This article is about the food. For the Irish style bread, norwegian pancakes Soda bread.
For the Jack Johnson song, see In Between Dreams. The pancake’s shape and structure varies worldwide. In the United Kingdom, pancakes are often unleavened and resemble a crêpe. When potato is used as a major portion of the batter, the result is a potato pancake. Commercially prepared pancake mixes are available in some countries. Like waffles, commercially prepared frozen pancakes are available from companies like Eggo. Pancakes may be served at any time of the day or year with a variety of toppings or fillings, but they have developed associations with particular times and toppings in different regions.
In North America, they are typically considered a breakfast food and serve a similar function to waffles. The Ancient Romans called their fried concoctions alia dulcia, Latin for “other sweets”. These were much different from what are known as pancakes today. Lahoh is a staple in Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen.
In Japan, okonomiyaki are made from flour, egg, cabbage and a choice of ingredients. Oyaki are pancakes often stuffed with anko, eggplant, or nozawana. The Japanese have also created a soufflé-style cooked-in rings-pancake, which is taller and fluffier than the American pancakes it is inspired by, and found in Singapore, Toronto, Australia, and the United Kingdom. India has many styles of pancake.
Variations range from their taste to the main ingredient used. All are made without the use of added raising agents. Pancakes prepared using a north Indian cooking style are known as cheela. Sweet cheela are made using sugar or jaggery with a wheat flour-based batter.