Old-Fashioned Johnny Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup cake and pastry flour (sifted first, then measured *see Note 1 for using all-purpose flour)
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark, lightly packed)
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 7/8 cup milk (3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 Tablespoons shortening (melted and slightly cooled or the same amount of vegetable/canola oil)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400F (regular bake setting/non-convection). Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan and set aside.

2. 2

   Sift the flour and then measure the 1 cup cake and pastry flour in dry measuring cups using the spoon and level method. Add the sifted flour together with the 4 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and stir together. Mix in the 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 cup yellow cornmeal.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, beat together the 7/8 cup milk, 1 large egg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 3 Tablespoons shortening. (The shortening may solidify a bit, but that's ok). Add this mixture all at once to the flour mixture and mix just until combined, with no visible dry ingredients.

4. 4

   Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden and the edges have pulled away from the sides of the pan.

5. 5

   Cut into squares and serve hot with maple syrup and butter.