These cornmeal pancakes are ultra fluffy and golden! Fry up a stack and drizzle with maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast.

There are so many types of pancakes, from buttermilk to blueberry to cottage cheese. Here’s one that rises to the top of our list: Cornmeal Pancakes! These tasty flapjacks are crisp and golden on the outside, with a fluffy interior that tastes just like cornbread. Top them with a drizzle of maple syrup and a pat of butter and they’re perfect for a morning breakfast or special brunch! Our son Larson especially gobbled these down (though he has yet to meet a pancake he doesn’t like!).

Ingredients in cornmeal pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes are a fun cozy breakfast, and come out beautifully fluffy and golden. The magic ingredient? Buttermilk, which makes that airy texture and adds a hint of tang to the flavor. You’ll want to use the real stuff here (no substitutes!). Otherwise, you might have all the other items on hand in your pantry and fridge. Here are the ingredients for cornmeal pancakes:

Fine ground cornmeal
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Granulated sugar
Kosher salt
Egg
Salted butter
Buttermilk

Use real buttermilk for the best results

Buttermilk is absolutely crucial to making a light and fluffy muffin with a beautiful crumb. Many people, ourselves included, are often tempted to use even a buttermilk substitute: the most popular is milk and lemon juice (or another acidic ingredient like apple cider vinegar).

But for the best flavor and rise, it’s got to be the real thing! The substitute can work in a pinch, but there’s something about the flavor and texture that’s luxuriously rich when you use actual buttermilk.

Tips for cooking cornmeal pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes come together in the same way as any other pancake. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, then cook on a skillet until golden brown! However, there are a few nuances to the process that are helpful:

Use a large griddle: a non-stick surface is helpful. Some griddles have uneven heating, so use a quality griddle or skillet. A non-stick surface is a plus, though you’ll still want to cook the pancakes in butter to get them golden brown.
Experiment to find the right heat level. Medium low heat is ideal, but it’s different on every stovetop. It should take a few minutes to get the pan up to heat. If the heat is too low, the pancakes won’t puff as much when cooking.
Don’t worry if the first pancake isn’t perfect! Use it as a test for honing in your pancake skills and adjust the heat accordingly.
The batter sometimes becomes very thick while waiting for the second batch. If so, add a teaspoon or two of buttermilk until the batter is pourable.

Mix-ins, toppings, and variations

Want to mix up these cornmeal pancakes? It’s fun to add mix-ins to add a burst of flavor. You can also add fun toppings to step them up. Here are a few ideas:

Blueberries: Pour the batter into circles on the griddle, then place a handful of blueberries into the top of each pancake (this works better than mixing them into the batter).
Strawberries or raspberries: Add a handful of sliced strawberries or raspberries to each pancake while it cooks.
Pecans: Add a hint of nutty flavor with a handful of finely chopped pecans in each pancake.
Fruit syrup or compote: Top the pancakes with blueberry syrup or strawberry compote for a fruity contrast.
Nut butter: Try them slathered with almond butter for hearty breakfast.

Cornmeal pancake leftovers and storage info

Cornmeal pancakes are easy to store: they’re actually great as leftovers. Store them refrigerated for tasty snacks with nut butter and a little maple syrup. Cornmeal pancakes store in a sealed container for up to 5 days refrigerated and 3 months frozen. It’s a nice way to extend the life of a batch.

What to do with leftover buttermilk

Most buttermilk recipes don’t use the entire container. What to do with the remainder if you buy it for these cornmeal pancakes?

Go for Buttermilk Pancakes instead
Try these Buttermilk Biscuits, flaky, savory and tender
Make fluffy Coffee Cake Muffins
Bake up Rhubarb Bread or Rhubarb Muffins with Streusel

More recipes with cornmeal

Got cornmeal? Here are a few more ways to use it:

Try Easy Corn Fritters
Use it for coating fish, like Fried Tilapia
Make it into Mexican Cornbread, Easy Skillet Cornbread or Easy Vegan Cornbread
Try Classic Cornbread Muffins
Go for classic Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Easy Corn Fritters

Mexican Cornbread

Classic Cornbread Muffins

Easy Skillet Cornbread

This cornmeal pancakes recipe is…

Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use 1-for-1 gluten-free flour. For vegan, use a flax egg in place of the egg.