This johnny cakes recipe, aka hoe cakes, makes fluffy, flavorful cornmeal pancakes that are perfect for breakfast or for topping with savory ingredients. So delicious! Johnny Cakes are basically pancakes made with cornmeal, giving them a distinctive corn flavor. They go by different names depending on where you find them, such as hoe cakes, journey cakes, Shawnee cakes, johnny bread, cornmeal flatbread and others.