The Best Pancake Recipe (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste:The buttermilk makes these pancakes super flavorful, and when coupled with real maple syrup and fresh fruit it’s breakfast perfection!
Texture:Ultra tender and fluffy with slightly crispy buttery golden brown edges. Obsessed.
Ease:Super easy, though my first pancake is always the ugly one.
Pros:This may very well become your go-to pancake recipe every weekend from here on out.
Cons:None!!
Would I make this again? Always and forever.

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This is the recipe that will swear you off pancake mixes forever.

At least I hope so!!

The Best Pancake Recipe (1)

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never been a huge pancake fan. I usually prefer French toast or waffles.

I think that’s because pancakes at most restaurants are so boring and bland both in terms of flavor and texture.

The Best Pancake Recipe (2)

But these babies are the opposite. I LOVE pancakes with crispy caramelized buttery golden brown edges. The contrast of those edges with the fluffy and tender interior is my favorite. Add a healthy dose of maple syrup and it’s heaven on a plate.

The Best Pancake Recipe (3)

How to Make the BEST Pancake Recipe

Do I have to use buttermilk?

For best results, yes. And you want the best right? That’s why you’re reading about the BEST pancake recipe!

I’ve done extensive side-by-side testing on buttermilk vs. buttermilk substitutes or vs. regular milk. You can read about my experiments here: Buttermilk 101.

At the end of the day, I find nothing quite compares to the taste and thick texture of the real thing. So if you can, I’d recommend using real buttermilk.

If you can’t, you can use this substitute: 2 scant cups whole milk + 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar or lemon juice

How to Make Fluffy Soft Pancakes

There are two keys to fluffy pancakes. First, make sure your baking powder and baking soda are FRESH. You can learn more about chemical leaveners and how to test if they’re fresh here.

Second, don’t overmix the batter! There must be some lumps and even streaks of flour remaining in the batter. Be gentle here! Even a little bit of overmixing can produce pancakes that are rubbery and tough instead of tender and fluffy.

How to Cook Pancakes with Golden Crispy Edges

First, a large nonstick skillet or griddle or a cast iron pan are best for frying up pancakes. You want to make sure the butter is hot before you pour any batter into the pan, but you only want the pan heated to medium heat. This will help you get golden edges with pancakes that are perfectly cooked through in the center.

So start by heating the pan over medium until it feels hot. This will take a few minutes. Place pats of butter on the pan where you will pour out the batter. Don’t cook more than 3 pancakes at once if you’re using a 12-inch pan.

Allow the butter to melt completely and get hot before ladling the batter by the 1/4 cup into the pan. This will make sure you get those golden crispy edges. However, if you don’t like those edges, you may want to cook a little lower and slower.

Allow the pancakes to cook without touching until large bubbles appear all over the surface of the batter, about 3 minutes (less time for a paler pancake). Using a thin wide plastic spatula, flip the pancakes with confidence through the wrist and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until done. I find the first one or two pancakes are always the ugliest and they make great chef’s samples 😉

How to Make Pancakes Ahead of Time

If you’re making a big batch, keep the oven warm at 200°F and transfer the cooked pancakes to a cooling rack set over a rimmed sheet pan. The cooling rack helps prevent the pancakes from getting soggy. Only keep the pancakes warm for about a half hour using this method.

Freezing pancakes:

Place a sheet of parchment paper between layers of pancakes and place in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave uncovered for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through.

The Best Pancake Recipe (4)

More Pancake & Breakfast Recipes

  • The Best Homemade Waffle Recipe
  • Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes
  • Quiche Lorraine Recipe
  • Churro French Toast
  • How to Make Belgian Liege Waffles
  • Home Fries

The Best Pancake Recipe (5)

How to Make

Best Pancake Recipe

By: Tessa Arias

4.93 from 55 votes

Yield: 12 pancakes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Review Print

Save

The ONLY pancake recipe you’ll ever need! These buttermilk pancakes are fluffy in the center, crispy and buttery at the edges, and so easy to make. The whole family will love them!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (254 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (474 grams) buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter, melted, plus more for frying
  • Maple syrup, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

  • In a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and butter. Add to the flour mixture and stir until combined with a couple streaks of flour remaining. Don’t overmix. If not using immediately, cover and refrigerate for up to a day.

  • Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add a generous pat of butter and allow to melt and become hot. Drop the batter by 1/4-cup spoonfuls into the skillet then reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the bubbles form all across the top of the pancakes then flip and continue to cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining batter.

  • If not serving the pancakes immediately, keep warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven. Serve with maple syrup and extra butter, if desired.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

The Best Pancake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How Gordon Ramsay makes pancakes? ›

Method
  1. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and oil together.
  2. Stir the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. ...
  3. Melt a small piece of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. ...
  4. Leave to cook for 1 minute or until it has puffed up slightly and is a light golden-brown underneath.

What is the trick to making fluffy pancakes? ›

Whip the egg whites separately

One of the methods that will ensure you end up with dreamy pancakes is to separate the egg whites and whip them before gently integrating them into the batter. If the recipe you're using already calls for eggs, then simply separate the yolks and whites.

How do restaurants make pancakes so good? ›

Why Pancakes Always Taste Better At A Restaurant
  1. Restaurants use hot griddles that are perfectly-calibrated for quick, even cooking. ...
  2. The batter ingredients remain fridge cold before cooking. ...
  3. Professional cooks don't overwork the batter. ...
  4. Butter usually isn't used during the cooking process.
May 26, 2023

What is the most important ingredient in pancakes? ›

Flour is the main ingredient to any pancake. It provides the structure. Different types of flours alter the structure because some flours absorb more moisture or create more gluten (which binds the structure together) than others.

Why do restaurant pancakes taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants use better quality ingredients

However, along with that ease, you may be taking a hit in the overall taste department. Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

How to make homemade pancakes Paula Deen? ›

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Stir in the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Pour ¼ cup of pancake batter for each pancake onto the griddle. Cook until the edges start to set and the pancakes are golden-brown underneath.

How to make Queen Elizabeth pancakes? ›

Beat two eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar and about one teacup (or 3/4 of a cup) of milk. Add 4 teacups of flour and mix in another teacup of milk "as required" Mix in 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda (baking soda) Fold in 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

Is it better to add milk or water to pancake mix? ›

Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.

What can I add to my pancake mix to make it better? ›

Baking soda or another leavening agent will enhance that old boxed mix that's been sitting in your cupboard for a few weeks (or months), leaving your pancakes with a yummy, fluffy texture. If your boxed mix doesn't already call for it, you can also add in a few eggs.

Why do IHOP pancakes taste so good? ›

The Batter

In an interview with Delish, IHOP's vice president of culinary innovation revealed that the pancake house keeps the wet ingredients “ice cold” in the prepared batter. This eliminates any heat interaction with the glutens that might cause the batter to rise prematurely.

Why are IHOP pancakes so delicious? ›

What makes IHOP buttermilk pancakes so good? The combination of flavor and texture in these delicious pancakes can't be beat. The batter has a subtle sweetness, complemented by the characteristic tang of buttermilk. This works perfectly with rich butter and sweet syrups or other toppings.

Why do diner pancakes taste better? ›

Not to be outdone, IHOP shares that real buttermilk is a key ingredient in its classic pancakes. Classic, whole ingredients are usually the best starting place for better hotcakes, but it's more and more common to see cheaper fillers like cornstarch and the use of shortening instead of butter.

Is baking soda or powder better for pancakes? ›

Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy. Double-acting baking powder, which is the kind that you'll find in the grocery store, produces bubbles in two ways: when it is mixed with wet ingredients and then when it gets heated.

How long should pancake batter rest? ›

A – If you are going to let your batter rest, leave it for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. If you've got time, leave it for longer – even overnight in the fridge. Some say that there is no point in letting the batter rest and there's certainly no harm in using it straight away. Go ahead if you're in a rush.

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