Is there really anything better than a big stack of fluffy homemade pancakes?? I have a few pancake recipe variations on Budget Bytes already, but it was high time I added an easy, go-to homemade pancake recipe to the collection. Making pancakes is pretty easy, but I’ve got a few tips and tricks for you to make sure your pancakes are the fluffiest and tastiest stack around!
What are Pancakes Made Of?
Pancake batter is really simple. You only need a few basic pantry staples: milk, butter, egg, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Plus I add a little vanilla extract for a little more depth of flavor. The batter only takes minutes to mix together, then you’re on your way to a cozy homemade pancake breakfast.
What Makes a Fluffy Pancake?
Baking powder is responsible for leavening the pancake, but other ingredients and techniques will affect how well the baking powder works. Here are a few tips to make sure your pancakes are extra soft and fluffy:
- Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Check the expiration date or do a quick test to make sure it is still active. Mix a couple of teaspoons of baking powder into a cup of hot water. If it fizzes, the baking powder is still active.
- Don’t over stir the batter. Stir just until the flour is moistened and a few lumps remain. Over stirring the batter will develop the gluten in the flour and make the pancakes rubbery rather than soft and fluffy.
- Let the batter rest for 15 minutes after mixing. This allows the flour to fully hydrate and the remaining lumps to soften without the need for more stirring.
- The batter should be thick, but still pourable. If the batter is too runny, your pancakes will be thin. If the batter is too thick, the pancakes can turn out slightly dry. So you may need to adjust the amount of milk in the batter to get just the right consistency.
Pancake Toppings!
My favorite part about making homemade pancakes is having fun with the toppings. There are so many more options for pancakes than just butter and maple syrup! Here are some ideas:
- Jam or jelly
- Peanut or almond butter
- Lemon Curd
- Powdered sugar
- Nutella
- Fresh fruit
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- Hot Buttered Apples
- Nuts
- Applesauce
What is your favorite thing to put on pancakes?
How to Make Fluffy Homemade Pancakes – Step by Step Photos
Whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1.5 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together ¾ cup warm milk, 2 Tbsp melted butter, 1 large egg, 2 Tbsp sugar, and ½ tsp vanilla extract. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients.
Stir just until there is no dry flour left on the bottom of the bowl. It’s okay if there are a few lumps left in the batter, just make sure to not over stir. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes.
The pancake batter should be thick, but still pourable. If the batter is thin, the pancakes will be thin. Thicker batter will make thicker pancakes. But if the batter is too thick the pancakes can be a bit dry. So add a touch more milk, if needed, to make the batter thick but pourable.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, brush some cooking oil over the surface.
Scoop ¼ cup of the batter onto the skillet and use the measuring cup to spread it out into a circle (about 4-inches in diameter). Cook the pancakes until the surface are covered in bubbles and some of them have burst open. You can cook multiple pancakes at once. I just did one at a time for demonstration purposes.
Flip the pancake and cook until golden brown on the second side. You may need to adjust the heat up or down as you cook the pancakes to maintain even cooking.
Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the skillet in batches, until all of the pancakes are cooked. Place the pancakes on a plate and cover with a clean dish towel to keep warm as you cook the rest of the batch.
Enjoy the pancakes with your favorite toppings!
