Who knew a box of corn muffins could do something as awesome as this?

Of course, you’ve passed by the corn muffin boxes in the baking aisle. Or you’ve seen them in your food bank boxes time after time. You can’t eat corn muffins all the time, as they tend to get old fast and require waiting in the oven for them to finish cooking.

But what if there was a different way to make a full meal from a cheap box of corn muffins? Breakfast has been served for just a few dollars!

The dish is a popular southern dish called hoecakes!

Hoecakes are basically corn muffin pancakes and, yes, you can eat them whenever you want. Breakfast for dinner, anyone? Anyone?

Hoecakes are basically cornmeal cakes, but they are cooked generally the same way that you would cook a pancake. The only difference is that traditionally it was cooked over a hot iron hoe rather than a hot griddle.

These days, you just cook them over a traditional skillet or griddle, whether that be a regular nonstick or cast iron.

Pro tip, cast iron skillets are awesome for cornmeal recipes in general, but don’t go out to the store just for this one recipe to get one. A regular nonstick skillet is just fine!

All you need for this dish is

• One box of corn muffins (e.g., Jiffy)

• One large egg

• 1/3 cup milk or buttermilk (extra if needed)

• Leftover bacon grease or oil for the skillet

Steps:

•Cook bacon, sausage, or SPAM in the same skillet that you plan on cooking the hoecakes in. Cook until all the fat is rendered. If there is too much grease in the skillet, you can blot some of that with a paper towel. Make sure that there are at least two tablespoons of fat reserved.

•Combine the corn muffins, milk, and egg into a mixing bowl and stir until they are well combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more milk until it is to your desired consistency.

•Pour around 1/4 cup of batter at a time on the skillet and cook until the edges are golden brown and flip them for another 2-3 minutes.

•Serve your hoecakes with the meat on the side and definitely don’t forget the butter and the syrup! Divide among four plates. Enjoy!

Optional extras for your sides!

• If you want bacon as a side dish you definitely should cook it before you make your cakes. That way, the leftover bacon grease will help to crisp up your cakes.

• Definitely add some sausage as a side dish if you have it on hand. Sausage pairs beautifully with these cakes.

• Got SPAM or luncheon meat in general? Crisp these up if you don’t have bacon. SPAM grease is just as good!

• Collard greens cooked down until they are wilted pair perfectly with this dish! Add some vinegar for an acidic bite.

And there you have it! You have a budget-friendly breakfast, or if you want, breakfast for dinner!

A Clever Magic Pancake Hack That Is Sure to Satisfy Everyone

Recipe by Thrifty Southern Plates

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Uncategorized

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

• One box of corn muffins (e.g., Jiffy)

• 2 large eggs

• 3/4 cup milk of buttermilk (add more if desired for thinner consistency)

• Leftover bacon grease (or sausage, SPAM)

Directions

• Put bacon, sausage, or SPAM in the same skillet that you plan on cooking the hoecakes in. Cook until all the fat is rendered. If there is too much grease in the skillet, you can blot some of that with a paper towel. Make sure that there are at least two tablespoons of fat reserved
• Combine the corn muffins, milk, and egg into a mixing bowl and stir until they are well combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more milk until it is to your desired consistency
• Pour around 1/4 cup of batter at a time on the skillet and cook until the edges are golden brown.
• Flip the hoecakes and continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Notes

• • If you want bacon as a side dish you definitely should cook it before you make your cakes. That way, the leftover bacon grease will help to crisp up your cakes.
  • Definitely add some sausage as a side dish if you have it on hand. Sausage pairs beautifully with these cakes.
  • Got SPAM or luncheon meat in general? Crisp these up if you don’t have bacon. SPAM grease is just as good!
  • Collard greens cooked down until they are wilted pair perfectly with this dish! Add some vinegar for an acidic bite.