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Are you ready for an embarrassingly easy recipe?
While still being the most delicious meal of the summer??? I am honestly not even sure you can really consider this a recipe, but regardless, I am SO EXCITED to tell you about these pancakes.
I have been waiting weeks to talk all about these, so I am giving you fair warning that I might babble on about polenta, butter and combining them into the best breakfast ever. Did I mention, my love for polenta and butter?
Let me just start out by saying that if you do not like butter or buttery things (is that possible), than these pancakes are not for you. Some pancakes are all about the berries, or the chocolate or maybe something even fancier that I simply cannot think of right now because my mind is having a buttered polenta moment.
With these pancakes, it’s all about the butter. You just cannot make these with anything else. Not olive oil, not coconut oil and not any of those weird buttery spreads. I am talking real deal, BUTTER. I used that fancy organic Irish butter and it was worth the extra cash. You need the good stuff for these pancakes.
The idea for these pancakes actually came from a reader who commented on my Parmesan Grilled Polenta Chips. She had said they she fries polenta on the stove, but instead of a savory polenta she makes it sweet with fruit and powdered sugar. She called it Cornmeal Mush. I think it may be a southern thing, but I knew I had to try my hand at a sweet polenta.
Originally, I actually tried making real polenta pancakes. Meaning I tried to use eggs, milk and all the typical pancake stuff. The pancakes turned out great, but they just tasted like cornbread pancakes and they really were not what I was going for. So that is when I decided I was going to keep things very simple. Just polenta, butter, powdered sugar, real maple syrup with lots of berries.
It may sound like nothing special, but you guys, this is my favorite breakfast of the summer. At first I was kind of nervous about just telling you guys how to cook some polenta with some butter, then sprinkle on the powdered sugar + a drizzle of maple syrup and then add a side of berries, but they just get me t0o excited not to share them.
Is it weird that food can get me this excited??
Aside from rice, polenta is the grain I use most. I personally like it more than rice (I still love you though, rice), but rice just goes with everything and everyone in my family will eat it, so rice gets made a little more often.
Polenta is something I turned my parents on to years back when I first started cooking for the family. It’s a side I make with all my cozy winter meals, but somehow gets a bit neglected in the summer. Well, apparently I wanted to change that, because this summer I am just as polenta crazy as I am mid winter.
So these pancakes? They really are just sliced polenta rounds that get pan-fried in a skillet full of butter. They take five minutes (tops) to make, and they’re actually a completely well-balanced and healthy breakfast, lunch of dinner. Yes, you can totally make these at any given time of the day.
Plus, breakfast for dinner is always one of my favorites. Especially, when they are sweet like these are.
I did make my own polenta, and also added some fresh corn to the mix because I seem to be adding corn to everything these days. It’s just so good right now. For this recipe, I am telling you to use pre-made polenta that comes in a tube though. I really wanted to keep this recipe quick and simple and using the pre-made stuff is just plain easy and it really tastes pretty close to the homemade stuff. Although, I did love that my polenta had some fresh corn in it . If you are interested, I gave you the instructions at the bottom of the recipe. Really, you can do whatever your time allows.
Once you’ve got the polenta hot and buttered, it’s time to plate the cakes and sprinkle on the good stuff.
I went for the double combo of real maple syrup (use the good stuff!!) and powdered sugar. It’s may seem a little sweet, but just like the butter these are a must. I guess if you really wanted you could choose between maple and powdered sugar, but that’s just not as fun and hey, it’s Friday, the start of the weekend, meaning – let’s have some fun! Of course, I also consider maple syrup a health food. Don’t you guys just love how I consider things like chocolate, cheese and maple syrup – health foods? Yeah, my mom taught me well.
Then all you need to finish these off is a side of fresh summer berries.
That’s it. Just five ingredients, almost zero time and the best breakfast (lunch or dinner) ever.
Lastly, sorry to my mom, whose favorite food is probably buttered polenta and whose favorite meal is most definitely breakfast. She never even got to try these, but had to stare at the photos and tell me what she thought. She had to listen to me from 1500 miles away, while I told her about how delicious these were. I am so sorry. Promise to make them again…and again!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Because really, look at them. I just can’t even explain how much I love these!
My Mom used to make Fried Cornmeal, which I believe is Polenta, when I was a kid (now I am 87 ) Think I will use your butter recipe and try it. I think of it often, but have not tried to make it,
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I hope you love the recipe Ellen!!
I have a favorite savory recipe that calls for polenta rounds, but, since I’m cooking for one, I never know what to do with the other half of the tube. Yes, I could make the savory recipe again two days later–I do love it–but, boy, it sure is nice to have this recipe to use up the tube. It happens to be berry season where I am, so, this recipe is perfect. And your photos are so lovely that it inspires me to do more than throw some stuff on a paper plate and call it breakfast .
Thank you for continuing to delight your readers even six years after your original post!
Hi Pam! I am really glad you like this post and I hope they turn out amazing for you! Thank you so much! xTieghan
My first time making something sweet with polenta and OMG amazing. I made a few subs to make it a tad more healthy. I used half butter and half coconut oil. I omitted the powder sugar and used cinnamon. Subbed greek yogurt for whipped cream (has the same texture) and tasted great with everything.
Thank you so much Amy I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! xTieghan
too many redundant photos of the item. People don’t have a lot of time, and a direct link to the recipe at the top of your post would be very productive. At least change the angles in the future.
Hi Polly! There is already a button at the top of the post for this reason. It says “skip to recipe”. xTieghan
This excellent website definitely has all the info
I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Thanks! xTieghan
Hi. Your recipe sounds really good. I am wondering if you’ve ever made it with oil instead of butter. I am allergic to dairy. Wondering if sauted in oil instead of butter would work/taste good.
Hi! I think olive oil or coconut oil should be great! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
If you like polenta, try scrapple. It is traditional breakfast from my Louisiana (German) childhood. We sliced it, fried it, and served it with butter and cane syrup for breakfast.
Ooo sounds so yummy and something I would definitely love to try! Thank you for the suggestion Linda!
This looks amazing! Now if only I could get someone to bring it to me in bed! Ha!