# what do americans put on their pancakes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974 "2003-03-04T09:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/41 "2003-03-04T21:00:03Z")
I’ve never heard of Pancake Day, and being decidedly un-Catholic (my mom was raised in a thoroughly Irish-Catholic household and had apparently had enough), I’m unclear on the concept of Shrove Tuesday, period. Call me nuts, but I like pancakes PLAIN. That way you can eat them with your fingers! I’ve liked them that way since I was a little kid and didn’t quite have the hang of silverware yet. I like my waffles plain, too. I’m not totally adverse to putting butter and syrup or whatever on a pancake, but if it was just me, I wouldn’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/42 "2003-03-04T21:01:23Z")
believe it or not, I like them plain, with nothing on them! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/43 "2003-03-04T21:11:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pravnik \* > \*\*If you ever eat them here in the U.S., though, don’t ask for “pancakes”; they’ll either peg you a tourist or in some places here in the South won’t even know what you’re talking about. The preferred term is “cow patties.” \*\* True enough – unless you want buckwheat pancakes (delicious!), in which case you should ask for “a short-stack of meadow muffins.” Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/44 "2003-03-04T21:17:58Z")
Oh my. I’ve never heard of pancakes with _filling_. I eat the flat American pancakes, with butter and maple syrup (okay okay the cheap imitation maple syrup stuff from the grocery store) on top. I also like chocolate-chip pancakes, yummy! Although I could be weird because I come from a region where it’s common to have turkey and waffles for dinner… ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/45 "2003-03-04T22:54:22Z")
[Ham Pancakes! Cowboys love 'em!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=95911) And I think pancakes and all other sweet stuff at breakfast is nasty. Eggs, bacon, or (preferably) leftovers from the previous night’s supper, please. I made eggplant and anchovy pizza last night, so that’s what I had this morning. With iced tea. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/46 "2003-03-04T23:14:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*At the CalMeacham house we eat only pure maple syrup. It’s more expensive, but worth it. > \*\* Amen to that. That colored sugar water is pure crap. Luckily, I have relatives up in NH who send us some real syrup every year for X-mas. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/47 "2003-03-04T23:46:14Z")
::drool:: Curse you! I’m on the Atkin’s diet! ::deep breath:: I like butter, melted peanut butter and pancake syrup on mine. ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/48 "2003-03-05T00:20:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate \* > I like butter, melted peanut butter and pancake syrup on mine. Must be a Texas thing. This is exactly how I grew up eating pancakes. I remember once on a family vacation, I ordered pancakes at a restaurant and I was confused that they didn’t come with peanut butter. I was even more confused when the waitress looked at me strangely for asking for peanut butter. I also love mixing a dollop of peanut butter with some syrup in a bowl, then sopping it up with some hot buttered biscuits. Yummy! ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/49 "2003-03-05T02:58:35Z")
I haven’t made pancakes in a while (although after reading this thread I may whip up a batch this weekend) but the last time I did I topped them with apple cinnamon syrup which I had picked up at a neighborhood AppleFest last September. ---
**Author:** ![herwono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9f8e36/32.png) [@herwono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herwono)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/50 "2003-03-05T03:59:42Z")
I like my pancakes with ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/51 "2003-03-05T04:03:19Z")
During my childhood, it was always Log Cabin Syrup, a brand of maple syrup. I do seem to recall that my brother preferred sugar and lemon juice, though. I haven’t actually eaten pancakes for several years due to fat and cholesterol concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/52 "2003-03-05T04:39:01Z")
MMMMMMMMMMM PLAIN. A good pancake doesn’t need anything. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/53 "2003-03-05T04:53:17Z")
Maple syrup was a winter cash crop for my grandfather and a source of many fond memories. Guess what I use… Once, in Kansas City, I found that I had poured sorghum syrup on my pancakes. Quite a shock. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/54 "2003-03-05T05:20:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beadalin \* > \*\* peanut butter and syrup \*\* Only way to eat pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/55 "2003-03-06T03:08:24Z")
Me, I am not thrilled with pancakes, another carb that makes me feel like I ate a sponge. I do like crepes and I like them with fruit fillings/sauce and as cheese blintzs. I found a yummy recipe in the book _Recipes For a Small Planet_ for whole wheat/oatmeal pancakes that I love. I don’t make them often but when I do, it’s tons of butter and honey. Or just honey butter. Those I can eat without feeling weighed down. Oh and I love Belgium Waffles. Lots of depressions to hold tons of butter. Good thing I ate dinner or I would be drooling right now. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/56 "2003-03-06T03:10:48Z")
I forgot to add: Potato pancakes are delish. A little butter and sour cream (NOT KETCHUP that’s for french fries and hash browns) and a few fresh herbs sprinkled on them. Very yummy. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/57 "2003-03-06T06:51:34Z")
I eat mine with butter and Steen’s Cane Syrup or plain maple syrup. They must be good buttermilk pancakes though. :\> ---
**Author:** ![Sn-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sn-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sn-man)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/58 "2003-03-06T14:06:07Z")
I’m not sure where our family picked up tradition, but pancakes served with beef / brown gravy were pretty normal when I grew up. Good pork gravy and sausages are great too. I usually eat my pancakes with gravy; my wife likes maple syrup. Our children like them both ways. Most people have a funny reaction when gravy is mentioned, but all I can say is try it first. I have never tried white gravy on pancakes. For me, that’s reserved for biscuits.😃 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974/59 "2003-03-06T14:35:41Z")
In my experience, most people in the United States _think_ they use real maple syrup, but in fact have never even been close to the real thing. I once ran into a person from the South (for me, that is anything South of Rutland, Vermont) who insisted that no one _could_ eat real maple syrup, that it was so sweet it could only be used by blending it with other syrups. This was one of the few times that I could insist with perfect authority that “you simply so not know what you are talking about”. And to prove it, I brought him back a pint of the good stuff on my next trip home. He was gracious enough to admit he was wrong after sampling it. Yes, it is more expensive (unless you make it yourself…we tapped a couple of hundred trees and made 40 gallons one year), but there is simply no comparison. It’s pretty good cold, but it’s best to heat it just to boiling before you use it, which releases all of the flavors and aromas. Excuse me. I think I hear some waffles calling… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-put-on-their-pancakes/158974.md?page=2)