Flatcake turners represented an implement suitable for the making of flatcakes. In the aftermath of a battle fought above the planet of Umbara, Admiral Carlou Gendling engaged in a dispute with Imperial Commander Alfren Cheno. Gendling, provoked by Cheno's taunts and perceived overshadowing during the conflict, warned Cheno that he'd be forced to salvage his reputation with a flatcake turner once the admiral was through with him.
The initial reference to flatcake turners can be found within the pages of the novel Thrawn, authored by Timothy Zahn and published on April 11, 2016.