“Just because you pour syrup on something doesn’t make it pancakes”

“Just because you pour/put syrup on something/shit doesn’t make it pancakes” is a popular aphorism meaning that you can’t cover up or disguise the truth. “Just ‘cause you pour syrup on something doesn’t make it pancakes” has been cited in print since at least 1992.
 
       
The Internet Movie Database
Memorable quotes for
Juice (1992)
Trip: Just ‘cause you pour syrup on something doesn’t make it pancakes!
     
Google Groups: alt.horror
CHIM CHIM
Dec 19, 1999
(...)
Just because you pour syrup on shit, that don’t make it pancakes…..
 
Google News Archive
12 September 2002, The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC), “Just the Facts” by Jim Stamm, pg. 1B, col. 1:
Syrup don’t make it pancakes
(...)
There’s an old adage that says just because you pour syrup on manure (I’m being kind here), don’t make it pancakes.
     
10 July 2005, New York (NY) Post, “Meet Market” by Mackenzie Dawson Parks and Tom Sykes, Sunday Pulse, pg. 94:
Just because you pour syrup on it, doesn’t make it pancakes. yet naively optimistic, very laid-back but passionate, and I make it a point not to sweat all the BS life ...
 
Hip Hop Is Deadly!
Pouring syrup on shit doesn’t make it Pancakes!
This entry was posted on April 1, 2008 at 8:11 pm
   
Google Books   
Athletes and Emcees
By Jahmal Cole
Cols, GA: Urban Edge Publishing
2010
Pg. 55:
Just because you pour syrup on a spoon doesn’t make it a pancake.
 
CBS News
May 19, 2010 7:38 AM
Rand Paul to Dems: Please Bring Obama to Kentucky
By Daniel Carty
(...)
COMMENTS
by sinepgib May 19, 2010 1:06 PM EDT
Comcast has Xfinity. Republic Party has the Team Party. Same ****, different name. And just because you put syrup on a turd that does not make the turd a pancake.
 
Something Funny Happened on the Way to My Cancer
JUNE 17, 2010 2:26PM
Pouring Syrup on Shit doesn’t make it Pancakes
There is an old saying in our family that goes “Jus’ ‘cause you pour syrup on shit don’t mean it’s Pancakes.”  It is one of many handed down through the generations and is one of my favorites.  The notion of pouring something sweet over a hot stinking pile resonates with me NOW more than it ever has.