When were pancakes first sold in America?

The first recorded sale of pancakes was in the 17th century. The earliest known pancake recipe dates back to 14th century France, but it wasn’t until 1694 that a cookbook called The Compleat Cook featured one of the earliest recipes for pancakes.

American colonists brought the tradition with them from Europe and made them with buckwheat flour. These early pancakes were quite different than the ones we enjoy today — they were usually made with milk and eggs instead of water and butter, which made them more like crepes than modern pancakes.

The word “pancake” was first used in print by William Wood in 1568, although it’s unclear whether he meant it as a reference later meaning “flat cake” or as an earlier meaning “round cake.”

Last modified: August 3, 2022