Johnny Cakes – widely popular Caribbean quick bread made with flour, coconut milk, baking powder, salt and sugar. Great accompaniment for breakfast, lunch and even dinner.
Everywhere you go in Belize, someone is selling Jonny cakes. Next to the souvenir stores there are Jonny cakes. At restaurants you can’t miss it, there is no escape from these simple unsweetened biscuits.
Jonny cakes are my much loved Caribbean quick bread and you know what I like about them? They are made with coconut milk and they come together in a snap- in no time you are shoving them down your throat unable to stop at one. Now you know how I eat them.
The fun part about making them at home is you have the liberty to add sugar to the mixture. I added 2-tablespoons of sugar to give it a faint sweet taste. That is just my preference. How about I give you some homework, try them both with or without sugar and see which one you like best. 
Do you know Johnny cakes were originally called journey cakes due to the fact that they were especially suitable for road trips: staying fresh for weeks. I bet you didn’t know that, eh? Don’t worry there is a possibility that you can make up this quiz…..I just have to think about it. Most Caribbean countries share a love for this anytime biscuits. Even in America, Jonny cakes are fairly common in the south made with cornmeal, milk and butter. A break fast treat – Check it out here
These ones are made with flour, coconut milk, baking powder , salt and sugar. They are often serve as an accompaniment to breakfast, lunch or dinner – very versatile and they are always an enjoyable experience, especially when warm. Now go grab some coconut milk and heat up the oven . You will be glad you did .
Johnny Cakes
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Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 tablespoon shortening or unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; add shortening or butter, and, using your fingers, rub into flour mixture to form pea-size crumbles.
- Gently stir in coconut milk into dry ingredients until all is moistened and holds together (like a ball).
- Place on a floured board and knead for about a minute. Divide dough into about 12 pieces and roughly shape into ball.
- Flatten each ball to ½ inch thick, place on cookie sheet and lightly poke the top of each ball with a fork. Brush with coconut milk.
- Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned
- Remove and serve warm.
Nutrition Information:
MW says
Have this made using King Arthur Gluten Free Measure to Measure Flour or any Gluten Free Flour?
Immaculate Bites says
Hi MW! I haven’t tried substituting the flour but you want to, just substitute 1:1. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Merlene Antonio says
I tried it and it smelled delicious while baking and the taste is remarkable…
Immaculate Bites says
Thank you, Marlene! You can try more of my Decadent Coffee and Desserts To Make Your Day. Enjoy!
Marta says
Love this recipe and it was quite easy and yummy
Immaculate Bites says
Thank you, Marta! 🙂
Ruth A. G. Douglass says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, my family love it, I love it.
The best part is the smile it puts on the face of those you share it with.
ImmaculateBites says
That is what makes me smiles . When everyone is happy. Thanks so much! It means a lot to me .
Enjoy
B says
Mine came out with some sort of bitter aftertaste… How is that even possible?? Where did i go wrong… I even misread the sugar and added two spoons too many… Can that be it?
ImmaculateBites says
I am so sorry to hear this happened. I can’t really tell what could have gone wrong. Just check your ingredients again and have another go. Let me know how it works out.
Moses A says
Very possible too much baking powder
Priss says
That sometimes happen when the baking powder is to old. Less so with the aluminum free baking powder.
Paula says
Do you use canned coconut milk or the kind in a carton like regular milk??
imma africanbites says
Hi. I use canned coconut milk.
. says
I haven’t made it yet, but this sounds delicious! One of my family members is allergic to coconut, so do you think I could possibly substitute the coconut milk for something else?
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you can.Just use regular milk.
Paulette says
Awesome recipe.. tasty!
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks!
Reir says
We made these today and these are quite good. I have never really had Johnny cakes so don’t have a comparison. These were awesome with honey. Thanks for a great recipe!
ImmaculateBites says
My pleasure! Thanks for the feedback ! Glad to hear it worked out well for you.
C P says
My husband was def a fan of these. Thanks. Simple and good.
Urban at Urbanskitchen says
I was itching for some Johnny Cakes the other night. I’ve had countless Johnny Cakes the only way I know the fried way. But knew you had a baked version recipe so used your recipe. I know across the Caribbean there are countless individual recipes for making Johnny Cakes and some people guard their Johnny Cakes recipes tighter than Fort Knox. I had heard in some regional areas that they Bake their Johnny Cakes. Given Caribbean life back in the slave plantation days of 15-18 century I can imagine Johnny Cakes were likely also baked as well. I’ve heard that if you do let the dough sit for about 30 mins or so you do get a better rise and better Johnny Cakes, though I think it’s often common for many to just Fry/Bake the dough right away. I’ve never had any Johnny Cakes where some amount of sugar wasn’t in it. It would certainly taste very different without it. From what I know the butter is often usually added. In the old days used to be margarine. Butter gives it a much more soft creamy flavor of sort, the more the tastier. So many variation of recipe exist with a few Tbsp of Butter.
But anyway I made a batch. These taste really good! And I really like them. But my second thought was…. these don’t taste like the Johnny Cakes I know that’s ingrained in my taste buds. These taste very different to the often fried version. These do taste good and enjoyed them. I remembered reading an article by Cynthia Nelson a well known Caribbean Cook Book author and foodie that also made the claim of the other Caribbean regional ways that Johnny Cakes are made vs what many know as the usual and how the taste can be very different as well.
These were very good! Though different taste baked. Given the first time i’ve had these baked vs the usual way fried. I’ll certainly make them again, as i certainly enjoy the option of taste one way or the other. Though I do probably prefer them the fried way that I remember.
ImmaculateBites says
You’re amazing Urban! I loved hearing your story behind each recipe . Thanks for shedding some insights on this Beloved Caribbean treat .
Melissa says
Being a daughter of a Belizean mother and Guatemalan father, my mother frequently made Johnny cake and fried Jack for breakfast. I’ve made fried Jack plenty of times I’ve just not made Johnny cake. I’m trying your recipe for the first time. I look forward to this breakfast treat.
ImmaculateBites says
Great! Do let us know how it works out for you.
cathy dinino says
so excited to find your blog…!!!
Africanbites says
Cathy, I happy you found me. Let me know how you like the recipes. THanks for stopping by!
Ravyn says
Can these be made with coconut flour? I had these in St. Croix but they were cornmeal, I tried repeating the recipe, looked for recipes online and nothing came close. I will *have* to try that coconut milk. Thanks for sharing!
Lucy McMellan says
Ravyn, the recipe calls for all purpose flour, not coconut flour.
Imma, this recipe is much like the one that my Grandmother made in La Ceiba Honduras. Thanks for posting.
Ndia says
Thanks soo much for doing this! I just discovered your site on Friday as I was in desperate need of a puff puff recipe. I not only made puff puff but pancakes too over the weekend and everyone loved them! myself included. Thanks again. You are awesome. I’ll be on the lookout for a pepper-soup recipe and ekwang as well.
Dina says
sounds yummy!
Africanbites says
Thanks