It's hard to wrap one's mind around the fact that the same pancakes we order at our favorite diners have actually been around for something like 30,000 years. In fact, pancakes could be considered one of the most important meals to have ever existed. Their origins date back to the Stone Age with evidence found not fossilized or in cave paintings but in the actual stomachs of the Otzi the Iceman, one of the last remaining human connections that were found dating back to that era.
Don't take our word for it, though - there's plenty to back this claim up. Evidence found in the form of the tools that were used to make pancakes, or a dish that was very similar, at least, have also been found. Granted, the pancakes made 30,000 years ago may not have been as tasty as what we have now, and they may have been formed with ferns and other local plants, but the notion of a 'pancake' remains the same. In order to get a full picture of what the history of everyone's favorite breakfast and brunch food has been like, we must expand our definition of what a pancake is today and take a look back at what it once was.
The First Prehistoric (Very Flat) Pancake
Today, a pancake can be anything from a flapjack to a crepe. However, the much broader definition of a pancake is any cake-like batter that's cooked on a hot rock, such as a flat top or in a pan on the stove. Going back 30,000 years ago, researchers discovered tools that were likely used to grind up plants and wheat into powder, or something close to it, in order to create a batter with it by adding water. So, it could be said that instant pancakes actually began with Prehistoric humans as they, too, were 'just adding water' to their pancake mixes. The earliest-known ingredients in these consisted of things like cattails and ferns. Obviously, this would not have made for a very delightful breakfast but it would have made for one that would revolutionize survival. If you've ever made pancakes and stored a few in the microwave to come back to later, the idea would have been similar years ago - once a pancake was cooked, it would last quite a long time without losing much flavor or texture. Then again, the pancakes made out of cattails and ferns likely would have had the consistency of the bread we know as hardtack today.
Let's go back to our friend Otzi the Iceman. The remains of this early human were found in the Italian Alps back in 1991 and this is where the first notion of pancakes being a routine meal first came from. It was determined that Neolithic people had come up with a shelf-stable - for lack of a better term - way to cook something that was akin to a pancake and would last during long journeys. Evidence of Einkorn wheat and charcoal pointed to the fact that some type of flatbread was cooked over an open flame and eaten, leading to the first-pancake discovery. The frequency of these remains found in Otzi's stomach point to the fact that it wasn't just happenstance; during the Neolithic era, pancake-like food was a go-to meal.
The Ancient Greeks And Romans Had Their Own Pancakes
Otzi the Iceman was not the only one to love the cake-like bread, either. Researchers have found definitive evidence that the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans both enjoyed their own versions of pancakes.
According to artifacts and clues leftover from Ancient Greece, the Greeks would commonly eat pancakes with honey, which was far more modern take - and closer to our own today - than that of the Neolithic Era. There was proof that the Ancient Romans often enjoyed pancakes this way, as well, further pointing to the fact that the only truly modern thing about a stack of pancakes is the maple syrup additive.
The Elizabethans And Their Elegant Pancakes
Pancakes continued to trend well into the 15th century and, eventually, into the Elizabethan Age. During this time, it's a well-known fact that pancakes were flavored with rosewater, sherry, spices, and apples. The notion of cooking and culinary arts was just picking up speed during this time and as spices became more widely available thanks to trade routes, things such as pancakes received elevated treatment. This is likely how the popular breakfast food made its way to the U.S.; as early settlers made their way to the country that would soon be known as America, they brought with them 'johnnycakes' or 'hoecakes,' as they were commonly referred to. Originally, these were made with either cornmeal or buckwheat, giving them a heartier, more rustic flavor.