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??
I haven’t made these yet, but was reading thru the recipe so I knew what to expect, and I’m trying to figure out why Step 1 says to turn the oven on to 170 degrees or Keep Warm setting. I don’t see any other directions that says what goes in the oven when mixing the ingredients for the pancakes? Forgive me if it is an obvious answer. I’ve never made pancakes before 🥞 🤣
Hi Kayla! “Remove the pancakes to a cooking rack and keep warm in the oven that you turned on.” It’s just so that even the flipper gets warm pancakes, not just the hungry heathens pounding their forks at the table. 😂 Enjoy!
This recipe has changed my world. I tried with and without buttermilk. I actually prefer the substitution. It is still delicious! If I could give this recipe 10 stars I would.
Delicious! I agree with the post about 1/2 cup being too big, but that is a personal preference. I used 1/3 cup. The bacon grease makes all the difference. A little goes a long way!
Oh my goodness, my grand kids went CRAZY for these pancakes. They requested them 2 times in a week. Tip on freezing. I put a piece of wax paper between each cooled leftover pancakes and they pop apart easily when taken out of freezer amd left to sit about 10 Mims.
I know I’m in the minority, but I didn’t love them. I think maybe I should add some vanilla if I try them again. I would also halve the recipe, and 1/2 cup pancakes were too big. It was actually my first time making pancakes from scratch. My visiting granddaughter has a tree nut allergy and cross contamination risk is a danger so cooking everything at home to keep her safe!
Pancakes always need vanilla! I find that 1/3 cup pancakes are perfect. 1/4 cup pancakes are on the small side but convenient if you have a griddle and are trying to make a bunch at once for small children. But for 1 or 2 adults I like to use 1/3 cup batter per pancake.
These are, in fact, the best buttermilk pancakes ever. I’ve made them for friends and family and everybody asks for them. Once you make this recipe you will never want to go back, and anyone that you make it for a will also never want anything else. They are phenomenal.
I stopped making pancakes from scratch ever since whenever I made them, they weren’t that great. I mean they were very much edible, but just not that amazing. I wish I can make them with buttermilk, but it’s so hard to find it in our local grocery stores.
Hi Beginner! Instead of buttermilk, try squeezing some lemon juice into half and half, or combining about 1 part sour cream to 3 parts milk for this recipe. When I do this, I scoop a few spoonfuls of sour cream into a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest with milk until I have the 2 and 1/2 cups dairy you need for this recipe. Works great! Hope this helps!
I’ve made these pancakes twice in the last 2 days. Yesterday morning, I made them exactly as the recipe states with NO changes. They were great! This morning, my husband wanted them again, but being the “if it’s not broke, I’m still going to try to fix it” type of man that he is….we made a few adjustments. Instead of 1/4c white sugar, we used the same amount of brown sugar. We added about 2t of cinnamon, and about 1T of vanilla. Holy crap! Both versions are amazing, it just depends on your personal preference…but whether you leave this recipe “as is”, or make a few changes…you can’t go wrong using this recipe.
brown sugar and vanilla an cinnamon! How can you go wrong! Love your twist, thanks for sharing Camelle!
Wow, these are exactly the changes I thought of making when I saw this recipe. I love cinnamon and love it when pancakes have extra vanilla. I’ve also swapped brown sugar for white a time or two in other recipes.
My normal from scratch pancake recipe is from Spend with Pennies (blog). No buttermilk needed for it. Easy and better than a mix but I’ve been wanting a *magic* pancake recipe. Going to give this one a shot sometime
SERIOUSLY?!?!? I’ve had an unusual addiction to Denny’s pancakes this year. I’ve tried SOOOO many different “Best” pancake recipes trying to replicate them & they’ve all fallen short. None have come near the thick, fluffy, cake-like goodness of the objects of my affection, my Denny’s pancakes.
But then I found this gem of a recipe & I literally almost shed happy tears!! These are dare I say, BETTER than those flap jacks from that diner joint, lol!! No shade to Denny’s but that habit was getting expensive & now I can have yummy perfection anytime.
My notes: I prefer more salt (I only use unsalted butter) so I’d double the salt only in that instance. Also prefer a tad sweeter pancake so I add a few more tablespoons of sugar. Didn’t have buttermilk so I “soured” my milk but added about 1-2 Tbsp extra white vinegar & 2 Tbsp sour cream for texture.
Thank you for this recipe. It’s just by far the very BEST!!!
These pancakes were SO GOOD! Definitely the best I’ve ever made
The pancakes were light, fluffy and delicious. I didn’t have buttermilk, so used a substitute of milk and white vinegar. They came out perfect. Thank you for the lovely easy recipe.
I didnt have buttermilk and had to substitute the milk and vinegar. I can’t imagine them being any more delicious than they were. They are truly THE BEST PANCAKES!!!
As a self-described pancake connoisseur, I agree that these are the best pancakes I’ve ever made. They remind me of those made by a family friend who always used bacon grease. The crispy edge and faint bacon taste, the richness from butter in the batter, as well as the general fluffiness, puts these pancakes above the rest. Thank you for this recipe.
Hi! I know this is a pancake recipe, but have you ever tried this batter in a waffle maker?
I haven’t Lauren! There is not enough fat in the recipe to make a good waffle. I suggest making my favorite waffle recipe! Crispy on the outside, fluffy tender in the middle, every time. Enjoy!
This is the first time I have EVER posted a review.
With that being said ……OMG this recipe was
AH-MAZING. I followed the directions to a T and I cannot believe I made something so delicious. I’m saving this for my cheat meal :)
It worked!!! Unlike many recipes… these were amazing!. Thank you.