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Stack these fluffy homemade pancakes tall and add a pat of butter and maple syrup for the perfect weekend breakfast. They’re easy to make with pantry ingredients and turn out stellar every single time!
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Pin RecipeMy Top Tips for Fluffy and Light Pancakes
No one wants to sit down to a plate of thin, tough pancakes! But sometimes that’s how they turn out. It’s a bummer, but it doesn’t have to be that way! This recipe incorporates some tricks I’ve learned to make sure I always get fluffy pancakes when I make them at home. Here’s the lowdown:
- We start by sifting the dry ingredients. This helps make them light and airy—and that helps create that fluffy texture we want in our pancakes.
- Mix just enough to wet the dry ingredients. It’s totally fine if there are a few lumps and streaks of flour in the bowl after mixing. If you mix too much, the gluten in the flour over-develops, and this creates dense, tough pancakes with less rise.
- Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. During this time, the dry ingredients will absorb the wet ingredients, thickening your batter. And this means that when you pour the batter into the pan, it won’t spread out, resulting in thin pancakes.
Variations
As written, this recipe will give you your classic homemade pancakes, perfect for piling on the toppings. But if you want to switch things up a bit, here are some ideas:
- To make these pancakes a little healthier, use whole wheat flour, or do half white flour and half whole wheat.
- For some fruity additions, fold in chopped strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries. (Or make these Blueberry Pancakes!)
- Make them more fun with chocolate chips or sprinkles.
- Enhance the flavor of this recipe by adding vanilla or almond extract.
Try These Pancake Recipes Next!
Whether it’s my homemade waffle recipe , breakfast casserole, or French toast casserole, we sure love our weekend breakfasts in our house, but pancakes have a special place in my heart!
- For another classic (and fluffy!) pancake recipe, try these old-fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes.
- Coconut Flour Pancakes are a great option if you’re on a grain-free diet.
- Your kids will flip if you make this Pancake Cereal for breakfast. Super fun!
- If you want your breakfast to taste like a treat, these Nutella Pancakes are just the ticket.
Fluffy Homemade Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
Instructions
- Sift together the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry mix. Add the wet ingredients-the egg, milk, and butter.
- Lightly whisk the batter together until just mixed. The batter will have small lumps. Let sit 5 minutes while your skillet heats up.
- Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the skillet. With large skillet on medium-high heat add 1/4 cup of pancake batter to the skillet.
- Let cook until bubbles form on the surface and edges are dry.
- Flip and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
- Top for butter, powdered sugar, and pure maple syrup to serve!
Video
Nutrition
These are the best fluffy pancakes I have ever made from scratch! I make them all the time now. Thank you!!!!
Thank you so much, Jacquie!
These came out perfect. Followed every step. Was concerned about leaving lumps but had faith and followed.
Came out fluffy and light. My granddaughter is fussy when it comes to pancakes but ate it all and gave seal of approval. Thanks. The only thing I would have liked to storage info. If left over batter can be stored in fridge and for how long.
Really delicious and super easy, I doubled and did half whole wheat, added a splash of vanilla! Perfect ratios
In the FAQ you mention that baking soda makes them fluffy, I think you meant baking powder. If you use baking soda, you’ll have to switch to buttermilk.
I don’t see how much of each ingredient to add
These pancakes are delicious! I added pineapple and followed the recipe. So good and so easy.
This is the best pancake recipe I’ve ever made!!! Delicious even without syrup. My kids love it with chocolate bits on it while cooking. This is just perfect!!! Thank you!!!
Idk what everyone else did to get watery or overly thick pancakes but mine came out perfect. Had a little left over and used it two days later and it actually tasted better. I didn’t have whole milk so i used almond milk and they came out great! I added cinnamon and vanilla as well.
I put leftovers in the fridge or freezer then pop them into the toaster using the ‘frozen toast’ button on a lower number. Quick pancake breakfast with real maple syrup and a side of bacon before school/work! Yum!
These are the thinnest and least flavorful pancakes I’ve had. I’m really disappointed with this recipe. The photo is definitely not from this recipe.
Haven’t tried making it yet, but I will! Also, can i add a little more sugar, seems like it’ll taste too floury. But I’m willing to try it, I’ll respond with results!
This is a classic pancake recipe with so many variations and all oh so good, from adding lemon peel, and or blue berries even honey butter topped in place of syrup
The batter was pretty watery and made the pancakes pretty thin and not fluffy. I cut back on the salt and it was still a bit too much. Overall, these were ok but I have made better.
I’d also like to add that the flavor was very good and buttery. Just came out thinner than I like
These pancakes are fantastic! I followed the recipe exactly and these are a hit with the family. I separate the egg and beat the whites and add the yolk to the melted butter to give it a little something special. Today, I halved the recipe and it was perfect too. Thanks so much!
How many pancakes are considered a serving for the given nutritional information?
The best pancake recipe ever. I’ve tried many and they were all too dense. These are light and fluffy and perfect. I will never use another recipe again or use pre made!
Good to know, ima try making them!!!
I found these pancakes to be on the salty side. Next time i will leave out the salt since there is baking powder in them and add more sugar!
They were amazing. So fluffy and buttery. Not to mention the crispy ends. A 10 for me.
These pancakes were a hit!! followed the recipe to the t minus the salt and they were amazing. This is my to go for pancakes now! Everyone loved them.
By far the best pancake recipe EVER!
Made these this morning, subbed 1/2 cup AP flour for 1/2 whole wheat, added 1.5 tsp. Cinnamon. Yummy, quick and hit the spot!