What Is The Difference Between Pancakes and Hotcakes?

on October 6, 2022

Pancakes and hot cakes are some of the most popular breakfasts to have at home or out at a restaurant. However, is there any actual difference between pancakes and hotcakes? Are they actually different or just a different name for the same thing?

Pancakes and hotcakes are different terms for the same dish which is essentially a thin batter that is fried on both sides and most frequently served with maple syrup. However, there are many other things that are served with pancakes which include fresh fruit and jam.

The term hot cakes are generally used by companies such as McDonald’s to describe the pancakes that they offer on their breakfast menu and generally, this is a term that usually is only used in the United States. Most parts of the world refer to hotcakes as pancakes.

Are There Any Other Names That Are Used To Describe Pancakes?

The other terminology that is used to describe pancakes is grill cakes which are essentially the same thing though some people do cook them under a grill rather than on a pan, however, there isn’t a great deal of difference.

In addition to this, the other extremely similar recipe for pancakes is flapjacks which generally have the same ingredients as pancakes except that they add oats to the batter which is not used to create pancakes.

Is There Any Difference Between Pancakes And Crepes?

Pancakes and crepes are a little bit different but they are generally made from the same basic ingredients which are flour, eggs, milk, and sometimes sugar but not always. However, the main difference between a pancake and a crepe is how thick it is. Crepes are extremely thin pancakes that are cooked really quickly and can often be used for both sweet and savory dishes.

To create that relatively thin batter one of the easiest ways to do it is to simply make the batter much thinner so that it creates are very thin layer across the surface of the pan that will cook very quickly. To get this effect many chefs also use specific crepe pans that are nonstick and relatively small compared to a full-sized frying pan.

To cook the crepes, chefs will often use very high heat so that the pan is searing hot when the pancake batter first hits the pan. To ensure that you get a reasonable sized crepe most people pick the pan up and tilt it in several directions to create a really thin layer that cooks almost immediately.

To create a good-looking crepe does take a little bit of practice because there is a little bit of an art to it, however, they are a fantastic option for creating savory dishes.

The other variation that sometimes appears in pancakes is the addition of a rising agent such as baking soda which is generally added to pancakes to create a fluffier texture but this is optional rather than essential whereas crepes never contain any rising agent as they need to remain relatively thin.

Is It Easy To Make A Gluten-Free Pancake?

Converting between gluten and gluten-free pancakes is relatively easy to do compared to many other things like bread which is extremely difficult to get a relatively good result. Pancake recipes can be converted by replacing the main flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour. When you replace it 1 for 1 you were generally fine that you need to add additional liquid as gluten-free flours do absorb a greater degree of moisture.

As gluten-free all-purpose flour tends to vary a little bit it may be necessary also to add an additional egg to the mixture if it has been necessary to add excessive amounts of milk to thin the mixture out. Generally, you will not notice a huge difference between gluten-free and gluten-containing pancakes in most cases.

However, the other key thing to ensure is that you actually use authentic maple syrup which is a pure natural product. Many of the cheaper alternative syrups contain gluten and therefore cannot be used.

How To Make Pancakes

Ingredients List

2 eggs

1 ¾ cups of milk

2 cups self-raising flour

Butter

Optional Ingredients

1 tsp vanilla essence

⅓ cup caster sugar

Method

Step 1 – Combine the liquid ingredients together in a jug using a whisk and sift the flour in a separate bowl.

Step 2 – Make a well in the center of the flour and gradually liquid ingredients and use a whisk to combine them.

Step 3 – Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and grease the pan with butter or spray with cooking oil. Butter generally tastes better.

Step 4 – Use a ladle to spoon the pancake batter into the pan and cook the pancake batter until bubbles are observed on the surface then flip the pancake over and cook for a further 2 minutes.