The simplest are hoecakes, a mixture of cornmeal, water, and salt, so named because they were originally baked on the flat of a hoe over a wood fire. Johnnycakes and corn pone are somewhat thicker cakes that may have added ingredients such as fat or wheat flour.

Where did the term Hoecake originate?

According to a popular story, hoecakes got their name from the slave practice of cooking them on field hoes. ... Hoecakes didn't come about because someone thought a bread made of cornmeal, fat, and water, sounded like a riot in the pan (although if you're doing it right, it is).

Where did cornbread originally come from?

Cornbread is a quick bread made with cornmeal, associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, with origins in Native American cuisine. Dumplings and pancakes made with finely ground cornmeal were staple foods of the Hopi people in Arizona.