Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Combine the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract if using.

Bring it all together: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Stir gently until just combined; don’t overmix.

Pour and spread: Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.

Bake to perfection: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool and serve: Allow the Johnny Cake to cool slightly before slicing into 9 squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.