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Fluffy Homemade Pancakes

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  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 15 min
  • Servings 9
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When it comes to classic breakfast food, homemade pancakes always take the cake. If you want to learn how to make pancakes from scratch without any fuss, this is the best pancake recipe around! It takes simple pantry-staple ingredients and just 3 easy steps to make super fluffy pancakes that always hit the spot.

This classic homemade pancake recipe has appeared in every Betty Crocker cookbook since 1950 and has gained quite a following! Whether you serve ‘em up for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner, both kids and adults love eating pancakes—especially with maple syrup, fresh berries, and other tasty toppings. Here’s how to make pancakes the whole family will love! And if you want even more pancake recipes, we’ve got you covered with endless flavor possibilities.

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Jul 24, 2024
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How to Make Homemade Pancakes from Scratch

This fluffy pancake recipe is great for busy home cooks who aim to please. It’s super easy to follow, and it takes a total of just 15 minutes to make! Read this quick overview of how to make pancakes, then check out the full recipe for step-by-step directions.

Mix Batter

The first step in making these fluffy pancakes? Mixing up your pancake batter! After you beat the egg, you’ll stir in the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and oil or butter. Make sure you don’t overmix the batter—nobody wants tough pancakes!

Heat Griddle

Heat your griddle to that just-right temperature of 375°F. You can test the heat using a few drops of water. If the droplets “dance” around, you’ve reached the right temperature for cooking those fluffy cakes.

Cook Pancakes

Pour your batter onto the griddle, creating consistently sized circles. Let your batch of pancakes cook on one side until they’re nice and bubbly before flipping them over. When the other side is done cooking, you should have perfectly golden-brown homemade pancakes.

Popular Pancake Toppings

These homemade pancakes are delicious on their own, but why not double the fun with tasty toppings? Now that you’ve learned how to make pancakes from scratch, check out some of our favorite ways to jazz them up.

Fruit: From sweet berries to crisp honeydew melon, the flavor opportunities are endless when it comes to fruit toppings. We love spreading a layer of vanilla yogurt and adding some freshly chopped strawberries to a stack of these fluffy pancakes!

Maple Syrup: There’s truly nothing better than homemade pancakes with sweet maple syrup! Pour on as much as you like, and feel free to add some butter.

Whipped Cream: Sweetened whipped cream is the perfect partner for hearty pancakes at breakfast time—and it tastes even better when paired with the other toppings on this list!

Nuts: A sprinkle of chopped walnuts, pecans, or other nuts adds the perfect crunch to soft, fluffy pancakes. Try using candied pecans for an extra touch of sweetness.

How to Reheat Pancakes

These fluffy pancakes are best served fresh off the griddle, but knowing how to reheat them properly can come in handy. Whether your pancakes have gotten cold while waiting on breakfast guests or you’ve got leftovers in the fridge or freezer, here’s how we’d recommend reheating them. Once they’re hot and ready, just add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

In the Microwave (Recommended): To microwave pancakes that are room temperature, place them on a microwave-safe plate, cover them with a damp paper towel and microwave your pancakes on high until they’re heated through (about 20 to 30 seconds per pancake). If they’ve been chilling in the fridge, just increase the microwave time to about 30 to 60 seconds. Frozen pancakes will need about 1 to 2 minutes each, and you can flip them halfway through the microwave time if necessary.

In the Toaster: Want to know one of our favorite breakfast food hacks? Using the toaster to easily reheat pancakes! Place each pancake in a toaster slot, then toast it on a low setting until it’s heated through and crispy on the edges.

Popular Variations of Classic Pancakes

Can’t get enough of our homemade pancake recipes? There’s more where this one came from! We’ve got some of the best pancake recipes around, featuring fun flavors and simple ingredients for those who like to switch it up. Here are some of our favorites!

Cake Batter Pancakes: Cake for breakfast? Sounds great to us! These soft, pillowy birthday cake pancakes are celebration-worthy, but we’d serve ‘em up any day of the week.

Gluten-Free Pancakes: It’s not always easy to find fluffy pancake recipes that fit your dietary needs—but these easy Gluten-Free Pancakes taste just as yummy as the regular kind!

Sweet Potato Pancakes: We’re big fans of sweet potatoes, and these delicious Sweet Potato Pancakes bring an unexpected flavor twist to your everyday breakfast. As a bonus, they’re super easy to make!

Easy Blueberry Pancakes: If you’re cooking up a big family breakfast, you can’t go wrong with perfectly tender Easy Blueberry Pancakes. This simple pancake recipe takes just 25 minutes to make any morning a little sweeter.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes: Our Chocolate Chip Pancakes are a kid favorite, and for good reason! Chocolate chips are easy mix-ins, and they elevate fluffy pancakes to sweet chocolatey perfection.

Bananas Foster Pancakes: If you’re a fan of bananas foster, the sweet caramelized banana dessert with a mouthwatering rum sauce, these flavorful Bananas Foster Pancakes are an absolute must-make!

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Steps

  • 1
    In medium bowl, beat egg with wire whisk until fluffy. Stir in remaining ingredients just until flour is moistened (batter will be slightly lumpy); do not overmix or pancakes will be tough. For thinner pancakes, stir in additional 1 to 2 tablespoons milk.
  • 2
    Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water. If bubbles jump around, heat is just right.) Brush with vegetable oil if necessary (or spray with cooking spray before heating).
  • 3
    For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto griddle. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbly on top and dry around edges. Turn; cook other side until golden brown.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Substitute 1 cup buttermilk for the 3/4 cup milk. Decrease baking powder to 1 teaspoon. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
  • tip 2
    Make pancakes with whole wheat flour. Top each serving with 1/4 cup strawberry yogurt arid 1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries.
  • tip 3
    Substitute orange juice for the milk. Stir in 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup chopped dried apples after mixing ingredients in Step 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know When to Flip Pancakes?

Not sure how to tell when your homemade pancakes are ready to flip? If your griddle is set to the right heat and your pancakes are all the recommended size, they should only need 2 to 3 minutes of cooking time on one side before you flip them over.

As each pancake cooks, bubbles should start to form on the surface. Wait until the bubbles begin to pop and leave small holes behind—this means the bottom of the pancake has cooked enough. The edges of your pancakes should also start to look set and slightly dry. If you gently lift the edge of a pancake with your spatula and it easily releases from the pan without breaking, it should be ready to flip. If you notice a golden-brown color on the cooked side of your pancake, you’ve done it just right!

Can I Freeze Pancakes?

If the family didn’t finish your whole batch of homemade pancakes, don’t worry—you can freeze them to enjoy another day! Let them cool completely at room temperature before storing them to avoid condensation. Place your leftover pancakes inside a resealable freezer bag, making sure to press out as much air as possible. Place the bag in the freezer, and freeze your pancakes for about 1 to 2 months. When you’re ready to reheat them, just follow our reheating instructions above—you can use a toaster or microwave to heat them until they’re hot. Enjoy!

How Can I Make These Pancakes Fluffy?

Follow this recipe for fluffy pancakes, and your results should speak for themselves—but if you can’t get enough fluff, here are some simple tips to ensure a stack of super soft, fluffy pancakes.

Don’t Overmix Batter: Overmixing the pancake batter can lead to tough and dense pancakes, so stir the wet and dry ingredients together until they are just combined. If there are some lumps left in the batter, that’s perfectly fine! If it's too thick to pour, you can add a little more milk (1 to 2 tablespoons) to thin out your batter slightly.

Let Batter Rest: Letting the batter rest for a few minutes before cooking allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a lighter texture. Allow the batter to sit for about 5-10 minutes before cooking the pancakes on the griddle.

Ensure Correct Griddle Temperature: Make sure your griddle is heated to the correct temperature before cooking the pancakes. If it’s too hot, the pancakes will brown too quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside. If it isn’t hot enough, they won't rise properly. Aim for a medium-high heat.

Substitute Buttermilk: Ever wondered why restaurant pancakes are so perfectly fluffy? Many restaurants use buttermilk instead of regular milk when making pancakes. Using buttermilk results in a fluffier and softer texture due to its interaction with baking soda and other pancake ingredients. To make this swap, you’ll want to use 1 cup of buttermilk instead of the 3/4 cup of regular milk called for in this homemade pancake recipe. You’ll also need to decrease the amount of baking powder to 1 teaspoon, and add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to your batter. Make sure your baking soda and baking powder are fresh and unexpired—this will help ensure the best rise on your fluffy pancakes!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Pancake
Calories from Fat
45
Trans Fat
0g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
2%
2%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Exchanges:
Free
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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