EUREKA! The Best Pancake Recipe Ever. Guys, I’m not even kidding when I say I’ve been looking for this buttermilk pancake recipe for my entire life. They are fluffy, crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and completely stackable. The search is over!! Originally posted March 10, 2016.
Table of Contents
- Get ready for the BEST Pancakes EVER
- Homemade Pancakes ingredients
- What is the secret to making the best Pancakes?
- How to make Pancakes
- How to get crispy edges on your pancakes
- How to serve the Best Pancakes ever
- How to store, freeze, and reheat Pancakes
- Fluffy Pancake Recipe FAQs
- More Pancake recipes you’ll love!
- More amazing sweet breakfast recipes:
- Best Pancakes I’ve Ever Made Recipe
Get ready for the BEST Pancakes EVER
Other people have late-night pizza cravings; I have late night pancake cravings. Seriously, I am the one going to IHOP at 10pm because I need to get myself a stack. I love pancakes like a fat kid loves cake. You want to know the sad part?
I’m TERRIBLE at making pancakes. Seriously, I have tried a dozen recipes probably. No matter what I do they always turn out rubbery or flat or gummy (ugh, that’s the worst) or just plain flavorless. I am a chronic over-beater, it’s an addiction. I have some great specialty pancake recipes (Like these Gingerbread Pancakes with Lemon Syrup or these Banana Macadamia Pancakes with Coconut Syrup), but I had yet to find a good everyday recipe for when I want straight up, no fuss, buttermilk heaven.
A few weeks ago my friend Courtney over at Neighborfood posted her Top 15 Favorite Family Recipes. I have a special place in my heart for Courtney because she was one of the first bloggers to start reading The Food Charlatan, back when it was just me myself and my computer. She introduced me to our food blogging community. Plus her blog is totally amazing. Check out these Lemon Rosemary Melting Potatoes she just posted. What?? I’m nabbing that recipe next Courtney!!!
Anyway, back to her Top 15 post. The first recipe on the list was for these Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes. I decided to give them a go because every time someone tells me they have a favorite pancake recipe I try it…but then I usually mess them up. Don’t get me wrong, the recipes are fine. I’m just a terrible pancake maker (and an even worse pancake flipper, but that’s a whole other story).
Anyway. So I tried Courtney’s recipe. AND THEY WERE AMAZING. I thought it had to be a fluke (I’m a pancake charlatan, after all) so I made them again. AMAZING. I made them a 3rd time to do this photo shoot and do you see that stack? I ate all of it.
Okay I’m totally lying, the kids and I all shared it (what else are you going to do with a giant stack of pancakes totally soaked in syrup from all the pour shots I tried to get? Life’s tough.).
Homemade Pancakes ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!
- Butter. I use salted butter, but unsalted is fine too.
- All purpose flour
- Sugar
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Buttermilk (yes, you can substitute milk mixed with a little vinegar, but try to get your hands on some actual buttermilk!! Are you making the best pancakes or not?)
- Eggs
- Bacon grease!!! Or butter is fine too.
- Milk (preferably whole milk)
That last ingredient brings up a good question, which is:
Should I use baking soda or baking powder in pancakes?
Yes. Ha!
Okay, generally, you want to use baking powder for run-of-the-mill pancakes as baking soda only activates with an acid like that found in buttermilk. But we have buttermilk, so we’re using both leavening agents. The double guns of both baking powder and baking soda (activated by the buttermilk) makes for a fluffy bed of heaven, waiting for a syrupy covering!
What kind of flour is best for pancakes?
I definitely recommend using regular old all-purpose flour. It creates the perfect light and fluffy texture! And I wouldn’t want anything getting in the way of that.
In theory, you could use whole wheat flour, but the measurement may not be quite the same and your pancakes will be much more dense. Bread flour is a definite no: the extra protein in bread flour creates a great chewy texture for pizza or french bread but makes pancakes tough.
Should I use milk or water for pancakes?
Milk. Definitely milk! Not only does it add flavor, the milk fat makes the pancakes much more rich and tender. Instant pancake mixes have dumbed down pancakes to the point that they often use powdered milk in their dry mix (and call for the user to add water, because hello easy.) But now we’ve got a whole generation of people who think water goes in real pancakes. NOPE.
What is the secret to making the best Pancakes?
Here’s how it’s done my friends, the grand secret: A separated egg. You don’t have to whip the egg whites or anything, just beat them with a fork for 30 seconds or so.
This 30 second step gives your egg white some space from the yolk, and time to shine. Beating the whites breaks up all the protein, so instead of stringy gloopy whites holding together in your pancake batter, it is beaten until bubbly and helps each pancake rise into perfectly fluffy little cakes when being cooked. Magical, right?? I just love that the secret is something SO EASY!
How to make Pancakes
Before diving into the detailed step, each of which are covered in the recipe, here’s a quick overview:
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients separately.
- Separate the eggs, adding the yolks to the wet ingredients.
- Whisk the whites and set aside.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and DON’T OVER STIR! (See below.)
- THEN add the whisked egg white to the mixture.
- THEN love your pancakes!
How to get crispy edges on your pancakes
Can I tell you the other little secret about this recipe?
That’s right. I’m busting out the BACON GREASE. I got the bacon-grease-for-pancake-frying tip from my mother-in-law. If you are not the kind of person who has a little jar of bacon grease in your fridge at all times (seriously, who ARE you?), then the solution is obvious. Make some bacon. Then use a pastry brush to get the grease onto your griddle. If you really don’t want to bother, butter will work fine, but I’m telling you, the bacon grease adds a hint of flavor (but not overpowering–they taste like pancakes, not bacon) and the BEST crispy edges. Mmm. And what are pancakes without a side of bacon anyway?
How thick should pancake batter be?
I feel like this is so easy to SHOW you, but so hard to TELL you. One of the many reasons I wish I could just have my readers here in my kitchen! But basically, it’s like this: you don’t want it to be so thin you can easily pour it, and you don’t want it to be so thick you can’t pour it at all. (Clear as mud, right?) When you scoop some of the batter onto the hot griddle, it should gently, slowly spread into a slightly larger circle than the one you poured. After you make this recipe a couple times, you’ll know exactly what I mean!
How to serve the Best Pancakes ever
Butter. Syrup. Side of bacon.
Or, be extra and go crazy with the toppings…
Best Pancake Recipe toppings
- Strawberries, bananas, blueberries, basically any fruit is a win
- Jam or jelly
- Any fruit reduction syrup (cook fruit with a little sugar for a while)
- Whipped cream
- Peeled and cooked apples with cinnamon
- Flavored yogurt
- Toasted pecans or granola
- Peanut butter and powdered sugar (I’m telling you guys!!)
- Ice cream. My daughter is obsessed with doing this for her birthday breakfast, the only time of the year I will let her!
- Melted chocolate or caramel. I mean right? Try the ganache from these Dark Chocolate Waffles.
- Fried chicken (Why should waffles get all the love?)
How to store, freeze, and reheat Pancakes
No need to store leftover pancakes–you’ll never have any leftovers. Ever.
Okay, fine. Maybe you made a triple-batch.
- Refrigeration: These pancakes do just fine stored in the fridge for a few days in a sealed container.
- Freezing: Place your pancakes single-layered on a cookie sheet and freeze them for 20 minutes before putting them in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. They will keep for 2-3 months! (Or you can toss them in a ziplock all at once without flash freezing, and pry them apart when frozen, hoping they don’t break. I like to live on the wild side, people. Also, LAZY)
- Reheating: reheating is so easy and delivers, yo. I personally feel you can’t beat warming them in a toaster or, even better, a toaster oven. I often toast them straight from frozen, just toast on a low setting twice in a row. You can also warm pancakes in the microwave on 50% power. Just don’t forget to love them as much as the first time!
And just for fun, here’s my photo set up. My stack looks like it’s about to fall!
Fluffy Pancake Recipe FAQs
Your pancakes will be fluffy if you follow this recipe. Promise! I mean just look at this gorgeous rise. I’ll reiterate a few fluffy-guaranteeing points so you can see them all in a list:
– Use milk, preferably whole or at least 2% ( you need the fat!)
– Don’t over mix the wet and dry ingredients
– Whisk the egg whites and add them last
– Make sure an acid like buttermilk or a milk+vinegar substitute (see recipe notes) is used to activate your baking soda
– Drop the batter onto the griddle only when it is very hot. Test it by sprinkling on some water droplets, they should immediately sizzle.
Anything you want! There isn’t a Pancake Topping Enforcement Squad; you get to do whatever you want here. Fruit, jam, yogurt, whipped cream, nuts, nut butter, chocolate, ice cream, you name it! See above for a list of other topping ideas.
The pancakes are ready to be flipped over when the edges start to set and you can see bubbles forming on the top. If you’re not 100% sure, you can slide your pancake turner under the edge and peek. We’re looking for light golden brown – if they’re pale and pasty, it’s not time yet.
To get fluffy pancakes, you need to follow a few important steps.
Don’t over-mix the batter. Once it’s just barely combined, you’re ready to go. A few streaks of flour mean you’re doing it right.
Make sure your griddle is hot.
Use milk instead of water (you need the fat for fluffy pancakes).
Use acid to activate the baking soda. You can use buttermilk or “cheater buttermilk” which is milk combined with vinegar.
Beat your egg whites separately. This way there won’t be any gloopy strands to weigh your pancakes down.
No way, don’t do it! The baking soda is activated as soon as you mix it into the batter, and it becomes less effective over time. Pancake batter doesn’t take long to mix up. If you want to have pancakes to quickly eat in the morning, save yourself even more time and freeze the cooked pancakes.
More Pancake recipes you’ll love!
- Gingerbread Pancakes with Lemon Syrup << personal fav!!
- Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes << this is an oldie but a goodie
- Deep Dish Buttermilk Pancakes << why flip? make one giant pancake!
- Banana Macadamia Pancakes << you have to try this coconut syrup!
- Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes from Mom on Timeout
- Peach Pecan Pancakes from Buns in my Oven << Karly wrote an entire book about pancakes called Stack Happy. Definitely check it out! She has the most creative recipes!
More amazing sweet breakfast recipes:
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake, with a Ridiculous Amount of Streusel << Yes, I said RIDICULOUS amounts of streusel.
- Soft and Sticky Caramel Pecan Rolls << A decadent recipe worthy of a bakery.
- The FLUFFIEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls of Your Life (Can Make Overnight) << If you’ve never tried making cinnamon rolls with a simple sweet dough, you are totally missing out.
- Classic Waffle Recipe << Crispy, buttery, fluffy, breakfast-y. So good. These are Eric’s favorite.
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Best Pancakes I’ve Ever Made
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, 1 stick, melted and cooled
- 2 & 1/2 cups flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda, see note
- 2 teaspoons baking powder, see note
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup milk, I used whole milk
- 2 eggs, separated
- bacon grease, for frying (butter works too)
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 170 degrees F, sometimes called the “keep warm” setting.
- Get out 3 mixing bowls: large, medium, and small.
- Add the butter to the large bowl and microwave until it is melted. Set aside to cool a little bit.
- In the medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Add the buttermilk and milk to the melted butter.
- Separate the eggs: add the whites to the small bowl and the yolks to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Whisk in the yolks.
- Use a small whisk of fork to beat the egg whites a little bit, just 20 seconds or so until they start getting a little bubbly. It will help them fold in evenly.
- Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir roughly with a wooden spoon. Don’t overdo it! Just barely combine it. There should still be streaks for flour. See photos.
- Beat the egg whites a little then add them to the batter. Fold in gently. It’s okay if there are still streaks of egg white.
- Heat a griddle or large frying pan over medium heat.
- When it is hot, smear a little bacon grease over the griddle.
- Scoop the batter using a half cup measurement.
- When bubbles on top start to pop, flip the pancakes. They should be a nice golden brown.
- Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until they are golden on both sides.
- Remove the pancakes to a cooking rack and keep warm in the oven that you turned on.
- Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Serve with lots of butter and syrup. And peanut butter. What, am I the only one??
These were DELISH! They were light, fluffy and so tasty! Thank you!
These beat my great-grandmother’s flannel cakes recipe! I never thought I could override that one!
I always use kefir when a recipe calls for buttermilk – just like I use yogurt for sour cream. The recipe always comes out the same! Easy peasy and yummmmmmmy!
Okay but flannel cakes is the most adorable name ever, so can we just rename this recipe?? Thanks for the kefir tip, that’s perfect!
Definitely the best pancakes I’ve ever made, might even be the best I’ve ever had. I followed the recipe exactly except I added vanilla. I thought they turned out perfect and it’s a super easy recipe!
I LOVE this recipe. I’ve made it several times and it’s always amazing.
Just a quick question, do you use room temperature or cold milk/buttermilk? I’ve been using it straight out of the fridge, and when I mix it with the melted butter, the butter just gets cold again and solidifies in a clumpy way. My pancakes still turn out great, but I was just wondering if this was a normal thing!
Hi Zoe! Yes totally normal, the same thing happens to me. You can heat up your buttermilk if it’s bothersome, but even with the solidified butter chunks my pancakes always turn out. I wouldn’t stress about it! Thanks so much for commenting!!
We love this recipe! It was very yummy! I just bought buttermilk, I am going to make it with actual buttermilk this time. I’m excited!
This recipe is great. Just one change. The butter needs to be melted in the medium bowl so that you poor wet onto dry ingredients. You can’t fit all the batter in the medium bowl. Batter should be mixed with wet pouring onto dry. (Not a big deal, but just thought I’d mention the little oopsy, since the batter won’t fit in the medium bowl).
I have tried it and it was amazing I did 1-1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and baking soda it actually turned out amazing I used butter instead of bacon grease my mother enjoyed it because I made it for her last Saturday for Mother’s Day for me the main reason I like it was because I liked how thick and fluffy in a good way it looked and tasted so good adding ms butter worth syrup makes it taste amazing. I do got to say I kinda made them medium size and one was enough because of how filling it was thanks for the recipe great choice of ingredients
I’m wonder since this says serves 18 pancakes is the measuring for the 18 serving size? Cause if so I was wondering how to make it so it’s more like 5-8 pancakes measuring size
Hi Jaysun! If you’d like to make 1/3 to 1/2 of the recipe, you can use an online calculator to modify the existing ingredient amounts. You can also make the full batch and freeze leftovers for later. Enjoy!
At the end before the griddle do we put the small medium and large bowl together and mix then put on the pan?
Jaysun, adding the contents of the various bowls is described in steps 8 and 9 of the recipe. The buttermilk mixture is in the large bowl, the flour mixture is in the medium bowl, and the egg whites are in the small bowl. It’s less important to pay attention to the bowl size and more important to note what’s being added to what. The recipe card completely describes the process.
I made these and they were amazing! Do you have a similar waffle recipe?
Hi Tonya, so glad you loved the pancakes! Here’s the Classic Waffle Recipe; hope you love it just as much :-)
Hi Karen,
Just thought I’d give a heads up about baking soda. Over the years I’ve found that using “normal” aluminized baking soda from the grocery store to make things like blueberry muffins and such, will cause the berries used to run their colour, so I switched to a non-aluminum baking soda and that stopped. It also stopped that baking soda taste in lots of baked products if you use more than a teaspoon or so. Hope this helps everyone.
I could nevee taste the baking powder or soda in this, but ive been making biscuits and switched to a non aluminum baking powder for those so i just started using it for pancakes out of convenience. If someone is worried about that, i would recommend they get that instead of decreasing the amount. I dont want them to lose their fluffy texture that makes them so incredible.
Ok… so I gave this a whirl but thought “yeah yeah… every food blogger says their recipe is the best… seo right?!” But legit… these are by far my fave pancakes I ever made and my wife felt the same. Def bookmarking this sucker!
bahaha Jessica I’m dying. those sneaky food bloggers!! On my site, if I say something is the best, it means it’s my personal favorite and best that I’ve tried 😘 so glad it’s your new fave too!
Hi, I live in Spain and we don’t have buttermilk here. I’m sorry but it’s not that “I like a cheat buttermilk” but I don’t have anything else or anything like that. I only make the comment so that you know that it is not a CHEAT to substitute ingredients if we want to make the recipe and enjoy. I’ll make the recipe and we’ll see
Hi Evelyn! While it sometimes gets called “cheater buttermilk,” you’re right, it’s never cheating to make something you enjoy :-) I make “cheater buttermilk” all the time (including for these pancakes) and love the results! I hope you do too.
Do you not have cows in Spain? Buttermilk is left over after using cows milk to make butter. I imagine it’s universal.
Ha! I’m sure they have cows, but I just googled where to find buttermilk in Spain and came up with TONS of threads of English speakers who are having a hard time finding it. Seems it’s a common issue! labeling issue?? Good thing cheater buttermilk works great :)
The flavor of this mix was good. I put 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp almond extract.. added a tsp baking powder and a half cup of flour and they held up better. I did have a catastrophe with the butter re-solidifying but this worked out in the end.
Just wanted to comment that I make these ALL the time, and when I made them on a mom’s trip all my mom friends asked for the recipe. I get texts all the time when they’re making “the pancakes”. While I love it with real buttermilk, I do often make the ‘cheater’ buttermilk with milk and vinegar and they still turn out great. I’ve never tasted the baking soda, I think they’re perfect!