Gastropod When is a Pancake Not a Pancake?
Feb 24, 2026
Casey Highsmith, food writer and historian exploring cake histories, and Ken Albala, culinary historian and professor, dive into what counts as a pancake. They compare batter versus dough, global flatbreads like dosa and injera, leavening and texture differences, Pancake Day traditions, and the fraught history behind a famous syrup brand.
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Leavening Is Optional Not Mandatory
- Pancakes need no leavening and historically used eggs; Americans later added chemical leaveners for fluffiness.
- British pancakes remain eggier and flatter while American versions use baking soda/powder to create lighter stacks.
Latkes Can Be Pancakes Or Fritters
- Latkes can be either crispy hash-brown style or true pancakes depending on preparation.
- Ken Albala explains grated-and-squeezed latkes become crisp fritters, while blendered potato-onion batters are pourable and cook like pancakes.
Yorkshire Puddings And Crumpets Count As Pancakes
- Ken Albala argues that Yorkshire pudding and crumpets qualify as pancakes because they start from a pourable batter and are cooked in a pan.
- He notes both are batter-based and sometimes baked or molded, blurring bread-versus-pancake lines.