like a new cornbread variety for breakfast. I’m interested in the savory versions of the pancakes. I might have to give that a try with some peppers diced and in the batter.
Oh, and welcome home!
i had a corn cookie at momofuku yesterday (absolutely delicious!), so now i am intrigued by corn in things that i would have not thought of myself. thanks!
These sweet corn pancakes look amazing!
I would like mine with butter and syrup, by the gallon please. Love how recipes like these can be so simple but bring so much pleasure. I was just brain storming on how else to use my (ten tons of) corn and had got stuck on arepas but I think these pancakes might do the trick!
pfouah, brilliant. We just got back from our honeymoon at a rental house on lake Michigan. The house, the view, the lake, the location – perfect. The knives, the skillets, the cookware – abysmal. We ate out a lot.
So exciting! My husbands not a huge corn-on-the-cob fan, so I’m always looking for new ways to use it when it comes in our weekly farm box. Voila!
Are you devoting an entire chapter to corn in your cookbook because your corn recipes are to die for. The corn tomato pie? Incredible. These babies? They look so good.
I just got back from a 4-day backpacking trip in the Rockies. We took along your raspberry bars (made with mixed berries), a bunch of trail mixes using the pepita granola as a base, and the chocolate peanut butter crispie bars. All were a huge hit!
Or you could smear with some pico de gallo!
Hi there,
I made these for dinner tonight and they were delisious. However, I did have the same problem with the batter being too thin, and the first ones were greasy. I think June123 could be right that the batter may have been thin because of humidity. We also do not have airconditioning and here in IL it has been humid. The first greasy ones were deffintely because I had too much butter in the pan. It also did seem that the corn kernels and cornmeal sank to the bottom of the batter. Perhaps if I stirred it a little longer it would have stuck together. What do you think? How long should the batter be mixed for? I probably did it for 30 seconds, until it was all mixed, but then the corn sank. These were really tasty and I have some more corn I need to use up, so I deffinetly want to try these again. But, deffinetly would like for them to look more like the picture in the post. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
These look great and can’t wait to try them. Regarding the ills of the rental kitchen: we have a wonderful rental in Maine that we return to every year, that has a VERY old kitchen (Revere Ware pots, the dullest of knives, a tiny collander). But we love that house! So, every year we buy a “gift for the house”, which means that, as the years go by, there WILL be at least one nice knife, a good set of tongs, big enough cutting board, and so on. It’s a great excuse to visit the awesome kitchen store in Bath…
#108 and #164 about thin and greasy pancakes…maybe it’s the kind of flour you are using in your area of the country? Hard wheat from standard “northern” brands usually has higher protein content than soft wheat used in typical “southern” brands, and therefore will suck up a lot more water before it goes thin and runny. I’m guessing Deb uses something like Gold medal or Pilsbury, which is standard all-purpose and “middle of the road” in terms of protein content. But if she’s using King Arthur (easy to find in the northeast, not so much elsewhere in the country), you will have to dial back the liquid a lot. Shirley Corriher has a great explanation in her CookWise books on this phenomenon. Bisquick or other “pancake” flour is usually very soft, and therefore needs a LOT less liquid than AP might. Good luck!
Erika — I usually use King Arthur, but will pick up Gold Medal or whatever the bodega has in a pinch.
Good-ness gracious. These look delicious.
Away from home and the kitchen has only dull knives and no sharpener? Been there, done that!
You can always get a reasonable edge by sharpening one knife on the back of another. Just use the back edge of a knife as a sharpening steel. You wouldn’t do it to a top grade knife but if they are in very average condition, this will do. I’ve got a knife sharp enough to filet a fish in this way!
I very much enjoy your recipes.
I just made these — both with bueberries and without — and they are fantastic! I use King Arthur flour and had no problem with runniness. I used to find my pancakes were too thin until I changed my baking powder from one that contained aluminum to Rumford, which doesn’t. Everything rises much better now, especially pancakes.
Try these with the blueberries — you won’t regret it!
This looks so yummy! My mother always made cornbread with actual pieces of corn in the batter! Can’t wait to try this!
Wow. I am a huge fan of real, fluffy pancakes (served only with real maple syrup of course) and am obsessed with Jersey corn in the summer, cut right from the cob. This seems like the best of both worlds! Yum!
There’s a place by me that serves savory “corn arepas” for brunch. Instead of syrup you get onions, peppers, avocado, cilantro, creme fraische, and hot sauce. Yum.
I made these last night, they were delicious! I tried one with maple syrup, but I found the strong flavor overwhelmed the corn. A little drizzle of wildflower honey compliments the corn perfectly, and reminds me of my favorite corn bread, only crispier and sweeter. This recipe is a keeper! (I suppose I could use frozen corn niblets during the winter, but fresh from the field is always better)
Still befuddled by the two of you who had thinner, greasy pancakes (but love the helpful responses). An easy way to “fix” it is to just dial back the liquid in the recipe, of course that only helps time. You might also replace some of the buttermilk with a full-fat yogurt or sour cream which will give you a similar flavor profile but a slightly thicker batter.
Oddly enough, when I make pancakes, I find the last batch to be the thinnest as if the batter gets thinner as it sits in the bowl. The first ones for me are generally so thick that I pat them out a little.
#169 — I use aluminum-free all of the time too; I wonder if that plays a part in it.
It’s possible my flour was the issue? I was feeling cheap last week so I bought the store brand of flour. Is that really something I should be concerned about?
When I made my pancakes, I didn’t want to add more flour because I was concerned that the adding more flour would also mean adding more baking powder and I didn’t want to add the wrong amount. Also, the last time I made pancakes (from the adapted version of the Martha Stewart recipe) I added a LOT more flour to account for the runniness and while they did dense-up, they were basically soggy pads in the pan. And believe me, I’m using as little butter as possible!
Humidity shouldn’t be an issue because we’re pretty well air conditioned over here…
The only other thing I can think of that may have caused my problem is that I’m making my own buttermilk (you know, the milk+vinegar trick). Should I be buying fresh buttermilk?
I made a savory version of these last night for dinner and they were sumptuous! I used 2 ears of corn from my CSA box (so delicious sauteed in butter), dialed back the sugar to 1 teaspoon, and upped the salt to about 1/2 a teaspoon. Plus some freshly grated pepper. I appreciated that these weren’t oil-logged like some pancakes, and the buttermilk made them fluffy. Topped with salsa, sour cream, and a bit of leftover roasted onions and potatoes. I’m excited to have the leftovers for lunch today.
Well done! This blog entry i mean. Just reading through the description and the preparation for these so-called sweet corn pancakes made me crave for it.
I like having it for breakfast and even mid-day snack. delicious!
I’m not which to try first – sweet or savory. I love corn – can eat an entire pan of corn bread. #177 really like the sound of your creation – I think I’ll borrow it if that is OK. Until the local health food store started carrying it – I’d buy King Arthur online – not sure where but I could look it up.
Deb, I made buttermilk pancakes last night for dinner and found the same thing you mentioned in #175, that the last batch of batter (that sat the longest) was the thinnest by far.
Deb..I have used the aluminium free baking powder too and don’t love it in batter that has to sit. It has baking soda in it and it loses it’s umph in a batter that isn’t used all at once..and quickly! I’ve switched back to the double acting for pancakes. (I don’t use it often and, frankly, I don’t taste much of a difference like others seem to) Also..I give pancake batter a few quick folds before ladling it on the griddle, every time. It keeps the batter more evenly mixed and doesn’t seem to affect the slightly lumpy texture. it also helps to use a larger griddle to make more at once, so it doesn’t sit too long. Gotta get the most out of the gas from the baking soda!
This is my first time commenting, but I am a big fan of your blog. I am actually making these, the savory version, as I write this (serving tonight with pulled pork, slaw, and tomatillo salsa). I am, however, sadly having the same problem as #108 and #164, though thankfully minus the inedible-ness…they may look like thin, corny amoebas, but they are YUMMY and should suit my purpose beautifully. The only thing I did differently is use water + buttermilk powder (a recommendation from Cooks’ Illustrated I recently am trying out). Could that be my issue? Another thought: when you said any kind of cornmeal did you mean any brand or any grind (making a triple batch I used 1/2 cup med. grind and 1/4 cup fine grind)? Also, I agree with you on the thinner ones as you get towards the end…that always happens to me too. BTW: I made the scalloped tomatoes last week and they are insanely good. Thank you!
You can also use scissors to sharpen. Just open them to a V and slide the knife like you would on your furi. Behold a razor sharp knife!
When I was growing up in the ’40s and ’50s in Upstate NY, my mother sometimes made for weekend breakfasts what the family called Corn Griddle Cakes. They were really pancakes with corn, but with bacon and maple syrup they were a huge treat. They weren’t sweet, but the syrup flowed freely. Because fresh corn was limited to about one month in summer back then, she used either canned creamed corn or plain corn year round.
I grew up on corn pancakes and they’re by far my very favorite breakfast! My recipe doesn’t contain any cornmeal, but I just add lots & lots of corn kernals (particularly left-over corn off the cob) to my regular pancake recipe. I almost never make pancakes any other way. One occassional deviation will be blueberry pancakes with corn in them too! With real butter, real maple syrup & some crisp thick bacon…corn pancakes are sweet savory heaven!
So yummy! I have been making corn pancakes for years, when I saw a quick recipe in one of those dollar cooking magazines in the splurge section of the grocery. I will have to see if I can make some this weekend. At this point, I think the only thing I should be making is a mondo-nap.
I’ve had arepas on my mind this week. Not the authentic ones I’ve had the opportunity to try, but the oily, cheesy, sweet kind I used to get at the ballpark as a kid. Two corn pancakes with a thick slice of Monterey jack in the middle, fried so the jack drips out and crisps on the griddle. I think these will be a great start. I love the salsa idea. I think they would be great a little sweet with some chili. Or if you make a big batch with low sugar, you could pop them in the oven with some fresh tomatoes and herbs on top. Maybe even some parmesan cheese.
I just made these using frozen corn (I couldn’t find anything pretty whilst out looking today), and while I haven’t made them with fresh to get the full effect, the ones I’m eating right now taste pretty darn good! Thanks for the great recipe, and beautiful pictures (oh how I want to go to the beach now!).
To get even more savoury?
Add in some feta.
I’m just sayin’ …
I had buttermilk leftover from making your best birthday cake. These corn pancakes were the perfect way to use it up. Thank you for yet another fantastic pancake recipe.
Hi,
# 164 here. I did also use buttermilk powder and water, plus I do have the store bought flour, and aluminum baking powder. That could be it.
They were edible, just thin.
all set to make this, but only got as far as the corn. Ever read Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant? Kinda like that with farmer’s market corn.
I feel like these are crying out for some kind of succotash relish on top of a dollop of sour cream!
Just had these for dinner. Spread sour cream over the top, dumped some slightly drippy diced tomatoes on top of it, and then capped it off with the black bean confetti salad. NOM. Will definitely eat this again – and I definitely recommend using the black bean recipe with it!
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/04/tabula-beana/
mmmmmmmmmm.
I haven’t had breakfast yet, and now all I want are those pancakes!
I will definitely try this :)
Awesome! I can’t wait to make these. By the way, I went for a check-up today and met my new doctor. I was telling him about my food blog and he said, “oh yeah? My wife really likes one called SmittenKitchen.com. So there you go, you have fans in Santa Monica, CA!
Deb! I just got the September issue of “Allure” in the mail and was pleasantly surprised to see your blurb about throwing a last minute dinner party. Congrats!
I made these for lunch today and really enjoyed them. The batter was thinner than my normal breakfast pancake batter, but they were so light and fluffy that I forgave it. I added a little extra sugar, but decided against it for next time. I also used canned corn because I needed to get rid of that corn already. I’m looking forward to trying it with fresh corn.
Next time I think I might serve it savory with black beans and salsa for dinner. I’m of the opinion that every mother needs a slew of pancake recipes to whip up for any meal in a pinch and this is going on my list. Thanks!
E V E R Y T H I N G on your blog looks delicious and amazing.
Because I’m such a greedy pig, my savoury options might include, in addition to the salsa and sour cream, bacon or smoked salmon, smushed avocado and lemon juice, and maybe, if I’m feeling really indulgent, a poached egg, too! The pancakes sound great :-)
wow! those look super good! thanks!
I doubled this recipe for my family of 5 tonight, and I cut the buttermilk to just 1 cup (2 cups when doubled). The batter was nice and thick, and the pancakes were perfect. I did them on my griddle with just a single squirt of cooking spray. I served them with both sweet and savoury toppings (omitted the sugar completely from the batter), and everyone was happy.
HOLY CORN CAKES!!! These are soooooo scrumptious, deeelish, and that fresh sauteed corn makes adds the perfect yummy crunch! Can you tell that I love these! The farm stands’ organic corn is simply the best right now. And one of my latest finds in my attempts to keep as much in my own kitchen local and organic: “Wild Hive Farm” located in Dutchess County, NY actually grows and mills their own grains (yes, corn and wheat included) and make it available for pick up to anyone who’s interested at the 14th street Green Market with a just a phone call).
Smitten and farmer’s markets have made every meal a hit! Thank-you!!!!
I love these – a regular family treat!
I always carry a frequently sharpened Swiss Army Knife that has gotten me through some “way too dull” kitchen knife fiascos. Tomato skins fall away at the site of it and it’s small enough to fit in my purse. I just can’t fly with it.
Deb,
I cheated when I made these pancakes, I used a corn muffin mix to create the main part of the batter, I was tired from work and they were for supper that night!! My husband loved them and the texture was great! We finished the batter this morning(leftover from Thursday night), they were excellent this morning! Thanks!
YUM! I fake these regularly with frozen corn and jiffy corn bread mix… the pancake directions are on the box. They are delicious though I expect your recipe would be even better! thanks for sharing
@ Elizabeth, #176 — I know this is probably sacrilege, but I always use store-brand flour, ’cause it’s cheap and really, to me, flour is flour (within the same type, of course — one AP is as good at the next, but AP is not bread, self-rising, etc.). I made these with store-brand flour and didn’t have a problem.
I read the recipe and was thought it would be great with the Hot Spanish Chicken I was making for my grandsons. So I cut the sugar, omitted the vanilla and added a finely chopped jalapeno pepper to the corn before I sauted it. The boys LOVED them! I will try them the original way, but my grandsons seem to prefer them spicy. Thanks for the recipe.
This was our breakfast this morning. It was also our 8 month olds first meal with the family, as in, eating the same meal and not a bowl of purees. I did puree the corn after it came out of the pan to make it less of a choking hazard. It was an honor to have SK be his first ‘meal.’
We made ’em for breakfast this morning, and I have a few ideas as to why some readers are experiencing runny pancakes: the type of grind of the cornmeal, the point at which the cornmeal is added to the liquid ingredients (I read the directions wrong and added it with the sour milk), the amount of corn (I doubled it just for kicks, preferring an increased ratio of corn to batter), and the degree to which the corn is sauteed (got mine too dark, as I’d gotten the pan too hot). I think all these elements (and possibly more) may make a difference in the finished product. That said, we enjoyed them, especially those on which I’d tossed a handful of blueberries. We’ll make them again for sure. Thanks, Deb!
I am enjoying these for breakfast right now and they’re delicious, just delicious. I think I ate half of the pancakes myself! The only thing I’ll do differently next time is separate the eggs, whip the whites and fold them in at the end to make them even more fluffy…
Yum! Made these for brunch this morning and they were perfect! Covered them in raspberries and syrup — delicious!
We made these pancakes this morning and loved them! We topped them with sour cream and fresh fruit, but our favorite topping was sliced avocado and salsa. Mmmmm!
I could use these dish as part of Latina/o cooking. I prefer these cakes topped with avocado,lettuce, and tomatoes . This was the first time I prepared and ate with butter and a healthy dose of maple. tasty.
Tried these this weekend and they were excellent. Tried a few different toppings: Maple syrup…so, so. Threw a few freshly picked grape tomatoes into the pan after cooking the pancakes…a touch of olive oil and S&P, which was really good as a topping. Like the idea of the goat cheese on top. Maybe even chive/carmelized onion-infused greek yogurt or sour cream. Thinking of throwing green chilies into the batter next time. Thanks for a great recipe!!
My mom used to make corn pancakes on Sunday mornings. I haven’t thought about those in a long time, and if I had, I would have thought they were her invention. Though she used canned corn (and maybe Jiffy pancake mix?), I loved your scratch version with fresh ears! We ate them with syrup for dinner – excellent.
Hey these sound great and I have the corn ready to go. Who knew.
Husband made these last night – delicious! Omitted the sugar and vanilla for a savory pancake. Ate with salsa and sour cream. Yummy. Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
I am obsessed with your blog! I love every recipe you post and just discovered this one which I can’t wait to make for my husband. Thanks for the wonderful work you do!
So I’m not one to make changes, but here’s a suggestion if you want to make it savory. I was worried they wouldn’t turn out, but it was well worth the risk:
1/2 c freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 c thinly sliced scallions
omitted sugar and vanilla
increased salt by 1 tsp
Such a delicious side item or main course! We topped them with sour cream and some red pepper relish that cooked while the batter was being made. (http://savorysweetlife.com/2009/06/savory-sweet-red-bell-pepper-relish-recipe/)
We had these savory for dinner last night (with chicken, black beans, tomatoes, olives and cilantro lime dressing on top) and our little person had them sweet with syrup. My batter was also quite thin, which others have noted, so I just added some additional flour till it was the consistency I wanted. Yum!
I made these savory too! Added one diced jalapeno pepper to the corn while in the saute pan and also chopped scallion and grated fresh parmesan cheese in the batter. Served with a dollop of sour cream and diced grape tomatoes and avocado on top–YUM!
Made these over the weekend and while I loved them, they initially were very thin as a couple of others had trouble with. I added some extra flour to tighten them up, but still were not the same lovely thickness that your photos were! However, I’m pretty sure my problem was twofold, perhaps others made the same mistakes
(1) I “made” buttermilk with lemon and milk – still don’t think it was as thick as using proper buttermilk (I was too lazy to head to the store)
(2) I own a food scale, however for unknown reasons, I neglected to weigh the flour. I think that probably was more of the problem than the “buttermilk”. Just a thought!
I will definitely give these another go – potentially as a savory pancake with some added scallion and a poached egg on top… mmmmmmmmm
My roommate and I just made these, the savory kind, and served them with chili – delicious! It was a perfect combination. This is a really a wonderful recipe idea. The pancakes were fluffy and full of corn-sweetness. It was a wonderful complement for our dinner!
How does your little guy like pancakes? At 11 months he’s not yet at that “I won’t eat anything but cookies” stage that my toddler is in. But I make pancakes twice a week and he will gobble those down. I tried these and he loved them. To make them a bit more toddler friendly (i.e. cram as much fat and nutrient into them as possible) I add some greek style yoghurt and an extra egg. Another great toddler recipe is the carrot bread pancakes I found somewhere (and can’t find right now for some reason). Yummy AND vegetable-y!
Sarah — Actually, this was his first pancake! We were out to brunch several weeks ago and I was looking for something to order for him. The place actually sold a single corn pancake as a side! Of course, I had plenty of it too and I really liked it but I wanted to play with it at home which led me to this. This version has the cornmeal, more corn and is a little less dense.
I made the savoury variation of this recipe last night, and they were very yummy. I did find the batter a bit thin, and the two pancakes sort of fell apart when I flipped them, but the rest were fine. So delicious served with salsa!
New to the blog, LOVE it!
My mom used to make her regular cornbread batter but then fry it up on the cast iron griddle like pancakes and serve it as an accompaniment to chile. I do the same thing but add corn to the batter, which is even better. Being Southerners we eschew sugar in our cornbread, but if you’re going to serve it with some maple syrup, then well why not!
Deb-
Made the savory version for lunch. Oh my goodness!! And the idea of having these with sour cream and salsa…to die for!
Next we will be having these will Chili…YUM!
thanks for another wonderful recipe.
these look great! so unique. i love trying new pancake recipes.
I found the baking soda/powder mixture to be too much–I could literally taste the “soda/powder” more than anything else. I would cut the amount of baking powder in 1/2 next time for sure.
Wonderful photos!!
Sweet… jesus. These are the best pancakes to ever enter my face. I’m currently in the middle of writing a sonnet about their grace and perfection. I feel like…
I dont know.
They say that man was created in god’s image… did he actually mean to create these?
I tripled the recipe and made them on our family vacation in Maine! I added wile Maine blueberries to them while cooking–the consensus preferred them with the blueberries.
Great recipe. The solution to awful knives at rental units or your friends’ summer shares (their rental units) is to assume that all rental places have nothing but awful knives, and to bring your own. Plus a shoebox full of your favorite herbs, spices, baking chemicals — soda, powder/cream of tartar, whatever you use — salts, grinders, small sharpening stone, paring knife and sharp peeling instrument, which you dedicate to the cause of home-away-from-home. The only time not to bring your own knives is when you’re flying and not checking a single piece of luggage. Looking forward to testing the corn cakes soon. ;o)
These were so tasty! I went the savory route, although I left the sugar in for a bit of sweetness and just added a bit more salt along with some scallions and sweet red peppers. I think a little bit of sharp cheddar would have made them even better, so I’ll have to try that next time!
I’m just thinking if it works in a waffle maker …
My four year-old is scarfing them up as I write. Yum!
About thin pancakes…
I am almost certain it is the buttermilk. I have made these twice – first time I made my own buttermilk with lemon juice, and they were very thin, even when I added flour. Maybe I didn’t wait long enough for the ‘buttermilk’ or maybe it just doesn’t thicken up the same? But the second time I bought buttermilk and it was obviously much thicker and resulted in perfect pancakes. Needless to say, next time I am making pancakes I will use real buttermilk!
My mouth is seriously watering; your blog is amazing and this recipe is unreal! I have shared this with my family and we created these pancakes this morning…they were perfect and I thank you for a truly delicious recipe! Happy Labor Day!
I had the same experience as some others (runny batter and greasy pancakes) and also used the milk + vinegar = buttermilk trick. I’ve never had issues with using that substitute, but it seems to be the commonality amongst those of us with this pancake problem! Will try real buttermilk next time and will report back.
Thanks for the inspiration! I recieved a few ears of corn in my CSA share this week, and I adapted the idea for these pancakes to fit my latest favorite buttermilk pancake recipe, the one from Chez Panisse Fruit, and they just turned out fantastic. There seems to be a number of comments regarding the baking powder component, so I’d just like to note that the one from CPF doesn’t call for that ingredient. I suggest trying it out. They are quick, easy, and more-or-less flawless. I use it as a base pancake, and make tremendous ingredient adjustments each time, and they have yet to fail me.
AMAZING!
Just made these with some fresh Maine Maple Syrup and they were a huge hit. Perfect consistency, incredibly moist pancakes. Thank you for sharing!
I love this recipe. It is one of my favourite dinners in summer, or lunch on the weekend, or to take to the park for a picnic. I also do it with tinned corn to make it easy on myself
I adapted your recipe to be gluten-free and vegan to accommodate multiple food allergies – and despite my changes, these turned out fantastic and I think were true to the spirit of your original creation. I had an issue with overly-runny batter, too, but thought it was due to my changes. I added more cornmeal and almond meal until it looked the right consistency.
I made this on Sunday for my husband and myself. Very delicious! Used fresh corn my Mom had brought for us from Indiana. Made enough for 2 people. I might go the savory route next time, but was great with butter and syrup right off the griddle.
Deb, I ate these with a very generous slather of your rich homemade ricotta and a drizzle of real maple syrup and was pretty much lost in my breakfast-for-dinner. Thank you.
I have been wanting to make these at home for years (we live by a place that makes AMAZING corn pancakes). Being 9 months pregnant and chasing after a 15 month old made the thought of going out for breakfast sound like torture-so I used the last lonely piece of corn lingering in the fridge. My little girl ate these up…well..like hotcakes! TIP-the best way to eat corn pancakes is with butter, syrup, and cotija cheese. Sweet and salty and amazing.
I made these this morning with local corn. They were delicious. I used whole wheat flour instead of all purpose, and they were amazing. I also made local peaches with cinnamon and brown sugar cooked and ued on top. AMAZING!
Really good, frying the corn kernels first is the best idea….. we also sautéed some green apple with GOOD ham and then poured maple syrup over the whole lot ..Yumbo Thanks
Have just been reading some of the other comments and realised how easy it is to misunderstand other peoples ideas, so just to be clear( because it was sooooo yummy) we cooked the green apple and ham separately until just tender and then served it with the pancakes covered in maple syrup as I mentioned Yumbo
I made these Saturday on the savory side (no sugar or vanilla)
I really loved the fresh corn-ness to them. Served with salmon and a maple mustard sauce, continuing the Brinner theme. These are now on my go to list.
Hi Deb! Made my tweaked version of these recently and they were so yummy! Planning on making them again, since I bought fresh corn this weekend!
If you don’t mind, please could you check out my blog? I’m 15 and started a food blog about a week ago! Would mean a lot! Thank you! :)
Came across this recipe while trying to find ideas to use up some corn. This was perfect. I decided to make sweet ones for breakfast and a batch of savory for dinner. I split my corn in to 2 pans and in one I added garlic, green onion and jalapeno. I made up a double batchof batter, skipping the vanilla for now. I used about half the sugar and whipped this up in the kitchenaid. I split my batter in to another bowl, adding a squirt of honey to the savory as I have come to terms with my sweet corn bread addiction, and a few pinchs more sugar to the sweet with some vanilla. Dont judge. i know I have a problem and thats the first step lol. I folded in the plain corn to the sweet batter and cooked them up. Delish! I added the corn and veggies plus a quarter cup of sharp cheddar and a bit if cilantro to the savory and cooked them up as well. They were fanastic with barbacoa and gave me leftovers to freeze. Definate keeper!
Wow! These pancakes are all that and a bag of chips (did anyone else say that in high school…15 years ago…)
But seriously, I made them for the first time tonight and declared them the best pancakes I’ve ever had. I made them exactly as you said but in the absence of fresh corn used frozen. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
Thank you, thank you :)
I just cooked these up after a LONG weekend at work-added some extra salt and a little chopped red onion and jalapeño. A dollop of plain greek yogurt and some blackened shrimp…..definitely the highlight of my day. Thank you!!
I made these today for lunch and served them with a green salad with feta cheese and a Maple vinaigrette. I made them exactly as written and they turned out great! Yum! Thanks!!
I am dying to make these, but my husband has celiac disease. I could not possibly eat these in front of him, so do you think I could substitute a rice flour blend for the wheat flour in this recipe?
I used Bob’s Red Mill all purpose gluten free flour, and they were good! My husband even ate one without maple syrup, a travesty!
My mom always brought knives and a cheese slicer on vacation with us. We would often eat lunch out of the cooler in the back of the van at a rest stop or in a National Park. I carry knives with me whenever I travel now too because you never know when you might need to cut something like the cheese you couldn’t resist or the giant peach to split with a friend. A few strategically-wrapped paper towels and a rubber band do the trick every time!
Just made these. They were wonderful. I had a couple of small substitutions: I subbed leftover corn on the cob from last night that I had grilled, just rewarmed in the butter. Worked perfectly. I only had polenta grits instead of cornmeal, but that worked nicely too. I had some leftover blueberry syrup that was quite nice on them as well, though my favorite was the pure maple syrup. Thank you for the inspiration.
I love your recipes! My only complaint is that I have such a hard time printing them. Is there any easy way? I thought you mentioned there being an easy way to print recipes when you updated your website recently. Would love to know!
Made this tonight for dinner, and it was absolutely delicious. Only swap was I used semolina (sooji) instead of the cornmeal, which I don’t stock – turned out great. I’ve always stuck to eating sweet summer corn straight off the cob, but this was worth the effort. MY two-year-old gobbled up two pancakes too, one with blueberries and the other without. Great recipe! May try it next with some whole wheat flour to replace all purpose.
I must say I found these to be very underwhelming… the batter didn’t even smell yummy in the bowl, let alone when these were cooking…usually when pancakes are cooking, the whole house is filled with a welcoming scent that tells all in the house “breakfast is almost ready!” Instead of making these, I would take your favorite recipe and make it and after you pour the batter in the pan, just add the corn to the wet batter side of the pancake… even with butter and real maple syrup these were nothing to write home about…
Delicious! I’m overrun with NJ corn (not a complaint) so this was a perfect way to use some of it. I like that the pancakes draw the sweetness from the corn. Light and yummy. Thank you!
I just tried your savory cheesecake of a few weeks ago, where it was fine I wondered if it would be enhanced with some kind of crust?
Oh wow, totally inspired to make them on Sunday. Thank you for the idea!
wow emaizing enakqq
I grew up on cornmeal cottage cheese pancakes, so these are right up my alley. Savory pancakes plus maple syrup and butter is magical. Thanks for sharing!
This is our second time making these…everyone in the family loves them. They taste like a cross between buttermilk pancakes and corn bread…yum! We made no changes to the recipe…turned out perfectly.
Oh, this idea sounds so good! thanks for so many options.
Thanks for posting another amazing recipe.
I was in search of a new favorite pancake recipe and gave these a try! Loved ’em! The sweet corn gave them such an edge over corn meal pancakes that I’ve tried in the past.
Ooh! I love corn pancakes. I’ll be trying these very soon.
Corn is now in season here and I couldn’t resist making these after seeing the picture you posted. So good! I made a kinda Mexican spread and had pancakes instead of tortillas. I cooked the corn on the cob over the flame on my stove instead of in a pan with butter then cut it off using a bundt pan as a corn holder/catcher. Thanks for the recipe and the savory inspiration.
I have never seen a recipe for pancakes with corn in them until yours today. My Mother used to put fresh corn kernels in her pancakes and I never thought anything of it….until she served them to my fiancé and he had an awful time eating one, and has not forgotten about it 50 years later…..Anyway – I believe Mom is vindicated…since every recipe I have tried from Smittenkitchen has been wonderful. I plan to make these! I wish Mom was alive to share this with her! Thank you!
Are these something I could make ahead? I want to take them camping….
Yes, they should reheat well.
If anyone’s interested, I made these with Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour and they came out pretty good. This flour is a weird combination of garbanzo beans flour, fava bean flour, sorghum flour, tapioca flour, and potato starch. I can’t eat rice as well as wheat. The weakest part was the corn. I think I would chop them up in my baby Cuisinart first. So if you’re gluten free, it worked! Thank you, Deb! And may your new year be a sweet and healthy one!
OH MY!!! like everything else in your recipes, this was AWESOME!!! made them with froze corn, no sugar (because i love maple syrup!) and they were DELICIOUS!!! thank you Deb!
JUST A DEVIATED THOUGHT:
I’ve been making sweet corn pancakes since when and incorporated some touches you might like, …at least find interesting.
1. Substitute buttermilk, or at least milk curdled with some lemon juice (this makes the pancake heavier and easier to make larger individual pancakes)
2. Use butter to fry the cakes
3. Pour out enough batter to make a couple of very large pancakes that nearly fill the griddle face. After the 1st side is done flip it over and cut a circle out of the center (large enough for an egg yolk (be mindful that the cutout does not have any jaggies which could break the yolk), and add an egg to each of the pancakes, as you would for eggs in a nest using toast. When the egg white is nearly done, and the yolk is nearly done to your liking, flip the pancake to further heat the yolk and assure the white is cooked.
4. Stack the two pancakes on a plate and add pure maple syrup.
5. Optional decadence for some, requisite for me, you also might add a few strips of your favorite bacon between the pancakes.
Hearty ‘n “healthy”, maybe not Kosher, but really Yummy!
I wanted to go even more savory with these, so I left out the vanilla and added some shredded cheese. Served them with sour cream and red chile sauce. Delicious! And not so much work that I didn’t want to make them at the end of a long day.
These are the greatest pancakes! We have a Cuban restaurant I used to visit to have corn pancakes, but now I make these instead! I let the batter sit after blending about 10 minutes to let the leavening agents work. These are always fluffy and satisfying! I post the recipe on my FB page about once a year, just to encourage people to try them. Absolutely the BEST!
We made a triple batch (leftovers!), and topped them with black beans, salsa, sautéed yellow squash, and sole of that delicious, Trader Joe’s soy-rizo. I’ve made corn cakes many times before, but my first time using this recipe. I reduce the sugar a little for the savory application, and used some whole wheat, flour in place of the AP. We enjoyed it!
Made these late yesterday morning, and since hubby had already eaten, I get to have more today! Only change I made was to use whole wheat pastry flour, and it was terrific. Thank you again, Deb, for a wonderful recipe!
There’s a Columbian restaurant near me (in Minneapolis, MN) that serves its corn pancakes with butter and cotija cheese (a dry, crumbly cheese); they are a delight!