Need a cozy weekend breakfast? Try this easy pancake recipe! This one is basic and classic, using a handful of ingredients lurking in your pantry and fridge. Pour the thick batter onto a sizzling griddle, and it fries up into golden, fluffy cakes with an irresistibly robust flavor. Sure, you can reach for oatmeal pancakes or banana pancakes, but if you’re in the mood for classic flavors and basic ingredients: this recipe is it!
Ingredients in this pancake recipe
This pancake recipe is classic and unsurprising in its ingredient list: but know it underwent a lot of testing and research over here. We reviewed books of old classic pancake recipes, consulted expert opinions, and made loads of test batches (too many, in fact!). Here’s what we found makes the best easy, fluffy pancake recipe:
All purpose flour: AP flour makes the best tender cake. For gluten-free, go to Oatmeal Pancakes or Banana Oatmeal Pancakes. Granulated sugar: Just a touch of sugar adds a roundness in flavor. If you prefer, use honey or maple syrup and slightly less milk. Baking powder and salt: Baking powder makes the best fluffy pancake. Egg: Substitute a flax egg for vegan. Milk: Use any milk of choice, and oat milk or almond milk for dairy-free. Unsalted butter or neutral oil: Butter has the best flavor, but it’s nearly as good with neutral oil for dairy free. Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds just the right nuance in flavor. Lemon juice or vinegar: Adding an acidic ingredient helps to make fluffy pancakes. If you don’t have fresh lemon juice on hand, use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.
Tips for how to make pancakes
It should be simple, but often cooking up a pancake recipe can be tricky because of the type of pan and ability to maintain the heat. Here are some best practices for cooking pancakes:
Use a large griddle: non-stick is helpful. Some griddles don’t allow for even heating (we had a cast iron griddle was very uneven) so keep that in mind. If you use non-stick, you don’t have to grease it. Experiment to find the right heat level. Medium low heat is ideal, but it’s different on every stovetop. It should take a few minutes to get the pan up to heat. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect at first: keep adjusting as you cook. Don’t worry if the first pancake doesn’t work! Use it as a test for honing in your pancake skills.
Variations on this pancake recipe
This basic pancakes recipe is the ideal base for experimentation! Try a few of these variations on the standard:
Blueberry pancakes: Use about 1 cup of blueberries total. Pour the batter into circles, then place blueberries into the top of each pancake. (Go to Blueberry Pancakes.) Chocolate chip pancakes: Same as blueberry pancakes, but use chocolate chips instead. Strawberry pancakes: Add chopped strawberries to each pancake, and top them with Strawberry Sauce or Strawberry Compote. Walnut or pecan pancakes: Add chopped nuts into the pancake batter. Lemon poppy seed: Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest and 2 tablespoons poppy seeds.
Pancake toppings
Once you’ve got your perfect griddle cakes, how to top them? We like them best with a pat of butter and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Here are a few more pancake topping ideas:
Maple syrup: for best flavor, buy Grade A: Dark Color and Robust Taste Powdered sugar Fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries Sliced bananas Chopped apples Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips Chopped pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds Greek yogurt sweetened with maple syrup Crème fraiche Whipped cream Blueberry sauce or blueberry compote Raspberry sauce or raspberry compote Strawberry sauce Peach puree or peach compote
More pancake recipes
Want to stray outside the basic? Here are a few more pancake recipes you’ll love:
Grab for Go-To Banana Pancakes, 3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes or Banana Oatmeal Pancakes. Mix up our favorite Mini Pancakes, Whole Wheat Pancakes, Sweet Potato Pancakes, or Cornmeal Pancakes Opt for Classic Buttermilk Pancakes or Blueberry Pancakes Try hearty and gluten-free Oatmeal Pancakes or Almond Flour Pancakes Go protein packed with Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or Ricotta Pancakes, or surprisingly delicious Cottage Cheese Pancakes
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