Definition

Noun: 1. A type of cornbread: A simple bread made from cornmeal, traditionally cooked by being wrapped in leaves (such as cabbage leaves) and baked directly in hot ashes or embers from a fire. This method was common in early American and Southern U.S. cooking.

Usage

• The term "ashcake" specifically refers to the cooking method (in ashes) and the type of bread (cornbread). It is a historical or regional term.
• It is used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• For dinner, they made ashcakes over the campfire.
• The recipe for ashcake has been passed down through generations in my family.
• He carefully placed the wrapped ashcake into the hot ashes to bake.

Advanced Usage

• The word evokes a sense of historical, rustic, or survivalist cooking. It is often used in narratives about pioneer life, outdoor cooking, or traditional Southern cuisine.

Variants and Related Words

• Ash bread (n): Another term for ashcake.
• Corn pone (n): A similar type of simple cornbread, often baked or fried, but not necessarily in ashes.
• Hoecake (n): A thin cornbread cake originally baked on the blade of a hoe over a fire.

Synonyms

• Johnnycake (in some regional uses)
• Cornbread (general term)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and specific meaning is cornbread baked in ashes. It does not refer to a cake made from ashes.
• The "(southern)" note in some definitions indicates its strong association with the culinary traditions of the Southern United States.

Noun

1. corn bread wrapped in cabbage leaves and baked in hot ashes (southern)